History
Orchardleigh Estate consists of 500 acres of largely unspoiled parkland and lakes, and its extensive history predates the Domesday Book. The stunning current principal house was built between 1855 and 1858 to replace its ageing, outdated Tudor predecessor.
You could easily find yourself delightfully lost in the pastoral and tranquil expanses of the Orchardleigh Estate. With its parklands, lakes and hidden niche areas and landscapes, this superb wedding venue is constantly full of surprises.
The estate also has various claims to fame. Poet Laureate Sir Henry Newbolt was inspired to write some of his finest works from his love of Orchardleigh, and several movies and TV series have been filmed here, including Into The Storm, Tess Of The d'Urbervilles and Miss Marple.
Facilities
Use of the Orchardleigh House is exclusive to couples who hire the venue for their wedding celebrations. This could include a civil ceremony within the house or outside in the beautiful gardens and unrestricted use of the stunning function rooms, namely the Ballroom, Library, Morning Room, Billiard Room, Main Hall and the Vestibule. A formal reception meal can be arranged for up to 162 guests.
The Chapels
The Orchardleigh Estate features two unique and beautiful little churches. St Mary's Island Church is a Grade I-listed 13th century chapel, now Church of England. As there is no electricity supplied to the church's remote location, all wedding ceremonies are conducted purely by candlelight for a magical, romantic setting.
St. Mary's also has its own helipad so you can certainly make an entrance. From the Bell Long-ranger Helicopter to a Bentley Continental GTC, Orchardleigh offers a variety of wedding transportation for you to hire, with cars from £250 and Helicopter from £500.
The second church is The Norman All Saints Church in the hamlet of Lullington is Orchardleigh Estate's other Christian venue, and accommodates up to 130 guests for a marriage service.
Extra Facilities
Enjoy the day before and after your wedding with many activities across the estate, not only golf, but fishing on the 23 acre lake, and clay pigeon shooting. They also have their very own spa coming Summer 2023.
The 18-hole golf course, the fleet of classic cars, the airfield and its collection of helicopters and planes, together with the facilities for shooting or horse-riding, are just a few of the further aspects which add to this wedding venue's comprehensively all-inclusive nature.
Late Night Bar
Orchardleigh can keep its bar open for you and your guests all night long!
Catering
Developing further this estate's considerable "polymath" qualities, Orchardleigh rears its very own herds of Aberdeen Angus cattle, Saddleback sows and Pietriene boar pigs and Shetland-cross sheep! For sure, few other wedding venues in the country can claim to source their meat this locally.
Accommodation
Orchardleigh House can sleep up to 85 guests within 41 opulent and individually designed bedrooms. Bedrooms in Orchardleigh House itself are distributed across the ground, first and second floors, and feature luxurious and lavish furniture - many of these rooms showcase four-poster and king size beds.
Awards
Orchardleigh Estate is an award-winning venue; it was declared Somerset Wedding of the Year, named second best UK Venue by Perfect Wedding Magazine, and won the BA Award for Excellence for Leading the Way within the Weddings Industry.
Wedding Packages
Orchardleigh offer a three day wedding package for up to 80 guests from £8,699. This offers the wonderful opportunity to extend your celebrations - with accommodation in two separate properties on the estate sleeping up to 18 guests the night before and a romantic stay at the estates Palladium Boathouse on the night after your wedding day. Contact the wedding team for more information.