Garden parties and fireside feasting? Will you say “I do” in the dappled light of a Victorian orangery or in the more intimate setting of a Regency chamber?
There are no settings that rival the romance of an English stately home, which is why more couples are choosing a country house wedding venue for their celebrations.
The Charm
Of Country
House Weddings
Offering a distinctive aesthetic and beautiful period features, country houses make refined wedding venues.
Here are just a few of the reasons why country house weddings are simply so special.
Exclusive Use of Majestic Venues
If you choose a country house venue that offers exclusive use, you and your guests will enjoy the house and gardens to yourselves. Unlike a hotel, there’ll be no other guests or events during your wedding: the stately home will be yours and yours alone.
Idyllic Countryside Backdrops
Think immaculate formal gardens, winding paths and wooded parks. Picture your champagne reception on the terrace, overlooking the lovingly tended lawns or historic deer park. Whether bathed in golden summer sun or twinkling with frost, an English country garden makes a beautiful backdrop at any time of year.
Accommodation for Wedding Weekends
Another advantage of staying in a stately home is that most country house wedding venues have accommodation. This can be in the main house or, in old estate cottages in the grounds, or a blend of both. Turn your wedding day into a weekend-long celebration, with accommodation available for the night before the wedding and the wedding night. Look for options such as a luxury honeymoon suite or a cottage for the bridal party and groomsmen for the wedding eve.
Versatile Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
A country estate gives you a choice of indoor and outdoor spaces. Inside, you can choose from palatial ballrooms and great halls, with plenty of more intimate spaces for smaller weddings. Outside, you have the formal gardens and wider grounds to enjoy, and you can even celebrate the marriage service outdoors.
Historic and Romantic Ambience
There is something magical about a country house wedding. The elegant architecture and parklands create an atmosphere like nowhere else – and, of course, the photographs will be incredible. Historic spaces like orangeries, old chapels and ballrooms provide unique locations for your celebrations, while original details from open fires to sweeping staircases add to the ambience.
Personalisation and Customisation
Working within this glorious setting, you can personalise your wedding with unique little touches. Add your own decorative elements, such as lighting and arrangements, and create bespoke wedding favours for your guests. Talk to your wedding planner about customised extras for your wedding.
Outdoor Activities for Guests
From cocktails on the terrace to croquet on the lawn, al fresco food to fireworks, a magnificent country estate gives you much scope for outdoor activities.
Choosing the best
Country House Wedding Venue
How do you know you’ve chosen the right country house for your wedding?
The best places are as practical as they are beautiful, and here are a few things to bear in mind when choosing your picturesque country house wedding venue.
Planning Your
Country House Wedding
How do you make sure that your country house wedding is everything you’ve dreamed of?
key steps
What Are the Key Steps in Planning a Country House Wedding?
With these things in place, you’ll now work with your wedding planner to plan the most perfect day you can imagine…
Wedding
Entertainment ideas
- Live music, from a string quartet during the service to a big band for the party
- A DJ for the evening do
- A festival-style wedding with outdoor musicians and entertainers (plus food and drink)
- A close up magician to entertain guests during the reception
- Storytelling, poetry readings or standup
- A dance lesson for the evening: give your guests the Strictly treatment?
- Photo booths and caricaturists are a fun way to capture the atmosphere
- A showing of your favourite movie, complete with popcorn (check the licence)
- Outdoor games such as croquet, giant chess or “sports day” events
- Indoor games – a country house makes an excellent setting for a murder mystery
- A guided tour of the historic house and estate
Country house wedding
Popular Themes
- An English country garden wedding
- A festival, with stalls, music and entertainment outside
- A twilight wedding for evening romance
- A wedding in-keeping with the period of the house (Medieval, Tudor, Regency, Victorian, 1920s)
- A rustic wedding (some country house venues, like Leez Priory, have large barns as well as the main manor)
- An eco wedding
- A wedding that celebrates the couples’ interests: vintage crafts, a certain type of music, classic cars, ballroom dancing, gardening – the list is endless
Choosing a vendor
What Types of Vendors Suit a Country House Venue?
How do you make sure that you’re choosing the right vendors for your country house setting?
Real-Life Country House
Wedding Stories
What is a country house wedding really like? Our couples share
their wedding stories.
I couldn’t recommend the venue enough…
Georgia & Jack 25th February, 2025 at Leez PrioryLeez Priory were so supportive throughout the wedding planning and our wedding planner, Sophie, on the day knew when she needed to be strict with guests or suppliers, which was needed! Sophie was always on hand throughout the day and was always by my side when I needed to ask a question.
If I could do it all over again, we would 100% go back to Leez Priory, and we can’t wait to go back and visit one day soon.
I couldn’t recommend the venue enough and if you’re thinking about booking a viewing, do it! You won’t regret it.
From the moment we booked, the team have been fabulous!
Christopher & Pete 31st May, 2024 at Clearwell CastleWe could not have wished for a more picturesque venue with such catering staff. Any requests we had were sorted and we knew that someone was always a phone call or email away. We were supported throughout the experience which made it more effortless for us as a couple planning the biggest day of our lives. We were made to feel that no question was a stupid question even if we thought it might be.
Overall, the Clearwell Castle staff are amazing, from the wedding managers to the bar staff and cleaners! Thank you so much for making our day the most special it could be. Our guests are still talking about it now all these months on.
A Magical Day!
Chanel & Charlie 26th February, 2025 at Gosfield HallFirstly… We would like to say our day could not have gone any better!
We had viewed over 10 other venues, and we chose Gosfield Hall and so grateful we did. The staff were so honest, helpful, calm, encouraging and genuinely interested in us and our special day. Plus, there is so much included in terms of decor (flowers throughout) stunning grounds which you do not have to spend loads of extra money on to make the place look pretty.
Overall, food was fantastic, great service, well-kept grounds, amazing staff, and everything in between.
Everything ran smoothly and perfectly
Melis & Adam 12th May, 2024 at Bourton HallDonna, our Personal Wedding Manager helped us have the most incredible day of our lives. Everything ran smoothly and perfectly, there was nothing to fault. We did not even need to set anything up ourselves on the actual morning of the wedding. Donna was so good at keeping us updated and was always at the end of the phone if I needed to speak to her, it just made the process stress free.
We will definitely be coming back to celebrate our first anniversary at a dinner date event. We would like to thank everyone at Bourton Hall.
