Weddings at Stourhead Estate

[craig r]

Evening all!

As the men of PH mostly seem to have been divorced a few times, have any of you got married / been to a wedding or reception at The Temple of Apollo? Google doesn't bring up any helpful reviews. We visited there on Saturday and thought it was a beautiful setting though information seems rather limited and information anyone might have of their own experiences would be greatly appreciated!

~ Craig

[mikeveal]

Firstly, congrats.

Secondly, no, not at that temple. We have visited though. From memory isn't there a short walk up to the temple from the nearest track. You might want to warn your guests not to wear high heels.

We got married a little further north at St. Audries Park. The place is stunning, quite grand, but at the same time very comfortable. It's a one stop shop for marriage, wedding breakfast, reception, hotel and full English the following day.

The normal rates aren't cheap (nothing with the word wedding attached is cheap) but they do last minute deals that are an absolute steal. I can not recommend the place highly enough.

This was taken on Sunday morning, when we returned for a black tie dinner & dance event.

[corozin]

Reading your plight, my question is - does the place even have a licence to carry out weddings?

[craig r]

mikeveal said:

Secondly, no, not at that temple. We have visited though. From memory isn't there a short walk up to the temple from the nearest track. You might want to warn your guests not to wear high heels.

There is a short, but quite steep and cobbly walk to the temple. The guy showing us around did say that there is a golf cart type of thing to get the elderly / infirm up to the top if needed. A lot of the guests are from Plymouth, so tottering about in stupid heels on cobbles is second nature, if you've ever seen the Barbican on a Saturday night you'll know what I mean!

corozin said:

Reading your plight, my question is - does the place even have a licence to carry out weddings?

I must admit I didn't ask that question. I just assumed as they had a wedding organiser and a list of registrars (sp?) that it did have a licence, and we all know what is said about assumption... They did specify that there could be no religous readings / hymns etc. which is fine as that's not what we were looking for.

~ Craig

[IanV12]

according to their website it has a licence
lovely place, my parents used to live nearby

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead/hire-thi...

[the_g_ster]

How many have you got coming? Temple of Apollo is not that big, and, with the mentioned slope up, it is perhaps not that practical for some, if the weather is poor than access will be via the road with the holiday cottages on them that is still a little walk away for any older grandparents.

Montacute House has weddings, and, is smaller yet pretty grounds and also is closer for those from Plymouth.

[craig r]

the_g_ster said:

How many have you got coming? Temple of Apollo is not that big, and, with the mentioned slope up, it is perhaps not that practical for some, if the weather is poor than access will be via the road with the holiday cottages on them that is still a little walk away for any older grandparents.

Montacute House has weddings, and, is smaller yet pretty grounds and also is closer for those from Plymouth.

Less than 30 people, the size is what drew us there in the first place as a lot of weddings I have been to the venues have been way too big for the amount of people attending and everything looks a little bit lost. The access is not really too much of an issue as I said before there is a golf cart thing available for the more unsteady.

Also, we were thinking of having the reception at The Spread Eagle, but after visiting it and speaking with them we were quite put off, so any ideas for reception venues? We have looked at The Bath Arms - which is stunning - but the menu is uninspiring. I think local knowledge would sniff out places you would miss browsing t'internet, and as we are in Northampton and from Plymouth, local knowledge of that area is lacking.

Thanks for the replies so far.

~ Craig

[Navylynx]

Not sure if this helps…

We have just got married (Sep 13th) at Holbrook House near Wincanton. Gemma is a great wedding planner and is the liaison there, the food is stunning and, if you go exclusive, the rooms are lovely. I'd highly recommend a cheeky visit and see for yourself.

The house has plenty of character and the grounds on a sunny day are lovely. Ours went without a hitch and everyone commented how relaxed it was.