Our 6 Fave Places to Say ‘I Do’ from Country House Weddings
Dreaming of idyllic country views and historic houses for your wedding day? Allow us to introduce you to the stunning Country House Weddings collection.
If the idea of country mansions surrounded by lush parkland or imposing castles nestled within ancient forests makes your heart beat a little bit faster, you’re going to want to check out Country House Weddings’ stunning portfolio.
Country House Weddings (CHW) was established over 30 years ago and its first venue, Leez Priory, became the first country house to obtain a wedding license way back in 1992 – giving them decades of experience in hosting idyllic country weddings.
Over the years this family-run business has expanded its offering to six stunning venues each chosen for one specific purpose: to host dream weddings for their couples!
When you book a wedding at a CHW venue you can expect the expertise and support of a Personal Wedding Manager during the build-up and on the day itself, outstanding food and drink from in-house catering teams that specialise in wedding food, plenty of exquisite accommodation for you and your guests and, of course, exclusive use of the stunning house and grounds.
Read on to find out why we think each of their venues is so special.
1. Leez Priory – Essex
Leez Priory is a stunning Grade 1 listed Tudor wedding venue complete with seven different indoor and outdoor ceremony options including the magnificent Great Tower. The Tower sits next to the main house within the 40 acres of ancient parkland, gardens and woods – all of which will be exclusively yours on the day.
You and up to 100 day guests and a massive 250 evening guests can enjoy all that Essex’s longest established wedding venue has to offer, including delights cooked by the professional in-house catering team.
At the end of the celebrations, up to 54 guests can kick back in the sumptuous on-site accommodation while you make the most of the delightfully spacious Granary Honeymoon Suite.
2. Gosfield Hall – Essex
Set in picturesque rural Essex, this Georgian mansion wedding venue sits at the end of a sweeping driveway surrounded by manicured lawns. With indoor and outdoor ceremony options, a grand ballroom with space for up to 116 seated guests and a honeymoon suite often voted the most beautiful in Essex, it’s not hard to see why Gosfield Hall is one of the most popular wedding venues in the county.
The historic venue boasts on-site accommodation for up to 67 guests and an array of elegant rooms for your celebrations, all of which will be exclusively yours on the day along with the grounds.
You can also kick off the festivities early by hosting a pre-wedding party, thanks to exclusive access to the venue’s newly renovated Marquis Pub & Rooms just a short walk up the road.
3. Clearwell Castle – Gloucestershire
Fancy saying ‘I do’ in a romantic fairy tale castle and snapping your wedding portraits in front of an authentic portcullis? Look no further than Clearwell Castle. Nestled in the Forest of Dean, this secluded castle offers couples the chance to host opulent celebrations within its historic walls and grounds.
The stunning Ballroom - with its ornate double-height ceiling, huge chandeliers, marble columns and church-like 75ft aisle - is the perfect space for both the ceremony and wedding breakfast for up to 150 guests. New for 2021, the venue’s picturesque bandstand offers an al fresco alternative with your very own castle backdrop. Following on from the food, you and your guests can turn down the lights and turn up the volume in Clearwell’s huge, vaulted bar and disco room. As the night draws to a close, up to 79 of your guests can then kick off their dancing shoes in the on-site accommodation.
Couples have at their disposal a huge variety of night-before accommodation options to take the stress out of wedding morning travel, and pre-wedding party options are available to those wishing to extend the celebrations.
4. St Audries Park – Somerset
This quintessential country estate comes complete with its own church and deer park and boasts an idyllic setting just a short distance from the sea. Marry at St Audries Park and you can take in the coastal views as you enjoy bubbles in the grounds and snap wedding photographs with an unbeatable country backdrop that’s exclusively yours for the day.
You can say ‘I do’ in the stunning Georgian orangery or at the historic church before indulging in an extravagant banquet with up to 130 seated guests – 100 of which are welcome to stay over in the on-site accommodation.
The night before the big day, you’re welcome to make use of Peregrine House, a former schoolhouse-turned-party-house perfect for summer BBQs or intimate meals, including accommodation for up to 40 guests.
5. Holmewood Hall – Cambridgeshire
This Tudor-style country mansion sits within 10 acres of manicured grounds and parkland and boasts a range of stunning reception rooms that seamlessly blend style, elegance and comfort. At Holmewood Hall, you can marry outdoors under the shade of the bandstand or within the decadent Gold Room with its 50ft long golden aisle and feature fireplace.
You can also choose to get the party started indoors or outdoors thanks to the two indoor bars and outside terrace bar, all fully stocked with draft beer and cider. After toasting your nuptials, you can tuck into a meal of your choice prepared by the in-house catering team before dancing the night away.
As the celebrations draw to a close, yourselves and 40 of your guests can retire to the elegant on-site accommodation for the night.
6. Bourton Hall – Warwickshire
The newest venue to be added to the Country House Weddings collection, Bourton Hall is a striking Italianate mansion wedding venue set in 12 acres of beautiful grounds with picturesque Warwickshire countryside views. Here you can marry in the magnificent former Catholic chapel or under the Portico adjoining the front terrace on sunnier days.
Your wedding breakfast can be enjoyed in the grand Banqueting Hall with up to 120 guests in attendance. After some more drinks and dancing, you can retire to the sumptuous honeymoon suite complete with four poster bed while your guests settle in to the 21 newly renovated, en-suite bedrooms on-site.
The entire site will be exclusively yours for the day and you have the option to stay the night before and even host an early celebration.
Learn more about Country House Weddings and why they’re the go-to choice for perfect country wedding here.
