Set in 13 acres of gardens near Axminster and Honiton, Burrow Farm is sometimes described as East Devon’s Secret Garden – and it’s easy to see why.
There are sweeping lawns, mature trees, colourful borders, woodland, ponds, a wildflower meadow and some spectacular views across the surrounding Devon countryside. The gardens change throughout the seasons, with rhododendrons and azaleas in spring, the wildflower meadow in early summer and the Grasses Garden bringing texture and movement later in the year.
A garden with a story
The gardens themselves have a rather lovely history.
John and Mary Benger moved to Burrow Farm in 1959, when it was a traditional working farm with a dairy herd. Mary began creating a garden with the help of their four children.
Over the following decades, an unpromising patch of land was transformed into the 13-acre gardens you see today.
The Woodland Garden is one of the most atmospheric parts of the garden, while other areas have been developed over the years to create the collection of different gardens and landscapes.
So when you get married at Burrow Farm, you’re not simply hiring a pretty garden.
You’re celebrating in a place that has been lovingly created over more than sixty years.
Your wedding, your way
One of the things that makes Burrow Farm Gardens particularly interesting as a wedding venue is the freedom it gives you to create your own celebration.
The gardens provide the setting, but you can choose your own marquee, caterers, entertainment and other suppliers.
The marquee area sits beside the Grasses Garden, while your guests can explore the wider gardens and you have plenty of opportunities for photographs in different parts of the grounds.
That makes it a particularly good option if you don’t want a wedding package where everything has already been decided for you.
You can create something that feels like your wedding rather than choosing from a list of options.
What about the ceremony?
Burrow Farm Gardens isn’t licensed for legal civil wedding ceremonies, so the legal marriage needs to take place elsewhere.
However, the gardens can be used for symbolic ceremonies, blessings and celebrant-led wedding ceremonies, which means you can still have the ceremony you actually want, surrounded by your family and friends in the gardens.
You can then have your reception and celebrations in the same beautiful setting.
Simon and Annabelle’s wedding
I had the pleasure of conducting Simon and Annabelle’s ceremony at Burrow Farm Gardens. The views across the countryside simply took my breath away! It was a slightly windy day so we made good use of microphones to make sure the guests could hear every word. This venue even made the shortlist for my own wedding – surrounded by nature, plenty of space and you can make the day as relaxed, personal and individual as you want.
A wedding venue near Axminster and Honiton
Burrow Farm Gardens is in Dalwood, near Axminster, in the heart of the East Devon countryside.
It’s a beautiful rural setting while still being within easy reach of Honiton, Axminster, Seaton and the East Devon coast, with Exeter also accessible for guests travelling from further afield.
If you’re looking for a garden wedding venue in East Devon, particularly one where you can bring your own ideas, suppliers and personality to the day, Burrow Farm Gardens is well worth a look.
