Weddings at Colehayes Park
Colehayes Park is the perfect venue for those looking for somewhere relaxed to extend their wedding celebrations over a long weekend or whole week (rather than a single day). Not only is the house a fully-licensed wedding venue but we can also sleep up to 75 guests in the manor and a further 11 in Cork Tree Cottage. This offers a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy the company of friends and family for a longer period of time and in a more intimate setting.
We are also unique as a DIY wedding venue which means that you have the choice and freedom to create your own perfectly individual wedding. Despite its size, the house has an informal and cosy atmosphere, making it feel like a giant home from home.
Many of our wedding guests describe their stay in the house as a truly magical experience due to its special atmosphere. We have no corkage and pride ourselves in being transparent in all our fees. We understand that planning a wedding can be a big job so we strive to be as helpful as possible; no question or concern is too big or small.
Our Highlights
- Exclusive Use – Totally private Grade II Listed Manor house exclusively yours to host your ceremony, accommodate your guests and hold your wedding celebrations all under one roof.
- Location – Tucked away from the world on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, but only 3 hours by public transport from London and only a 5-minute drive from the A38.
- Capacity – Weddings up to 250 guests. Cosy enough for intimate weddings but plenty of space for larger parties.
- DIY style venue – a blank canvas where you can let your imagination run wild. You can style your wedding to suit your personality: Classic & Traditional, Bohemian, Country Rustic or Festival Chic, the choice is yours.
- Budget – Hire our venue and choose your own suppliers to fit your budget. You are always in control of your costs. We have No Hidden Fees & No Corkage charge.
- Suppliers – Free to choose any supplier you wish including caterers. We give you tried and tested recommendations but you are free to source any of your own or go totally DIY.
- Entertainment – Indoor space for bands and live outdoor music permitted. Basement space for an all-night after-party.
- Accommodation – Facilities for over 75 under one roof and more options on-site for additional guests, including our ‘Cork Tree Cottage’ rental in the grounds available for 11 extra guests and our dedicated camping field.
- Atmosphere – secluded, calm, friendly, homely, relaxed. Child & dog friendly.
- Wedding Day Facilities – 5 designated ceremony locations inside and outside, however you can get married anywhere within the grounds and house. Dining room which can seat up to 80 guests, or garden space for a marquee if required. Exquisite reception rooms with magnificent garden views and your own private Bar.
- Setting – 20 acres of tranquil and picturesque surroundings of woodland, river, and gardens creating a beautiful backdrop for your wedding photos. Including a large private lake for swimming, boating and canoeing – perfect for nature lovers.
- Helping Hands – a wonderful team of Expert Staff available to assist should you want the extra help.
Exclusive Use
You can hire the manor for a long weekend from 3pm Friday to 10am Monday. We also offer mid-week weddings where you can hire the house from Monday – Friday, or you can choose to hire the manor for a whole week. This is especially popular in the summer as your guests can stay and spend more quality time together, enjoying the beautiful surrounding areas of South Devon.
As an exclusive use venue, you won’t be disturbed by other people; the house is entirely yours. The manor can comfortably host weddings for up to 90 people, but with the addition of a marquee in our beautiful grounds, you can have up to 250 of your friends & family present to celebrate with you.
Your Ceremony
We are licensed for indoor and outdoor civil ceremonies and you can choose to get married anywhere within the house and grounds. For indoor ceremonies, we suggest the oak panelled front hall for larger weddings and the beautifully styled living room for a more intimate ceremony. Outside, we suggest the front of the house, the back gardens, our lovely hand crafted custom-made wooden wedding pagoda or in front of our very rare and stunning Cork Oak Tree as a back drop.
A DIY Venue
As a DIY wedding venue, you are in complete control of what you want to do, how you want to do it and most importantly, how much you want to spend. You have full access to the house and are in charge of organising your own catering, flowers, décor, entertainment and photographers to suit your style and budget.
Every wedding is as unique as you are and we don’t believe a one size fits all package allows the freedom that is required to make your wedding perfectly yours. We are more than happy to recommend trusted suppliers but we do not insist that you choose one over another. You can make your big day as formal (award winning banquet style caterers) or as casual (friends and family all bringing their favourite dish for a fantastic buffet) as you wish.
We have an entertainment and alcohol licence allowing you to have a pay bar if you wish, supply yourselves or ask guests to bring their own (no corkage fees!). We also have a team of helpful and reliable staff available to help with waitressing, washing up and drinks service should you wish to have the extra helping hands.
Accommodation
As one of the largest self-catering accommodations in the UK, sleeping over 80 people on site, Colehayes Park is an ideal venue for weddings.
The house has 21 bedrooms, all of them light, clean, comfortable and with views over the estate. Comprising of a variety of dormitory, twin and double rooms, the manor sleeps up to 75 people.
Our elegant wedding suite has an antique 1830’s four poster bed and en-suite bathroom, equipped with spa tub and separate shower.
All other bedrooms have washbasins and share large bathrooms with multiple toilets and showers.
Our separate rental, Cork Tree Cottage, can sleep a further 11 guests in 5 bedrooms.
We’re here to help…
We are here seven days a week to give you as much or as little guidance as you want. We can be on hand to point you in the right direction and provide helpful advice as you plan your wedding. You can also get ideas from our gallery or our Facebook and Instagram. Once you book your wedding you are also welcome to visit us as many times as you require.
We have a long list of recommended suppliers who we have got to know well over the years. We know from experience that they are eager to go the extra mile for our guests and we have had nothing but positive feedback from our newlyweds. Please take a look at our DIY directory for a list of options. Whilst we recommend these suppliers, should you prefer to source your own, you are very welcome to do so. We have no bias from one supplier to another, they are simply recommendations to give you some ideas to help get you started with your planning.
To browse some of our recommended suppliers, please see our DIY Directory. From catering to photography services, the directory lists a range of locally-based companies that provide high quality service at great value.
If you would like further recommendations or advice we are more than happy to lend our years of experience. We host over 35 weddings per year and have been a wedding venue since 2000 so we have lots of knowledge to draw from!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people is Colehayes licensed for?
What is included with your stay at Colehayes?
How do I book?
Where can wedding ceremonies take place?
Do you charge extra for marquees to be set up?
Can I move furniture and take paintings off the walls?
Are pets welcome?
Do you provide towels?
Will the house be cleaned daily during our stay?
The house is a self-catering venue where you can have everything 100% DIY and not be disturbed by anyone else. The house will be spotless when you arrive but we do not offer any cleaning services throughout your stay.
Are you equipped for children?
Colehayes is also run as a Field Studies Centre for school groups so we very much welcome children of all ages for any event at the house. We have 6 high chairs and 5 travel cots but we do not supply bedding for babies. Some rooms can sleep up to 7 people in bunk beds and single beds, which makes for a fun dorm room atmosphere for teenagers.
We have a huge amount of space where children can play and we have games rooms in the basement with a pool table, table football and table tennis to keep kids occupied in the evenings and on rainy days.
We also have a small outdoor adventure centre tucked away in the woods on the estate which can put on numerous fun activities for children of all ages. Many guests often also hire bouncy castles, soft play areas, magicians etc. If you would like a babysitter to give the parents some time to let their hair down there are numerous local childminding services in the area.