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About
Want a truly personalised wedding?
A secluded barn and woodland wedding venue in Devon, located between Exeter and Honiton. It is perfect for couples who want a completely private, exclusive-use wedding where they can choose their own suppliers!
Choose
- 1, 2 or 3 night weekend wedding with all accommodation included
- Or Pick and Mix a weekend with or without accommodation
- And onTuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays - you can opt for:
- An intimate day-time mid week wedding for up to 40
- Ceremony only hire
- A romantic Elopement
Facilities and Capacity (85 - 100)
Whether you are planning a weekend festival-style wedding, a romantic elopement or a small weekday celebration - you might find it hard to choose between the two beautiful outside ceremony spaces.
The unique hilltop WILLOW CATHEDRAL is surrounded by trees and meadows. Here, you and your loved one can exchange vows in this picture-perfect setting with gorgeous countryside views.
Or hold your outdoor ceremony in the secluded SILVER BIRCH CHURCH. Nestled in the woods, this elegantly private area is also perfect for elopement weddings.
There is also a funky 'wet weather' STRETCH TENT, which you can use as a chill-out area for your guests (or, more usually - for extra shade)!
After drinks, use the elegantly rustic BARN for a delicious meal with views of the meadows. At dusk, the FESTOON LIGHTING will create a magical festival atmosphere, and your guests will enjoy relaxing by the fire pit and gathering their energy for either dancing the night away or just enjoying each other's company for your wedding celebration.
Accommodation
A spacious modern FARMHOUSE - perfect for the main wedding party to relax in and get ready. There are festival-style GLAMPING TENTS and more luxurious SHEPHERDS HUTS for your guests. Don't forget the dedicated honeymoon suite for you and your partner - the quirky HOBBIT HOUSE HONEYMOON HIDEAWAY with private facilities. There is so much to choose from for a weekend or destination wedding mini-break!
Services Offered
When planning your wedding, this blank canvas venue gives you full creative control. Either DIY or choose outside caterers, stylists and florists to help bring your visions to life (or mix it up). There are no corkage charges - so you can either bring in your own drinks, book a bar service or even invite your wedding guests to bring their favourite tipple! What's not to like?
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Frequently asked questions
Venue type:
In the country
Unusual weddings
Marquees and tents
Woodland and festival
Barn
Outdoor license
Tipis and yurts
Unique weddings
Ceremony options:
Chapel or temple on-site
Civil ceremony licence
Dining options:
Seated meal facilities
Private catering allowed
Buffet meal facilities
Evening entertainment:
Marquee available
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities
Overnight accommodation:
Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests
Venue staff assistance:
Wedding coordinator
Venue leisure facilities:
Health suite
Other features:
Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Confetti permitted
Changing room for wedding guests
Pet-friendly
Reviews for Higher Holcombe
Jennifer Sent on 25/09/2023
5 out of 5 rating
The BEST day ever!!
We honestly could not have hoped for a better wedding day! It was magic from start to finish - the venue was just perfect and Joanna, Gary and Higher Holcombe’s team were so flexible, helpful and were clearly on side and routing for us to have the best day .
Our wedding day was earlier this year in August and the weather was looking unreliable - rain/wind weather warnings on your wedding day… not ideal! However we hardly noticed the bad weather because of the double stretch tent and of course the barn. There was also a stash of beautiful umbrellas and I loved that some of the guests even wore wellies to the ceremony! My top tip would be to not be put off by the idea of an outdoor venue and rain. There are enough indoor spaces and the Higher Holcombe team is incredibly creative when it comes to making things work!
We had a theme of trees running through the day and what better place to tie the knot than the ‘Silver Birch Church’. The sun even shone through (the rain held off for our ceremony!) and the dappled light was so pretty. Friends made an archway from foraged greenery which was just perfect at the end of the aisle.
The majority of our guests stayed on site – many of them where in the gorgeous lotus bell tents. A few lucky families got the shepherds huts which were ideal for their young children. There is also a very conveniently located shower and loo block up in the forest which meant campers needn’t trek down to the main site. It was amazing to have guests arrive and stay on site ahead of and after the wedding day itself – something which not many other venues offer. We also got to stay in the honeymoon suite – the Hobbit House – a cosy hidden away hut with everything you could need. This was such a treat!
We were given the freedom at Higher Holcombe to really craft a day which was perfect for us as a couple – we certainly made use of the barn’s kitchen and Joanna’s stash of wedding props! Joanna was there at every step to support us with answers to questions and ideas.
We had the absolute best day. 5 stars - thank you Higher Holcombe!
Our wedding day was earlier this year in August and the weather was looking unreliable - rain/wind weather warnings on your wedding day… not ideal! However we hardly noticed the bad weather because of the double stretch tent and of course the barn. There was also a stash of beautiful umbrellas and I loved that some of the guests even wore wellies to the ceremony! My top tip would be to not be put off by the idea of an outdoor venue and rain. There are enough indoor spaces and the Higher Holcombe team is incredibly creative when it comes to making things work!
