Wed takes a sneak peek into North Devon's most dazzling wedding venues...
TREE TOP ESCAPE
Could there be anything more romantic than your very own tree-top hideaway, taking your vows overlooking rolling hills, surrounded by nature with the gentle breeze rustling through the leaves? Tree Top Escape in scenic north Devon is tucked away on a private estate but offers the most magical of settings for its guests to get married. An exclusive venue for intimate weddings, invite up to 14 guests to share your most special of days, then simply walk across the romantic wooden walkway to enjoy your honeymoon at the luxurious Tree House. A spacious and indulgent property, it sleeps up to four and is very child-friendly, with Tree Top Escape hosting many weddings for couples with children.
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Offering jaw-dropping floor-to-ceiling views of the valleys, it also boasts a large lounge, an Italian designer kitchen and even a freestanding copper bath. And if that's not enough to persuade you, the private hot tub on the terrace will. Beautiful, tranquil and totally unlike any other wedding venue, it's the dream location for back-to-nature nuptials without skimping on luxury.
THE VENUE AT SANDY COVE
As well as offering a dedicated wedding team, an award-winning kitchen to create wedding breakfast magic, and a versatile indoor space that's flooded with natural light, what really makes this coastal venue stand out is its jaw-dropping vistas across the Atlantic Ocean.
The views at this exclusive use venue are second to none: the licensed outdoor gazebo overlooks both the surrounding coastline and rolling hills of Exmoor. Imagine taking your vows backlit by the sunshine glinting off the sea, while your guests soak up the panorama of wide open water views. Taking its enviable cliff-side position one step further, couples and their guests can even take advantage of a glass-wrapped platform that juts four metres out from the cliffs. It'll elevate your first photos as a married couple to new heights, and give your guests the chance to enjoy a glass of champagne with the seemingly endless expanse of ocean below, like nothing they'll have seen at a wedding before.
The indoor space at the new purpose-built the Venue at Sandy Cove is
just as impressive, fronted with bi-fold doors to fill the airy rooms
with natural light. And - aware that English weather doesn't always come
to play on W-day - the wet-weather options are just as stunning, with
the venue also licensed for weddings. Couples need only decide whether
to host their ceremony inside or outside just two hours before, so
there'll be no panicking about the drizzle or having to change plans the
day before when the forecast predicts rain only to wake up to streaming
sunshine once you've committed to an indoor ceremony.
Every detail has been considered by the Sandy Cove wedding team: carefully designed wedding breakfasts from the award-winning kitchen means you can choose a menu to suit your taste and budget. Perhaps you'll opt for crab, pea and saffron risotto, or pancetta-wrapped pork with wild mushroom stuffing, followed by white chocolate panna cotta served with strawberries and shortbread. The chefs use locally sourced ingredients to create sumptuous dishes, with evening food options including everything from Mexican fiesta-inspired fajitas and nachos to a hog roast with all the trimmings.
The venue's state-of-the-art lighting means that, come evening, the room will be transformed into a dance floor with a difference. With a colour wheel to tailor the lights to fit with your decor, plus a panelled ceiling with fibre optics giving the effect of twinkling fairy lights, the venue is served by a modern and well-stocked bar.
There's also 37 contemporary and luxe rooms, and you can choose to hire the entire hotel exclusively. With luxuries ranging from rainforest showers to private balconies and expansive bathtubs, each room is designed with your guests' comfort in mind - not to mention the gorgeous benefit of those idyllic views from much of the accommodation.
As you stand on the platform toasting your new marriage as the sun slips down towards the horizon, this coastal treasure of a venue is sure to be the scene for many a wedding wish come true.
As you stand on the platform toasting your new marriage as the sun slips down towards the horizon, this coastal treasure of a venue is sure to be the scene for many a wedding wish come true.
01271 882243
www.sandycove-hotel.com
WOOLHANGER MANOR
Flanked by mile upon mile of unspoilt countryside and offering glorious views across the wildly beautiful climes of Exmoor, Woolhanger Manor boasts an exceptional location. Thanks to an extensive restoration project, the historic house also offers couples some breathtaking interiors to marry and celebrate in luxury and privacy.
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As versatile as it is beautiful, the venue offers a choice of spaces for ceremonies and receptions, giving you the option to select the scene you desire to design a highly personal event. The Music Room, for example, presents a spectacular octagonal hall - complete with a built-in organ for a stirringly atmospheric soundtrack.
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Then there's the resplendent Medieval Room - complete with chandeliers and an open beam ceiling - or the intimate Red Room. For an outdoor party, the Semi-Walled Upper Garden comprises a fabulous raised lawn that affords stunning rural views, making an ideal venue for an al fresco drinks reception or marquee wedding.
