OMG do not hesitate book today ! Right from the word go at our initial meeting with Lee and Esme we knew we would be in safe hands and Shortmead would be the venue for our special day. The team are so professional and accommodated our every request, we had a large Italian wedding and nothing was a problem. The grounds are spectacular and our guests felt like they had been transported abroad on one of the hottest days of the year. We are so glad we booked our reception here and everything went smoothly. There really is no comparison to anywhere in Bedfordshire (and beyond !) and was the perfect choice. Keep up the great work and thank you a million times over. xxx

Shortmead house is stunning. We hired shortmead for my daughters wedding. Not only is the house and marquee visually beautiful but so are it's surroundings. Lee and all involved in making the day perfect went above and beyond, attention to detail was much appreciated.
A fairytale place perfect for any wedding or special occasion.

We got married at Shortmead House in June 2022. The site is beautiful, a stately house, with beautiful grounds. The owners, Ian and Marilyn are lovely!

It took 3 attempts for us to get married.

On the first occasion our big day was booked for a destination wedding in Crete. This was cancelled due to the inital covid-19 lockdown.

For the second attempt, we had discovered Shortmead House! We liaised with Ian to arrange our perfect day! (He was very helpful). All our needs were understood and catered for i.e. it was to be an alcohol-free wedding, so Ian arranged for a range of alcohol-free cocktails to be served at the bar.

Sadly, the day before the big day we had to cancel as we both contracted covid. We called Ian to explain the situation. It was probably one of the most stress relieving conversation we've ever had.

Ian, was very understanding and empathetic. Our mind was put to rest when we were given the option to move the date to a suitable day a few months later with Ian and Marilyn offering us the one day they had planned to have off during the peak business period.

The wedding day on the third attempt was a complete success. The guests loved the location, there was something to keep everyone entertained with games set out around the grounds which children absolutely loved!

With the sun out at the start of summer, it felt as if we were abroad on private tropical island. The outdoor setting for the wedding ceremony was perfect for the photos.

This estate offers a fusion of scenic views from the english country side to a luxury resort in the bahamas.

The place truely made our big day memorable and we're glad we finally got married at Shortmead House. We highly recommend it!

Thank you Ian and Marilyn!

We had a wedding party at Shortmead House in May 2022. The day was wonderful, and the grounds of Shortmead were really perfect for our plans of a games event.

However, may I warn all couples that the meetings with Ian before to plan the event are largely pointless, as on the day, he will largely do whatever he wants on the day anyway.

1) front of house is a mystery. We were unsure what front of house meant and what their role was. We were originally told it was a lady called Katie, and we could meet her the Friday before. However, on the day, we were then told it was going to be Marilyn. Then on the day it was Ian. Not really sure what a ‘front of house’ did anyway. The lead bar tender on the day was however brilliant and dealt with a medical issue expertly.

2) on the morning of the wedding, we had to hose down all of the garden furniture (belonging to Shortmead) that was covered in mud and cobwebs.

3) we had asked numerous times with the plan for all wine and glasses to be out on the tables. However, the waiting staff set them out how Ian normally does it anyway. So in my dress, waiting for guests, I was moving glasses and wine coolers and explaining to the waiting staff how I wanted it.

4) the welcome drinks were still not out for the guests when they started to arrive. I had to go and get them out myself, when finally Ian got the picture. Extra decorations (drink stirrers) were described as ‘faff’ by Ian.

5) the waiting staff were on their phones at the bar or playing the chess game whilst not working, which although understandable wasn’t particularly professional. Ian was also sitting at the bar all night, talking to our guests and eating.

I would advise all people having a wedding / party here to not add your own spin on things, because it will upset you and frustrate you on your day trying to make it what you want.

The fact the house and gardens are wonderful really helped the party atmosphere. Also our suppliers were brilliant, and were able to help and control the day so we were able to enjoy it.

We got married at Shortmead in July 2018, the day was perfect with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. The grounds are set in beautiful and meticulously maintained gardens which provided a stunning setting for our summer wedding. The host Ian was faultless in his ability to organise and cater for our every need with brilliant suggestions and ideas throughout. His staff were incredible and went above and beyond to ensure the day went smoothly without any hick ups. Due to the unexpected heat wave and with only a day to go before our wedding, Ian even cleaned and heated up the swimming pool for our guests to enjoy which made the day even more special for us. Ian’s attention to detail and love of Shortmead is clear to see from the exceptional restoration work and care he has put in to make it a one of a kind wedding venue. All of our guests commented on how amazing the venue was and how much fun they had, there were outside games such as table tennis, giant Jenga and a giant chess board which added to everyone’s enjoyment. We would highly recommend hiring the beautiful on site cottage. We used it for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready on the day and also spend our wedding night there but it became a great place for us and our family to make use of the amenities throughout the wedding day. Thank you Ian and your team for making our wedding day better than we could of ever imagined, Sam & Debbie

We got married at Shortmead House in September this year. Everyone commented on how beautiful the venue was - and it is. It is perfect. Our wedding was intimate and so much fun. One thing that it is difficult to describe in words is the ambience and atmosphere of Shortmead; it is relaxed, yet formal and if you are looking for an outdoor summer wedding, Shortmead House has everything you need. And if you are worried about the weather - dont! It rained on our wedding day but Ian and the team swung into action and made sure that it really didnt matter at all!

The thatch is a wonderful place to tie the knot and the honeymoon suite is a beautiful, beautiful room and a perfect place to wake up for your first morning as husband and wife. 10/10 for the breakfast too. We hired the cottage for the bridal party and I would recommend doing this too - it is very convenient and great value.

My wife, Lydia, and I got married on 9th June 2018 at the beautiful Shortmead House in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. We were keen to find a venue close to our home in St Neots and Shortmead ticked all the boxes. It is something of a hidden gem, tucked away down a country lane in the town and somewhere you might not know existed had you not been told about it, and that really appealed to us. We wanted somewhere which was unique and special, which had the wow factor, but also that was laid-back, intimate not too formal. Shortmead had all this and more.

This place is absolutely Stunning. My husband and I had our wedding here at the weekend. Not only did it live up to expectations, it exceeded them.

Throughout 2 years of planning and preparing, Ian was such great help and guided us in the right direction with decisions. In the day, both Linda and Marilyn was amazing and made the whole day go so perfectly and smoothly. Right from when we were setting up the decorations, to when we were packing all away.
The caterers that are used by shortmead too were just amazing, good service and all guests absolutely loved their food.

The venue and ground are just so beautiful, something you would find abroad.
Can't recommend enough !

Words cannot express how perfect a wedding venue Shortmead house is and how hospitable the owners Ian and Marilyn are.

We fell in love with the grounds on the first visit and whilst it is already perfect the owners are making improvements to it every week.

Ian was incredibly helpful throughout the booking process and explaining everything to us pre-wedding and Marilyn made the day what it was. You can tell that they have incredible experience in co-ordinating a wedding and are always happy to give advice.

What I would say makes Shortmead House so special is it is not a ‘wedding venue’ the house is someone’s home and you can feel that during your wedding day. For that reason treat it with the respect it and the owners deserve and there will be no cause for complaint.

Every single one of our guests took the time to comment on just how beautiful the house is!

Shortmead House is the perfect wedding venue and we couldn’t imagine having a better day anywhere else.