We had a theme of trees running through the day and what better place to tie the knot than the ‘Silver Birch Church’. The sun even shone through (the rain held off for our ceremony!) and the dappled light was so pretty. Friends made an archway from foraged greenery which was just perfect at the end of the aisle.
The majority of our guests stayed on site – many of them where in the gorgeous lotus bell tents. A few lucky families got the shepherds huts which were ideal for their young children. There is also a very conveniently located shower and loo block up in the forest which meant campers needn’t trek down to the main site. It was amazing to have guests arrive and stay on site ahead of and after the wedding day itself – something which not many other venues offer. We also got to stay in the honeymoon suite – the Hobbit House – a cosy hidden away hut with everything you could need. This was such a treat!
We were given the freedom at Higher Holcombe to really craft a day which was perfect for us as a couple – we certainly made use of the barn’s kitchen and Joanna’s stash of wedding props! Joanna was there at every step to support us with answers to questions and ideas.
We had the absolute best day. 5 stars - thank you Higher Holcombe!
Robyn Sent on 08/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely stunning!
Higher Holcombe is an absolutely stunning natural woodland venue with so much flexibility! We were blown away with how welcoming the venue was and the stunning surroundings. We were looking for a sustainable, eco-friendly venue that was surrounded by nature, had ample accommodation and that we could DIY with other vendors and decorate ourselves. If this is what you want too then look no further! We had such an amazing day, and our guests have given high praise for the beauty of the venue and reported that it was the best wedding they had been to!
So pleased to have found this venue, and the flexibility offered made planning a breeze!
We decorated the venue ourselves and were able to chose other vendors in order to keep costs manageable.
Well behaved dogs allowed on lead so I was able to have mine as my flower girl!
The venue even allowed us to ride my late father's motorbike down the Silver Birch Church, which was extra special.
Genuinely couldn't have asked for anything more - our day was absolutely perfect!
(Photos by Shooting Pixels Photography)
So pleased to have found this venue, and the flexibility offered made planning a breeze!
We decorated the venue ourselves and were able to chose other vendors in order to keep costs manageable.
Well behaved dogs allowed on lead so I was able to have mine as my flower girl!
The venue even allowed us to ride my late father's motorbike down the Silver Birch Church, which was extra special.
Genuinely couldn't have asked for anything more - our day was absolutely perfect!
(Photos by Shooting Pixels Photography)
Ivan Sent on 20/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating
Perfect destination for an outdoor weekend wedding
Higher Holcombe was the perfect destination for our weekend wedding. We loved using all of the various areas: the Silver Birch Church for our ceremony; the Stretch Tent for our Friday pizza and drinks evening; the Birch Boulevard for our confetti procession; the Willow Cathedral for our post-ceremony drinks; and of course the Old Dairy Barn for our dinner.
We had a truly magical weekend with our friends and family glamping on site, and they all said how beautiful Higher Holcombe was!
Aside from the beauty, what sets this venue apart is Joanna and Gary's flexibility and support - you genuinely have the opportunity to have so many personal touches. They were so helpful from the moment we expressed interest, but especially on the weekend - they really went above and beyond and made us feel that they were only interested in us having the wedding that we dreamed of.
This pocket of Devon will always hold a special place in our hearts and we couldn't have wished for anything more.
We had a truly magical weekend with our friends and family glamping on site, and they all said how beautiful Higher Holcombe was!
Aside from the beauty, what sets this venue apart is Joanna and Gary's flexibility and support - you genuinely have the opportunity to have so many personal touches. They were so helpful from the moment we expressed interest, but especially on the weekend - they really went above and beyond and made us feel that they were only interested in us having the wedding that we dreamed of.
This pocket of Devon will always hold a special place in our hearts and we couldn't have wished for anything more.
Beth Sent on 22/12/2023
5 out of 5 rating
The most amazing DIY wedding venue you could ever find
We chose Higher Holcombe as we wanted a festival-style wedding with plenty of flexibility. We booked a viewing on a bit of a whim, but we knew straight away at our visit that it was the perfect venue for us. Joanna was such a delight and sent helpful bits of info, recommendations and check-ins. You can really sense she is so passionate at what she does and that comes through in what amazing attention to detail there is at the venue. We were able to make the most of the stunning scenery, as well as using the barn as a central hub. We loved that the venue provided a whole bunch of borrowable decorations and props, and also there were no sneaky ad-on charges meaning we had peace of mind when booking suppliers. We had the most amazing wedding day, I can't put it into words, but it was definitely all thanks to Higher Holcombe letting us run wild with our plans and ideas. We also love that the venue encourage an eco-friendly mindset which is something that was important to us too. The on-site accommodation was fantastic too, enabling many of our guests to stay on site and not have to spend a fortune on overpriced hotel rooms. The inceribly flexible space and accommodation options also enabled us to have our closest friends and family stay from the evening before the big day. In hindsight this was extremely valuable to us as it allowed us time to properly speak to all our guests over the course of the weekend - we would have really struggled had we only had the wedding day. Higher Holcombe are constantly making improvements to the venue, and I can't wait to see what wonderful things they add in the future. If you want a flexible venue in a beautiful natural setting, you won't find better.