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The estate's four holiday cottages can accommodate up to 18 guests, while the nearby twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth can provide further accommodation. And, with their events manager close at hand to help you to decide every element from the table plan to music, menu and flowers, everything will be expertly taken care of for a wedding that smacks of individual - and picture-perfect - style.
01598 763000
MORETON HOUSE
Moreton House is a Georgian stately home on the outskirts of Bideford, near the beautiful North Devon Coast. Family owned and newly open after a 6-year renovation, Moreton offers an exclusive use licensed venue with four function rooms and on-site accommodation. With a capacity of 70 day guests and 100 for the evening, the venue offers luxurious self-catering suites and guest bedrooms to accommodate around 30 guests overnight.
Anthony Lyons
The wealth of period features and five acres of mature tree-lined gardens provide a host of photo opportunities, and the location on the edge of the ancient maritime town of Bideford, just an hour from the M5, makes it easily accessible, yet with the feel of being in the midst of the countryside.
Anthony Lyons
The venue is impressive yet still homely, and the accommodation allows couples to make it theirs for the weekend, with amazing spaces to get ready and to really enjoy the time around the wedding with family and friends.
Anthony Lyons
Catering kitchen facilities are included, to allow the couple's choice of caterer to work on site, or packages are available with award-winning partner caterer, The Royal George of Appledore. Packages including catering and accommodation from £9950, with weekend dates in 2022 available. Options can be tailored exactly to your needs, from day hire, intimate and elopement weddings through to fully bespoke packages.
Kathryn McLeod
01237 425519
CASTLE HILL
Castle Hill provides a picture-postcard setting for an elegant, exclusive use wedding, offering a variety of spaces for both your ceremony and reception. Set in acres of picturesque parkland, the rural surrounds ooze romance, while the beautiful buildings present gorgeous interiors for a wedding replete with the wow factor.
Pick from The Library, Red Room and West Wing to utter your vows, while a reception in the Red Room can cater for up to 50 people - or opt for the West Wing, which accommodates 100 people. Alternatively, a a marquee on the West Lawn adjoining the West Wing will allow for a grand scale event for up to 300 people, meaning that any type and size of event can be staged to utterly magical effect.
Then there's the Holwell Temple. Built in 1771 and perched high on a hill in the
woods overlooking the river valley, the striking building affords to-die-for views across the North Devon countryside and towards the main
house of Castle Hill, fusing the feel of a woodland wedding with a Roman-inspired building that exemplifies romance. The rustic interiors combine exposed stone walls and wooden floors that can be decorated to suit (think flower-filled window sills, candlelight, bunting and fairy lights) to create an uber atmospheric setting for your evening celebrations (accommodating 60 guests for a ceremony and up to 100 for a reception, or a
marquee can also be set up for larger weddings).
LAUNCELLS BARTON
Launcells Barton is tucked away in a peaceful pocket of countryside near Bude. Sweeping along the leafy drive, you'll take in views across lush lawns slipping down to a wooded valley, a characterful cluster of converted farm buildings and the house, with its elegant Georgian facade, sweeping steps and romantic curved windows.
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Believed to date back to the 14th century, the older half of the house was once held by a cell of Augustine monks and this rich history echoes through a series of original features such as a priest hole dating back to the dissolution of the monasteries.
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The newer half of the house bears all the light and elegant hallmarks of Georgian architecture. Lovingly restored by owners Matthew and Lara, the house provides luxurious accommodation for up to 12 people, as well as two licensed settings for ceremonies: the sitting room and the entrance to the house with your guests on the lawn below.
Each room is thoughtfully styled to blend modern luxuries with the property's historic charm. The Bridal Suite is the jewel in the crown: there's a private staircase, a sumptuous bed and a large roll top bath - perfect for a post-wedding soak.
The house overlooks a pretty walled garden, flanked by mature trees and abloom with seasonal flowers, which is home to a custom-built arbour for scenic outdoor ceremonies. One of the many charms of Launcells Barton is the range of spaces available for each stage of the celebrations, and the south-facing courtyard is a perfect spot for post-ceremony drinks.
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Then there's the Mill Barn, a characterful 19th century building with French doors, exposed beams and natural light pouring in through the windows - an ambient blank canvas space for ceremonies and receptions. With a courtyard outside and a rustic bar - crafted from reclaimed wood and hugged by comfy seats - there's a choice of charm-packed spaces for guests to mill about and enjoy the festivities.
The purpose-built Events Barn completes the collection of celebration spaces. The state-of-the-art building includes a spacious bar and lounge area and fitted kitchen together with a versatile, light and airy seated area, which houses up to 200 seated guests. Opening onto a lawn with country views, guests may spill outside for al fresco celebrations and garden games. You might even steal away in Matthew's tractor for some loved-up moments watching the sun slip beneath the sea. Dreamy.
Launcells Barton, Bude
Copyright Wed magazine 2021
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