ESCOT HOUSE | DEVON WEDDING VENUE

This venue has, and always will have a special place in my heart, as I chose it to host my big day.

When I got married the world of weddings was oh so different to the way it is today and the choice was so much more limited; think Hilton Hotel’s and paisley carpet! I was also, not a wedding photographer and therefore didn’t have that insider knowledge that’s so valuable today. That said, I wouldn’t have changed my decision for the world, apart from…to employ the best wedding photographer that I could afford and not rely on the services of ‘a friend with a good camera’! (More on that another day!!).

I can personally vouch for everything said below about Lucy and between her, and the laid-back, relaxed feel of the venue (and the promise of a cat in my wedding photographs), they bowled me over, and the rest, as they say, is history. It’s been an utter joy and a pleasure returning to Escot House to capture many a wedding and brand shoot for them, and I hope to be doing so for many years to come.

Over to Lucy to tell you more about this relaxed Devon Wedding Venue:

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS:

Escot House is an exclusive use wedding venue in East Devon set in 250 acres of glorious, tranquil parkland. The grounds, terrace and garden provide the ideal backdrop for wedding photos and can also be enjoyed by wedding guests. The house, which is licensed for civil ceremonies, is the family home of the Kennaway family who have been organising weddings for 25 years. We provide in-house catering with commitment to local sourcing. As well as weddings, Escot hosts conferences, parties and events, and every year is the location for the family-friendly Beautiful Days festival.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE WORLD OF WEDDINGS?

It was quite simple really! Way back in 1994, a local family just asked us if they could use Escot Estate for their wedding venue. We talked it through and thought, let’s do it. We’ve never looked back!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR VENUE VIBE?

Escot is a very relaxed venue, with a touch of informal grandeur. It has a natural feel, surrounded by grounds, a lake and private gardens. It’s pretty quirky too, our jungle-themed stairs are very unusual.

WHAT AREA OF THE COUNTRY DO YOU COVER?

We take weddings from any part of the country. We don’t offer accommodation onsite but we have lots of wonderful options for accommodation nearby, from B&B and guesthouses to holiday cottage complexes and yurts.

HOW MUCH SHOULD BRIDES/GROOMS BUDGET FOR THEIR WEDDING VENUE?

Our basic booking fee for the house is £2,400 so that’s the starting point. From there it really does depend how many guests the couple want. We’d probably say the minimum is around £5,000 but of course a couple can spend as much as they want!

HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD BRIDES/GROOMS BOOK THEIR WEDDING VENUE?

The furthest in advance we’ve taken a booking for is three years, but we did once take one with a six-week lead-time. For most couples it’s a year or two.

WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION YOU GET ASKED....AND THE ANSWER?!

We’re often asked if the couple has to have a set menu.

The answer is no, they don’t. We have guide menus but we work with couples to make sure they have the menu they want, that’s suitable for all their guests.

WHAT IS THE MOST UNUSUAL REQUEST YOU HAVE RECEIVED?

That was to bring a horse into the house. Although we always try to accommodate our couples, on that occasion we did say no!

WHAT ARE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR 2020/2021?

More outdoor, festival-style weddings. With our track record of hosting the Beautiful Days festival every August, we’re pretty much set up for this type of wedding request.

IF YOU COULD WORK ON ANYONES WEDDING WHOSE WOULD IT BE?

Graham Norton please! Just because we think it would be really a good fun wedding to host.

WHAT IS THE BEST MONTH TO GET MARRIED OUTSIDE?

You can never guarantee the weather but if we were to choose a month, it would have to be May. Escot is so very pretty in the Spring and May seems generally to have a lot of dry, sunny days.

FREE BAR, OR NOT FREE BAR? AND HOW DO YOU CONTROL IT?

It really does depend on the couple’s budget. Most wedding parties are quite happy to have table wine then pay for their drinks after that. If you do have a free bar, there’s some element of control kept by bar staff serving single measures of spirits, and a glass of wine rather than a bottle. Or the couple could provide beer, wine and soft drinks and ask guests to buy their own spirits.

WHAT SHOULD THE PRIORITIES BE, BUDGET WISE, FOR A COUPLE, IN YOUR OPINION?

Get the food right. Great quality food for daytime and evening guests, plenty of it. Make sure all of your guests’ dietary requirements are a known quantity. The other priority is to book really good entertainment. You can’t beat a professional wedding band who can play to the crowd and get everyone up dancing.

WEEKEND OR WEEKDAY WEDDING? AND WHY?

We don’t differentiate, we want couples to have the day they prefer. We don’t charge more for weekends and we make sure that couples get the same quality of service and value for money whatever day they choose. The benefits of a weekend wedding are that guests are more likely to be able to come, but if you're getting married in summer in lovely Devon, a weekday wedding may make things easier in terms of finding accommodation and avoiding holidaymaker travel chaos!

WHAT SHOULD COUPLES LOOK FOR IN A WEDDING VENUE?

Somewhere they feel relaxed and comfortable. A light, airy venue always creates a nice atmosphere, alongside memorable character and privacy and exclusivity are important factors too. A wedding venue that is open to your ideas and prepared to be flexible from the word go. On a practical note, somewhere with lots of free parking close to the wedding venue.

SHOULD A COUPLE BOOK A WEDDING PLANNER? AND WHY?

Most of our couples don’t use a wedding planner, they rely on advice from us as an experienced wedding venue. Lucy Kennaway has been organising weddings for 25 years so she can step more into that role if a couple want extra support.

BEST WEDDING PLANNERS YOU KNOW? AND WHY?

We’d have to say Lucy, as she knows the venue and how it will work best for any wedding plans.

HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST COUPLES FIND THE BEST WEDDING SUPPLIERS?

We will give suggestions and point you in the right direction, but you might want to put in the research if you’re after something in particular. Talk to friends, family or even work colleagues and find out which suppliers they’ve used and been pleased with.

WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST A COUPLE LOOK FOR IN A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

The most important thing in a wedding photographer is having a superb level of organisation! Someone who wants to get to know the couple and get behind their personalities to bring those out. Someone who is really positive and will photograph with sensitivity – after all it’s your day not theirs. Look at previous work to see who really shines out with the style you would like for your own wedding.