Everything you need to know about a Coombe Lodge wedding
As Bristol wedding photographers, we have the privilege of visiting a lot of different wedding venues to document our couples getting married – and just like we don’t have a favourite couple, we also don’t have a favourite venue. However, if we did…Coombe Lodge would be right up there!
Coombe Lodge is an incredible country house venue just outside of Bristol. It’s not just the venue itself that makes it so spectacular, though it is stunning – it’s absolutely everything from start to finish, thanks to the incredible team that works there to make your day all you want it to be. Amazing food, fantastic staff and every wedding runs like clockwork.
As part of our Supplier Spotlight series, We spoke to Martha, General Manager at Coombe Lodge to get the inside scoop and everything you might need to know about planning your wedding there.
Give us the deets – what’s the best part about working at Coombe Lodge?
Speaking honestly, this is a really tricky question to answer as there isn’t just one ‘best part’ about working at Coombe Lodge. We do always remind ourselves of how lucky we are to look out of our windows to see such beautiful surroundings, and the fact that we get to share this with so many people. Of course, we also get to meet so many lovely couples looking for their dream wedding which counts towards one of the best things about working at Coombe Lodge, and to help bring that dream to life here always makes priceless moments for us all (not just the couples!)
However, if I were to simply choose one ‘best part’ then it would have to be the amazing team I get the pleasure to work with day in and day out. I am incredibly proud of our team here and of the care, imagination and sheer hard work each individual gives to the venue – it really is first class. We truly are a little family working towards the same goal: to make every single person that walks through our doors feel welcome and looked after.
We can confirm, you’re all gems. So introduce us to the team!
Without further ado I would love to introduce you to our front of house events team…
Charlotte Gaylard joined our team in Spring 2019 and has become a key member of our ‘Coombe Lodge’ family. Since then it’s felt like she has worked with us from day 1! When you meet her, you instantly know that weddings are her passion. She actually knew she wanted to be a wedding planner at age 7, so it’s safe to say she is in her dream job.
Izzy started working with us in 2021 as a part time events team member whilst studying at university. During this time she showed amazing potential, and after graduating was offered a full time role as of September 2022. Since then Izzy has continued to come out of her shell (she is an introvert by nature, although when you meet her you won’t believe it!) and has really grown to love events and what we do! She also plays a pivotal role in our goals for becoming environmentally sustainable, something she has expertise in from her studies.
Paige joined our team in May 2023. Coming from a background in events, Paige has taken to the Coombe Lodge way very easily. Her attention to detail is second to none and if you get the chance to meet her you’ll soon realise her love for events alongside being a major animal lover – have a dog at your wedding ceremony and she’ll happily volunteer to look after it!
Isabelle, following in her fellow Izzy’s footsteps, started with our part-time events team and has since joined us this year for her university placement, where she’s studying Business Management and Leadership. Originally taking on the role as Events Supervisor she became a vital cog in aiding our events managers in creating unforgettable events. From showing great teamwork and developing within this role she recently received her well-deserved promotion to Event Manager. Her bubbly character and sometimes hilarious questions really do keep us on our toes and the team wouldn’t be the same without her.
Charlotte Thompson is our newest member of the team, joining in December 2023, and has fitted right in with our Coombe Lodge family – you wouldn’t know she’s only just started! Learning the ropes as she goes we have no doubt that she’ll be up and running in no time. Watch this space!
Last but not least, Leanne is the longest standing member of the Coombe Lodge Team (2011 to be precise!) and sits right at the heart of our family. She certainly doesn’t like to be the centre of attention and much prefers to work quietly behind the scenes. This being said, she very much has a presence with us all and is always there as a helping hand. She is well-organised, methodical and has a real eye for detail and is always first to volunteer when we are up against it.
(Want to see a Coombe Lodge wedding in action? Mia and Joe’s wedding was a gorgeous elegant yet relaxed day, which you can see here.)
What makes Coombe Lodge so special?
Putting it simply – our overall package here at Coombe Lodge is what makes us stand out from the crowd.
The romance of Coombe Lodge is hard to beat. It is truly a beautiful venue, loved and cared for by a devoted team. The venue still takes our breath away, and its sheer elegance and warming atmosphere always creates a welcoming and relaxed feel.
As well as being romantic and stunning, our manor house is very convenient, making it an ideally situated venue for any occasion. We are only 13 miles south west of central Bristol, two miles off the A38 and within four miles of Bristol International Airport, meaning our guests can have that Country escape without being left in the middle of nowhere.
Coombe Lodge is a truly versatile venue, and offers something special whatever the season. Whether it be summertime, where you can enjoy a cocktail on the grand balcony whilst watching the sun set over Blagdon Lake, the autumnal colour palette creating an amazing backdrop for a couple’s photos, or the depths of winter, when Coombe Lodge becomes a warm and inviting escape for our guests to relax and simply dance the night away.
