Rushmeeta & Craig's Family Wedding

From College Sweethearts to Husband and Wife

Rushmeeta and Craig first met around 19 years ago while studying hairdressing at college. When Craig went on to complete a barbering apprenticeship, they lost touch and their lives took different paths.

But 11 years ago, thanks to Facebook, they reconnected, and the rest is history. Rushmeeta already had three children, and as she puts it, they quickly turned Craig's quiet world upside down. Despite their differences, including their taste in music and films and Craig's love of his Harley-Davidson, they share the things that matter most: family values, unconditional love and plenty of laughter.

Craig proposed during a family holiday to Mauritius in 2017, a particularly special place for Rushmeeta as it's where her mum is from. After nine years of engagement, and following a motorbike accident earlier this year that thankfully left Craig without any long-term injuries, the couple decided there was no reason to wait any longer. Life is short, and they were ready to start their next chapter as husband and wife.

A Wedding That Was About More Than Just Two People

Having both been married before, Rushmeeta and Craig knew they didn't want a big traditional wedding. They wanted something smaller, more meaningful and surrounded by nature. But most importantly, their wedding wasn't just about the two of them.

Craig had come into the children's lives when they were young, becoming the father figure they needed and showing them unconditional love and support. As Rushmeeta explains:

Their plan was simple: an intimate wedding with their closest family, followed by a bigger celebration with friends and family back home.

Finding Tree Top Escape – Written in the Stars

Sometimes everything just falls into place, and that's exactly how Rushmeeta and Craig felt when they discovered Tree Top Escape. After deciding one evening that 2026 was going to be the year they finally got married, they searched online for elopement weddings, and Tree Top Escape was the first venue they found.

They fell in love with the setting, made a phone call the following day and discovered we had availability. Even better, The Nest could accommodate exactly the number of family members they wanted to invite, and their beloved dog Connie could join them too.

With beautiful countryside views, a peaceful setting and the opportunity to celebrate with everyone who mattered most, they'd found their perfect venue.

A Relaxed Wedding Morning with the Whole Family

With their ceremony planned for 2pm, there was no need for a rushed morning. Their children joined them early to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, while Rushmeeta and Craig had plenty of time to get everything ready.

The Meadow Room was decorated for their celebrations, drinks were organised and everyone enjoyed getting ready together. Craig and the boys had their own space, while Rushmeeta shared some lovely moments getting ready with her mum and daughter in the main bedroom. And Connie? Well, she decided she was one of the boys, spending the morning with Craig and his best men.

Although the couple had originally planned to dress quite casually, everything changed when Rushmeeta found her wedding dress: "When I got my dress, which was so beautiful and glamorous, I loved wearing it. We then coordinated everyone. Everyone enjoyed getting dressed up!"

A Beautiful Ceremony Bringing Two Cultures Together

One of the loveliest parts of Rushmeeta and Craig's wedding was how they incorporated their different cultures into the day. The ladies on Rushmeeta's side of the family wore beautiful Indian clothing, bringing wonderful colour to the celebrations.

During the ceremony, the couple exchanged floral garlands as a symbol of their love and commitment, alongside the personal vows they'd written for each other. Zoe from Borrow the Moon helped bring their vision together, creating styling that beautifully blended their cultures.

For Rushmeeta, one of the most memorable moments was walking along the wooden walkway towards The Nest with her dad, after sharing a special moment together on the balcony. And of course, the views from The Nest provided the most beautiful backdrop as they exchanged their vows.

A Family Celebration Filled with Happy Tears

While every wedding is special, it was the involvement of Rushmeeta and Craig's three children that made their day particularly meaningful. Each had an important role to play.

Their daughter Yasmin was a bridesmaid, with the additional responsibility of making sure her mum didn't have lipstick on her teeth. Their middle son, Solomon, stood proudly beside Craig as one of his best men and gave a special reading during the ceremony. And their youngest son, Hiren, also a best man, had the honour of walking his grandmother down the aisle and presenting the wedding rings.

It was during this moment that emotions took over. As Hiren handed over the rings, he became overwhelmed with happy tears, which soon had the rest of the family crying too.

It was a beautiful reminder that this wedding wasn't simply about becoming husband and wife, but celebrating the family they'd built together. And not forgetting Connie, who proudly stood at the front with Craig and his best men, making sure she was part of the occasion too.

Alpacas, a Harley-Davidson and a Champagne Mishap

After the ceremony, it was time to relax, celebrate and make even more memories. The couple and their guests enjoyed feeding our friendly alpacas, something a little different that everyone loved.

The beautiful grounds provided plenty of opportunities for photographs, including some with Craig's beloved Harley-Davidson.

But perhaps the funniest moment came when Rushmeeta and Craig decided to try the champagne spray photo trend. With Kayleigh from Snapdragon Photography ready to capture the moment, things didn't go quite as planned. Instead of the perfect champagne spray, they ended up covering themselves in champagne.

Thankfully, Kayleigh captured the whole thing, and the resulting photographs were so funny that the couple even used one for their party invitations back home.

And really, isn't that what a wedding day should be about? Having fun, making memories and enjoying every moment together.

Personal Touches That Made Their Day Their Own

From the colourful Indian clothing and floral garland exchange to their personally chosen music, Rushmeeta and Craig made sure their wedding reflected who they are. They loved being able to create a day that combined their cultures and celebrated their family without feeling tied to traditional wedding expectations.

Planning from their home in Milton Keynes could have been daunting, but having access to our recommended suppliers helped make everything much easier: "Having your own supplier list is brilliant as living far away in Milton Keynes I wouldn't have known where to start looking." And with Craig's laid-back approach to planning, Rushmeeta says they barely disagreed on anything.

Rushmeeta & Craig's Advice for Future Couples

After a day filled with so much love, laughter and happy tears, their advice for other couples planning their wedding is wonderfully simple.

The Suppliers Who Helped Make Their Day Special

A Few More Moments from the Day

Rushmeeta and Craig's wedding is such a lovely example of what makes intimate weddings so special. There was no pressure to follow traditions or invite everyone they knew. Instead, they created a day that was personal, meaningful and full of the people they love most. From their emotional family ceremony to the colourful cultural touches, Connie joining the best men and that unforgettable champagne spray, their wedding was completely their own.

Dreaming of a wedding that's all about you and the people who matter most? At Tree Top Escape, we love helping couples create intimate weddings that reflect their personalities, their stories and what matters most to them. Whether you're planning an elopement for just the two of you or a small celebration with your closest family (and four-legged friends), we'd love to help.

Get in touch with our team and start planning your own unforgettable wedding at Tree Top Escape.