With origins tracing back to the Domesday book, the Grade I listed Canford School offers an idyllic location for your civil ceremony, while the nearby 14thcentury church provides the perfect option for religious ceremonies. Situated on the bank of the river Stour in the quiet village of Canford Magna, Dorset this is a truly romantic place to say ‘I do’.
For your reception, the baronial Great Hall is the ideal choice for larger scale weddings. With a sweeping staircase and minstrels’ gallery where none other than the Prince of Wales once danced after a shooting party, this setting perfectly matches the magnitude of the occasion.
For more intimate weddings, the smaller scale splendour of the Long Gallery, along with its beautiful carved fireplace and wood paneling, offers a wonderful alternative.
With exclusive use of the grounds for your wedding day, there is the option to hold your reception outdoors by the fountain on the Sunken Lawn with views to the arboretum and parkland beyond. Allow your guests to take in the magnificent views with a glass of bubbly while you take advantage of the stunning backdrop and capture some wedding photographs.
At Canford School every aspect of your wedding will be tailored to you. Our catering is in-house and our Michelin-trained chefs will work with you to create your bespoke menu. Allow the team to guide you or choose your favourite dishes along with a delectable drinks menu to complement your choices.
You are also invited to take advantage of our extensive knowledge and network of local professionals or choose your own suppliers. Our aim is simply to create your perfect day.
If you’re interested in hosting your wedding day at Canford School, get in contact with us directly to find out more and to book an appointment to view it for yourself. We look forward to welcoming you to our magnificent venue.
14 Reviews for Canford School
Recommended by 100% of couples
Mr · Married on 10/08/2019
Canford School is an absolutely exquisite venue for any event. It was the dream backdrop for our wedding day. From our very first viewing, we thought we would be in safe hands with our event coordinator Olivia; her organisation and communication throughout was top-notch and she went above and beyond to ensure everything went smoothly. We loved our meal tasting and the food on the day was delicious with excellent service. All our guests were blown away by the venue and we had the perfect day.
Sent on 01/10/2019
Mr · Married on 15/12/2018
We hit the jackpot with Canford School!
When we started looking for our wedding location it became apparent that it wasn't just the venue that we needed to consider, it was important that we liked the planner, after all we were going to be working with him or her for quite some time. We hit the jackpot with Canford School, stunning location and we got Olivia too. She was able to guide a slightly neurotic bride and handled her first groomzilla with ease. The day was amazing, all the rooms we chose to use looked stunning and the magnificent staircase proved the perfect backdrop for some truly memorable pictures. Many guest commented on how watching Olivia managing the day was like watching a conductor directing their orchestra, this made for a calm Mr and Mrs who could relax and enjoy every last second. Thank you Olivia, thank you Canford for your beautiful venue and thank you to the chefs for some delicious food. With love and wonderful memories Mark and Rachel Lambert
Sent on 18/03/2019
Mr · Married on 27/10/2018
The biggest thank you!
I just want to start by saying the biggest thank you. When I look back on my wedding day you're one of the biggest things I am most thankful for. From the minute we met you made me feel like mine was the only wedding in the world and that it was the most important job you had. I sent you emails upon emails with random crazy trains of thought and lists of questions..... but each email was answered with such a upbeat tone and you never made me feel silly for asking anything. The venue is magnificent and I still don’t know how I got so lucky to have my wedding at Canford!! The grounds, the fountain, the library, the entrances... eeeekk it really is the most beautiful, grand setting!! It looks like something out of a fairy-tale and I felt like a princess. You made my vision come to life, from helping me chose the right way for everyone to enter, to helping with my menu, where things should be placed, helping me find the DJ money on the night, advising on details that I had forgotten about and helping me find solutions to them to fit them in my day and just making it feel like you were my best mate and with me all the way. All my guests complimented the venue and the how well the entire event flowed. They all mentioned how fantastic you were Olivia!! You even arranged all up lighting without me being there and it was perfect. The venue is the most picturesque setting for a wedding no matter what time of year but it’s not enough, it’s not a wedding without everything you do. Thank you for helping make the best day of our lives. Big hugs and love!!!
Sent on 18/03/2019
