Orchardleigh House, Frome, Somerset Review

Overall Rating

The whole Orchardleigh experience was great on the day, however 6 to 7 weeks before our wedding we were stunned to be presented with a bill for £ 1200.00 pounds more for accommodation, than we had budgeted for. Our wedding was in planning for two years, and nothing in any paperwork, or contract or brochure specified that the East Wing was additional cost for the wedding , we were very specifically told at the time it was £900.00 per floor, and this was it. Note we felt this was some very over enthusiastic sales technique at the time, and when discussing this with Orchardleigh, they did not appear exactly willing to compromise, they wouldn't acknowledge any responsibility for any mistake on their part, and when I requested they sent their paperwork specifying this, it was different to their original set as supplied the year before.... They basically insisted we paid this in full, and "generously" allowed us to pay the day before our wedding. Note we had met with their staff to run through catering, guest numbers, drinks, etc etc at several face to face meetings and numerous emails etc. Not once was this mentioned until the invoices arrived. I was not happy about the fact that they would not acknowledge any responsibility for their mistake and the fact they were well aware that the huge emotional and financial commitment you make to a wedding cannot easily be re arranged, and frankly had us over a barrel, if it had been at the six month point where we could have re arranged accommodation I would have pushed much harder and frankly refused to pay the whole cost , we offered to pay 50% as a good will gesture, as we felt we had paid for everything they had asked for in writing. However we had a fantastic wedding, and I loved the venue , but I felt this to be very sharp practice, be warned that every thing you pay for is specified in detail, and that when budgeting they have quoted for it in writing down to the last detail.

Orchardleigh a stunning venue, and the house and informal atmosphere are charming, and we loved it, the house, rooms, and the whole atmosphere of huge log fires, mulled , wine, christmas trees, and a lovely informal venue were exactly what we wished for, and we got married 13th Dec 2008. All of our guests were blown away by it, and the wedding coordinator was great , very laid back and nothing seemed to be too much trouble. The food and catering were great, the service informal but very efficient, and the selection of rooms that allowed to you to have live music , and more calm areas for older guests, and a nanny watching guests children's rooms (recommended by Orchardleigh) allowed everyone to relax and enjoy the day. The stunning grounds and church (St Marys,) were also very special. In all we enjoyed the day immensely and it was everything we dreamed of, our rooms were fantastic, the flowers and candles amazing, the atmosphere and whole feel of the place felt like a ball and a wedding mixed into one. In all our wedding was as perfect as could be a truly magical winter/christmas themed wedding, and I just wish I could go back and be a guest at my wedding, and take it all in again. Orchardleigh is a truly special venue, and my new wife & I loved it, as did our guests, the only bad point was what we felt to be a very sharp practice on the pricing, and only other point was that we thought our original coordinator was not great, We requested a change of coordinator and she was fantastic, once she was running things, all was very smooth, and very easy. I would still recommend it as a stunning wedding venue, and its lovely to have your whole party stay there and meet up the next day at breakfast, and relive your wedding day again.