If the weather is inclement, the house offers ample amounts of light and space to allow plenty of areas for a drinks reception, ceremony and wedding breakfast. This means the day flows seamlessly without any obtrusive room turn-arounds. Come rain or shine our grounds offer endless amounts of photo opportunities inside and out, allowing both photographers and couples individuality to come alive.
Whether it is an event for 50 – 160 guests we offer a bespoke service that we are extremely proud of and have complete confidence in. We work and listen intently to every couple offering them a tailored and individual experience. We are extremely transparent as far as pricing is concerned – and our brochure and website tell all there is to know so that the bride and groom can budget accordingly. Above all, it is simple, fair, honest and reasonable. Paired with our great reputation for our cuisine & our dedicated team that work tirelessly behind the scenes, it makes me very proud of what we continue to build.
Overall, we feel Coombe Lodge has the complete package! Its true beauty and romance can only be exceeded by the dedicated team that continues to build upon the values and goals in making Coombe Lodge an even better place than it already is. Our reputation has been built upon great service, outstanding food, drink and attention to detail, so that our couples will have nothing but wonderful memories of their special day at Coombe Lodge.
Wow! What’s your accommodation like?
Coombe Lodge offers twelve elegant rooms for exclusive overnight stays, for couples and their closest friends and family. Our rooms have been individually designed to retain original features, and to provide the utmost in comfort and style. Three of the rooms have the lovingly restored original, art deco influenced bathrooms, while the other nine feature large wet-rooms and walk-in showers. Some even feature free-standing baths in the room! Regardless of which room you stay in you are promised a view – whether that be of the Somerset countryside, Blagdon Lake or our beautiful gardens.
How many ceremony rooms do you have at Coombe Lodge, and can you get married outside?
Whether you have 50 or 160 guests, there’s a great choice of locations for your wedding ceremony. Inside the house we have our Billiard Room suitable for those looking for an intimate ceremony – this is a great location in the winter months with a lit fire creating a cosy atmosphere. We also have our bright and airy Music Room, with chandelier lighting and panoramic views across the gardens and beyond.
Our couples can absolutely get married outside (depending on our British weather of course). Again, there’s plenty of areas to choose from for an outdoor ceremony, but one popular location is the courtyard under the charming veranda.
Do couples have to organise their own catering?
Not at all! All of our catering is done inhouse here at Coombe Lodge.
We’re very proud of the great reputation we’ve built for our cuisine. The care and imagination taken to prepare our menus is paramount – the credit for this lies with our team of skilled chefs who take delight in creating mouth-watering dishes. Each of our chefs take enormous pride in all they do, and they have carefully designed a tempting selection of delicious menus, made with only the finest ingredients from suppliers we know and trust. Wherever possible, these suppliers are local, organic and use free-range production methods.
(We were asked recently to take pictures of the food for their new menu, and of course sample it – it’s a hard life. We can confirm that it is, in fact, absolutely to die for.)
Do you have a resident DJ?
We do not as we like our couples to have the freedom with their own personal suppliers. If couples are looking for suggestions, however, we do recommend some amazing DJs on our recommended supplier list, which we offer to all couples to help them with their wedding plans if needed.
(Alternatively, if you’re looking for a recommendation, we shone the spotlight on one of our fave Bristol DJs earlier on in this series)…check it out here
Are you exclusively a wedding venue?
Our exclusive use venue is a unique backdrop for so many different types of events. It’s a very special location, with flexibility to host corporate away days, charity events, exhibitions, launch events, gala dinners as well as being an exclusive party venue for special occasions.
Do you get amazing sunsets at Coombe Lodge?
I am going to let Neil & Debs images answer this question! The classic saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”….
(Ok, ok, it was a bit of a trick question – but good answer!)
What’s your number one piece of advice for any couples planning their wedding?
Take a moment on your day to simply stop and watch! The day sadly goes so quickly for you both, so take a breather with each other and look over what you both achieved! It will be at this exact moment that you realise all the planning, sleepless nights, decision making was totally worth it. I promise!
And to round us off, what’s your most memorable moment from the job?
A moment I always go back to has to be when a Father of the Bride, who predominantly used a wheelchair, spent the whole year in intensive physiotherapy to walk his daughter down the aisle. It is safe to say he did it and very quickly became a real hero of mine!
Thank you so much to Martha for such a wonderful insight into getting married at Coombe Lodge – we can’t wait to be back with you soon!
If you’re planning a Coombe Lodge wedding and need photographers who’ll fit right in with the vibe of the day and provide you with photos that you’ll keep for a lifetime afterwards, then get in touch here – we’d love to hear from you.
