Where is it?
Orchardleigh is a country estate in Somerset, two miles north of Frome, (Frome once played host to a secret Foo Fighters gig) and on the southern edge of the village of Lullington.
Bristol city is a 47-minute drive away and the Mendip Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is 40 minutes journey by car. Bristol Airport is 24 miles away. And Longleat Safari Park is just 7.8 miles away.
An important point to note, don’t put BA11 2PH into your sat nav. That took me down a (mud) road that was more suited to tractors than it was the little city hatchback I was using on the day. Use BA11 2PB to get to the correct entrance and save yourself that car wash.
So what’s on offer?
Glad you asked.
Quite a lot, actually.
I’ll start with my favourite.
Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies At Orchardleigh
Yup, outdoor ones. When I get married 100% it’ll be outdoors.
Not only is Orchardleigh licensed for civil ceremonies both indoors and out, but you can choose from two outdoor locations to get married.
TWO!
The Belvedere
Unique outdoor wedding venue overlooking the estate.
This is one outdoor ceremony area you’ve got to see. This space can seat up to 144 guests, and I’ve got some pictures below!
The views from one might be the most stunning in the entire estate.
Relaxing, natural wedding venue in the forest.
This one offers a tranquil woodland setting. Hidden within a clearing of tall trees, and very close to the house, The Woodland creates a lovely secluded vibe. This one is perfect for those dreaming of a wedding in the forest and embracing nature, reminiscent of American romcoms right?)
Indoor Ceremony Spaces At Orchardleigh
You can choose from two licensed indoor wedding spaces.
The Ballroom
The Ballroom – the perfect setting for your wedding reception?
Elegant architecture and unspoilt views are a few of the features you can expect at The Ballroom, which can hold up to 100 guests for your big day.
The Great Hall
Their largest indoor ceremony space, with room for 144 of your friends and family. The grand staircase sweeps down into the Great Hall. With large open fires, this one is a perfect choice for your cosy winter wedding.
>Churches Near Orchardleigh
The two Parish Churches are within the Lullington (the nearest village) and Orchardleigh Parish.
How to choose the right Church for your wedding
>All Saints Lullington
Church in the village, with a lot of history.
All Saints’ Church Lullington is super close to the village of Lullington. With traditional services, All Saints can squeeze in up to 150 guests for a service (some will have to stand). So if a church is must, you can do it here.
St Mary’s Church
Candlelit Ceremony?
Often referred to as ´The Island Church´ as they built St Marys at the edge of the lake, surrounded by a moat. It’s available for Religious Services and can hold up to 100 guests (not all seated). St. Mary’s has no electricity supply which means all services are candlelit. Which sounds lovely, right?
You can, of course, marry in Frome at St John’s Church
St John’s Church is two miles from Orchardleigh Estate. This Grade 1 listed building can seat up to 350 guests and is close to the town centre.
Orchardleigh House
A stunning venue with an exclusive atmosphere for your wedding.
A stately home set in magnificent gardens with an 18 hole golf course, plus enough luxurious accommodation for up to 85 guests. Boasting 41 opulent bedrooms across the main house and cottage courtyard.
Plus
Indoor Banqueting for 60-160.
Wander through The Ballroom that can hold up to 162 guests, to the cosy Morning Room, discover the full-sized Billiard room and even a room called the Great Hall.
They’re dog-friendly rooms too.
They say “Use the house as if it were your own.” (hope that works out for them)
The rooms are Soundproof btw. Thought I’d mention that in case that’s important to you ?
Orchardleigh is a wedding photographer’s dream. Soft, beautiful light bathes every room through its large windows. Did I mention I like it?
Orchardleigh creates a good feeling year-round. Bask outdoors in the Summer sunshine, or cosy up by the open fire in Winter.
It’s got some cred too. They hold the following awards: Somerset Wedding Venue of the Year winner. Voted 9th best UK Wedding Venue by Marie Claire Magazine. Voted 2nd best UK Wedding Venue by Perfect Wedding Magazine. Awarded BA Award for Excellence for Leading the Way within the Wedding Industry. Voted 13th by the Independent Newspaper as Best National Wedding Venue.
The Grounds
Beautiful, historical, rustic
Ah man, they’re pretty. Nuff said,
The Food
They are passionate about fine food and “wherever possible we use only ingredients that are grown, reared and produced on the estate farm or sourced from trusted local suppliers.” Their head chef will work with you personally, too.
How neat is that, locally sourced produce only? I love that.
How Much Is It?
Their mid-week wedding package starts from £6,275. Lots of benefits to midweek bookings too btw. More availability, lowered rates, longer stays. Probably should write a blog post about it.
Drinks
Unlimited drinks at a sensible cost.
Their bar can either be a “cash bar” or you can put a set amount behind the bar. Or they do a “prepaid” bar @ £22.50 per head, and £28.70 for evening guests arriving after 6.30 pm, that excludes champagne btw… they have to make a living, right?
This gives unlimited drinks from the end of the wedding breakfast until the wee hours
Transport
A variety of options on show here.
You can choose from a Chauffeur Driven Bentley Continental GTC, Rolls Royce Phantom, or an American truck. Sure, that will excite someone beyond belief. But sarcasm aside, the truck has a bar and mini nightclub in the back, which suddenly looks more tempting ..
Then there’s a choice of their helicopter (defo on someone’s bucket list).
Or enjoy sipping a glass of champers on their authentic Gondola as you glide serenely around the lake.
Or you could invite up to 9 guests to sail the charming setting of the lake is an ideal spot to serve your reception drinks and canapes, should you wish?
Fireworks In The Evening
A: Yes, you can, but we must ask you to use our recommended suppliers as they have already carried out a site visit and provided the relevant paperwork for health and safety and carry massive insurance.