Laura Sent on 16/12/2023
5 out of 5 rating
The perfect wedding venue
Wow! There are not enough words to thank Joanna and Gary for everything they did for our Wedding Day.
Higher Holcombe was the first wedding venue we looked at and we fell in love straight away. As it was the first, we wanted to explore others and went on to look at 7 more. However, nothing compared to Higher Holcombe!
This laid-back venue was everything we wanted and more. It allowed us to make our day completely unique and I loved having free rein of how it was decorated.
Joanna made the process very easy from start to finish with regular meetings to help us plan and ask lots of questions. On the day, they helped to organise our guests and complete final touches and this really helped.
The venue itself has such beautiful and unique grounds and there is so much space to play with. Our guests were able to stay in bell tents and the main guest house and this added to our wedding experience, making the most out of the weekend.
The no corkage charge was also very handy! This allowed us to bring our own alcohol and we made our own help yourself bar that guests loved - it was cheaper too!
I could write so much more about Higher Holcombe and Joanna and Gary. We are so grateful we found this unique venue and it allowed us to have the day exactly how we wanted it with limited restrictions in comparison to other places we visited.
Choose Higher Holcombe for a beautiful setting, relaxed atmosphere and the ability to make your day completely your own.
Thank you!
Higher Holcombe was the first wedding venue we looked at and we fell in love straight away. As it was the first, we wanted to explore others and went on to look at 7 more. However, nothing compared to Higher Holcombe!
This laid-back venue was everything we wanted and more. It allowed us to make our day completely unique and I loved having free rein of how it was decorated.
Joanna made the process very easy from start to finish with regular meetings to help us plan and ask lots of questions. On the day, they helped to organise our guests and complete final touches and this really helped.
The venue itself has such beautiful and unique grounds and there is so much space to play with. Our guests were able to stay in bell tents and the main guest house and this added to our wedding experience, making the most out of the weekend.
The no corkage charge was also very handy! This allowed us to bring our own alcohol and we made our own help yourself bar that guests loved - it was cheaper too!
I could write so much more about Higher Holcombe and Joanna and Gary. We are so grateful we found this unique venue and it allowed us to have the day exactly how we wanted it with limited restrictions in comparison to other places we visited.
Choose Higher Holcombe for a beautiful setting, relaxed atmosphere and the ability to make your day completely your own.
Thank you!
Beth Sent on 28/09/2022
5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely amazing
The whole experience at Higher Holcombe was incredible! From the welcome at our initial visit right though to the wedding weekend! Joanna is a wonderful host, and so accommodating to all our needs. We were able to create a day that really suited us, and we’re supported with every decision and advised by Joanna when needed. We opted for a full weekend, so we had the venue from the Friday at 12pm until the Monday at 12pm. It was so amazing to have the surrounding days as bonus time with our guests, as well as having a huge amount of accommodation on site! The honeymoon suite was our particular favourite touch! We really couldn’t have asked for a better venue, and host for our wedding! We would really recommend!
Vicki Sent on 29/10/2021
5 out of 5 rating
What a unique venue for our dream rustic wedding!
The venue provides a relaxed, boho and rustic style with beautiful woodland surroundings for wonderful photos!
I spent the night before and the morning of my wedding at the fabulous and spacious farmhouse with my bridal party. Jo was so kind to leave Prosecco for us to enjoy and relax. We had our ceremony in a nearby church and we came back to the beautifully renovated farmhouse for food, drinks and celebrations with our guests. We had the best day ever!! And to top it off, the bride and groom have the option to stay in the quirky hobbit house. Thank you Jo and team - Tom and Vicki x
I spent the night before and the morning of my wedding at the fabulous and spacious farmhouse with my bridal party. Jo was so kind to leave Prosecco for us to enjoy and relax. We had our ceremony in a nearby church and we came back to the beautifully renovated farmhouse for food, drinks and celebrations with our guests. We had the best day ever!! And to top it off, the bride and groom have the option to stay in the quirky hobbit house. Thank you Jo and team - Tom and Vicki x
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Map
Higher Holcombe Farm, Holcombe Lane, Ottery St Mary, Ex11 1PQ EX11 1PQ Ottery St Mary (Devon)