LICENSED FOR CIVIL CEREMONIES
Located in the beautiful Devon countryside and nestled next to the river Exe, Bickleigh Castle is the perfect wedding venue for all seasons. We have a range of different rooms and spaces for Civil Wedding Ceremonies around the Castle and in our grounds.
Bickleigh Castle estate covers over 65 acres of beautiful Devon scenery and so photo opportunities are around every corner. Manicured striped lawns and flower beds bursting with colour meet seamlessly with paddling ducks in our ancient Moat flanking the Castle. The walled garden is a hidden gem and the Knot garden walk is an enjoyable stroll - perfect for a moment by yourselves.
Walking down the aisle will be a treasured memory for the rest of your life, so making the most of it is essential. Whether you are outside in our beautiful gardens nestled aside the River Exe, walking down through our grand historic Great Hall, or stepping back in time and embracing our centuries old romantic Chapel, we have an array of wonderful ceremony options from intimate to grand.
Bickleigh Castle sits next to the River Exe, between Tiverton and Crediton. We are very conveniently located just 20 minutes from the M5 and easily reached from Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids Railway Stations, and Exeter Airport.
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Our 6th century Chapel
We are delighted to have helped many couples make their wedding day dreams a reality. Our success is measured by the magnificent and heart-warming feedback we receive from our couples who describe their wedding day at Bickleigh Castle as seamless, relaxing, romantic and purely beautiful. No wedding day should ever be stressful, which is why we take care of every little detail for you.
Our crowning glory is an intimate 6th Century Chapel located in a walled garden in the grounds of Bickleigh Castle. The Chapel was originally a Saxon meeting house and was the parish church until the 1400s, after which it was the estate chapel. During the 19th Century it was used as a cattle shed, before being restored in 1929. It was reconsecrated in 1933 by the Bishop of Exeter.
The Chapel is available to use for a Blessing, a humanist ceremony, an opportunity to sing some of your favourite songs, or simply capture beautiful photographs. It is perfect for an intimate wedding ceremony surrounded by the tranquil Devon countryside with the River Exe peacefully running by just outside.
Get Married by the River Exe
Wake up at Bickleigh Castle on the morning of your wedding to start the preparations for your big day and let the excitement begin!
With the river Exe flowing through the estate, outdoor civil wedding ceremonies are much sought after, with amazing countryside views and the most picturesque, tranquil and peaceful setting. Perfect for your Spring or Summer outdoor wedding ceremony.
Surrounded by the beautiful countryside & situated next to the River Exe. Bickleigh Castle can ensure your outdoor wedding goes to plan. Just imagine saying your wedding vows with the sound of the river running by, robins singing in the trees and the tree quietly rustling in the wind. Although we may not be able to guarantee the weather outdoor weddings are truly spectacular.
After the ceremony, you can move to the versatile Wedding Breakfast Room, where you can dine in style with all your friends and family. View our menus for more information about our 5-star dining experience. For extremely large weddings it is necessary to hire a marquee.
The Great Hall
Wonderful wedding ceremonies take place in the magnificent Great Hall which dates to Norman times, with improvements made in the 15th Century by Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Devon, whose family crest is on the central fireplace.
With stunning views, a beautiful Minstrels’ Gallery and a roaring log fire during the winter months, the Great Hall is a grand and romantic setting for your marriage ceremony. The Great Hall will seat 120 guests for wedding ceremonies, or up to 75 if you wish to use it for your Wedding Breakfast instead. It also makes an excellent setting for a drinks reception in the winter months especially, or as ‘plan B’ in the Summer.
There are numerous seating plans for the room, depending on your numbers and your preferences and it can be decorated as elaborately or simply as you wish.
The Banqueting Hall
The Banqueting Room was created through the conversion of an 18th Century barn. By use of an oak beam, it was found possible to increase capacity considerably, and at the same time the attractive beamed ceiling was exposed. At full capacity, the Banqueting Room will therefore seat 120 guests for the Wedding Breakfast. Access is via both a staircase and a ramp, and the express service from the kitchen below ensures the food is always warm.
The room is presented, in effect, as a ‘blank canvas’, allowing a great variety of ideas to be used in making the room that much more special and uniquely styled for each couple. Our wedding arrangements also allow you time before your wedding to apply your own special touches.
The room is also well-suited to being used for showing a late-night movie!
The Bar & Orangery
The area comprising the Bar and Orangery was formed from the Victorian stables, hence the close proximity of a cobbled yard, mounting block, and characterful stable doors.
The combined area has an excellent floor for dancing, and is perfect for having a DJ or live band for the fun following your wedding. Like nearly all our reception rooms, it is very versatile, and can be adapted for other uses – even for a civil ceremony (for which it is also licensed) or having your Wedding Breakfast downstairs (capacity c.70).
The Bar can be stocked according to your preferences, and at your Wedding the services of an excellent Bar Staff are available as required.
The Bar and Live Music license can run to 0100, after which use may be made of our excellent but appreciably quieter CD player for those who like to dance the night away!
Some of Our Testimonials
- Have just come back from a wonderful weekend visit at Bickleigh Castle. All the staff are friendly and welcoming. The property is amazing on beautiful grounds. Our room was a great room, clean and lovely and all you could want. There was a great choice at breakfast and loved the guided tour we were given of the castle. I can’t recommend this property enough. Thanks for a great weekend! - lcastle87
- Just got back from our 2nd visit to the wonderful Bickleigh Castle. It is such a beautiful place and we have enjoyed every moment spent there.We were made really welcome by Sarah Robbie and John and all of the staff were very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was outstanding and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. - Ken & Lyn Colmer
- We booked the castle as we had it recommended to us. We were thrilled with the thatched cottage that we stayed in. The room was lovely with 2 queen sized beds. We noticed straight away that the bedding was luxurious. Warm fluffy towels in the bathroom. The view was amazing. The family that run it were warm and welcoming and were happy to chat and make us feel at ease. - Helen H