We are a friendly and flexible team with the aim of helping you have a truly bespoke wedding celebration that reflects you both, your personalities and interests. A hill-top willow 'cathedral', a majestic tree-lined 'gallop' and a secret silver birch 'church' are places to hold your ceremony, welcome your guests with drinks or host a picnic! TheOld Dairy is perfect for celebration meals and dance parties!
You and your guests won't have far to fall - as there is a funky farmhouse for 10 and glamping accommodation for another 28. There is also a really quirky hobbit house honeymoon suite on the woodland fringes for first night privacy! If you want a romantic, woodland, festival vibe, meadow or gentle outdoor wedding celebration - this place could be for you!
Exclusive use of the entire venue: Old Dairy barn, woodland, meadows, lawns, gardens, willow ‘cathedral’, silver birch ‘church’, orchard, courtyards, gardens and lawns for feasting, fun and general frolicking for your agreed hire period to include:
• Use of all 5 Lotus Belle glamping tents (see separate info below)
• The quirky Hobbit House Honeymoon suite for your wedding night
• Arranged seating for ceremony and main feast/meal as required
• Chunky rustic trestle tables and seating plus 4 additional service trestle tables • Use of PA plus mic stand for speeches (not suitable for live music)
• Illuminated car parking facilities behind the orchard, disabled parking with sloped access behind the Old Dairy barn • Terrace furniture (chunky wooden tables and bench seats)
• Festoon lighting ‘chill out’ zone outside the Old Dairy
• Bonfire ‘boma’ (fire pit area) with rustic seats, a wood stash for burning • Use of catering kitchen for DIY catering
• DIY pick of foliage/flowers from the hedgerows, meadows and woodland for you to use for decorating the Old Dairy party barn (please bring your own picking tools) • Use of simple jars and vases for table and venue decoration
Personal Message from the Manager
Name of Wedding Contact: Joanna Tomlins
It's a funny thing to say on a wedding planning platform - but we never really planned to open a wedding venue!
It all began by planting trees. As the woodland glades began to grow - it just felt like the right thing to do! We are a small family team and love thinking of things that we can do to make your wedding really special! We would love to show you around, to hopefully inspire you and to help you host a really lovely and relaxed wedding.
Exclusive use of the entire venue: Old Dairy barn, woodland, meadows, lawns, gardens, willow ‘cathedral’, silver birch ‘church’, orchard, courtyards, gardens and lawns for feasting, fun and general frolicking for your agreed hire period to include:
• Use of all 5 Lotus Belle glamping tents
• Farmhouse facilities (sleeping 10 in 5 bedrooms)
• The quirky Hobbit House Honeymoon suite for your wedding night
• Arranged seating for ceremony and main feast/meal as required
• Chunky rustic trestle tables and seating plus 4 additional service trestle tables
• Use of PA plus mic stand for speeches (not suitable for live music)
• Illuminated car parking facilities behind the orchard
• Illuminated disabled parking with sloped access behind the Old Dairy barn
• Terrace furniture (chunky wooden tables and bench seats)
• Festoon lighting ‘chill out’ zone outside the Old Dairy
• Bonfire ‘boma’ (fire pit area) with rustic seats, a wood stash for burning and blankets
• Use of catering kitchen for DIY catering
£1100 for 3 night weekend weddings
£9000 for 2 night weekend weddings
£8000 for a single night weekend weddings
£6500 midweek offer
Describe the best wedding that happened at Higher Holcombe?
It's kind of tricky to answer this one! We believe that you should celebrate in the way that you want - so that your passions and interests are included. We love how couples use different parts of our venue over the course of a weekend - and I think that I love seeing how friends and family gather around to support each couple. It's such a privilege to be in the background and to see all your ideas and plans come to fruition!
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Choose everything that you know will make you happy!
Invite your favourite people; eat your favourite food; drink your favourite drinks; dance to your favourite music and enjoy every second!
What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?
A pick n mix confetti table! Beautiful bowls of dried herbs and flowers that were chosen for their special meanings and connections. This just made me sigh!
Describe Higher Holcombe in 5 adjectives
Rural Relaxed Romantic Flexible Inclusive
Where’s the best photo spot at Higher Holcombe?
The willow cathedral, silver birch church, the knot garden, meadows, woodland and open fields!
Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at Higher Holcombe?
Not yet! But David Beckham had an Igluhut (we call ours the Hobbit House) delivered at the same time as ours! Does that count?
What’s your favourite canapé?
I'm all about the dips (beetroot hummus is a fave atm). I've also recently discovered that I now actually like olives! I buy the 'common' ones in brine. . .then drain and rinse them and marinate them in olive oil and fresh herbs. . . yum! (I feel sooo grown up now)!
What’s your favourite midnight treat?
You can't top a tasty toastie (especially a cheese one - with Hatari chilli mash)!
What is Higher Holcombe most unique feature?
The hill-top 35m long willow 'cathedral' - a 2 minute gentle stroll through woodland glades (our lovely natural 'aisle' ) to the gorgeous party barn with views of the paddock and meadow. And the silver birch 'church' (a wonderful planting accident)!
What part of your business are you most proud of?
Planting and growing a woodland of 9000 trees over 14 acres. Yes - we have done it all ourselves! It's the reason why I (Joanna) don't have long nails! The hardest bit is banging in the tree stakes! Oh - and the wild flowers are really getting going now!