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About

On Hitched.co.uk since 2020

Last update: July 2026

Nestled in the picturesque market town of Blandford Forum, The Crown Hotel enjoys stunning views across the River Stour’s water meadows and the historic town beyond. For centuries, our hotel has been a cherished setting for couples celebrating one of the most important days of their lives.

Our elegant Sealy Suite, complete with its own private walled garden, provides a beautiful and exclusive space for both wedding ceremonies and receptions. With direct access from the suite, the gardens offer a seamless and impressive backdrop for your special day. We take great pride in maintaining our outdoor spaces to the highest standard, ensuring your wedding memories and photographs are truly unforgettable. The hotel’s ornamental front garden, along with the nearby River Stour, also provides additional romantic locations for capturing those once-in-a-lifetime moments.

We are fully licensed to host wedding ceremonies and offer everything you need in one place, including a private bar and seating for up to 180 guests. Our comprehensive wedding packages can be tailored to suit celebrations of all sizes and styles. From your first enquiry through to the big day itself, our dedicated Wedding Coordinator will guide you through every step of the planning process, while an experienced Event Manager will be on hand to ensure every detail runs smoothly.

The Crown Hotel features 27 recently refurbished, en-suite bedrooms, ideal for you and your guests. These include 12 superior Georgian-themed rooms, inspired by Jane Austen or our very own Charles Hall (some with air conditioning), as well as two Luxury Rooms, perfect for the happy couple. Discounted accommodation rates are available for wedding guests when booking one of our wedding packages.

With ample parking at the rear of the hotel and the ability to host both your ceremony and wedding breakfast, The Crown Hotel offers a truly complete wedding experience in an idyllic riverside setting.

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Frequently asked questions

Venue type:

In the country
Small hotel
Pub or restaurant
Historic
Marquees and tents
Large hotel
Outdoor license

Ceremony options:

Civil ceremony licence

Dining options:

Seated meal facilities
Alcohol licence
Buffet meal facilities
In-house catering

Evening entertainment:

Marquee available
Dance floor
Entertainment licence
Live band facilities
Evening reception facilities
DJ facilities

Overnight accommodation:

Overnight accommodation for wedding couple
Overnight accommodation for guests

Venue staff assistance:

Master of ceremonies/toastmaster
Wedding coordinator

Other features:

Exclusive use
Accessible facilities
Car parking
Confetti permitted
Pet-friendly
Elephant baraat permitted
Horse baraat permitted
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Reviews for The Crown Hotel

Elizabeth
Elizabeth Sent on 08/07/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Lizzie & Zac June 2026

My husband and I recently got married at The Crown Hotel and couldn’t recommend this beautiful venue more. Everything was perfect and it’s located in the lovely, scenic Blandford Forum. The staff (special thanks to Vince) were incredibly attentive and ensured everything went smoothly and that we didn’t need to worry about timings. This meant we could relax and enjoy the day and take it all in. We are particularly grateful for Laura, the wedding and events coordinator, who planned our day to every tiny detail and it all came together perfectly. The food was incredible and we got many compliments on how delicious it was and the great service. Not to mention the compliments on the lovely venue, guests loved the garden area and hotel guests were very satisfied with their stay. Certainly recommend and can’t wait to come back and visit The Crown. Thank you so much.
H
Helen Sent on 19/07/2026
5 out of 5 rating

A Fantastic Celebration for our Daughter and Son-in-Law's Wedding, 20th June 2026

Huge thanks to Laura (Wedding & Events Co-ordinator), Vince (Wedding & Events Manager), Gemma & Helen on Reception and all the team at The Crown Hotel, Blandford Forum, for making our daughter’s wedding so magical on Saturday 20th June, 2026. 🎉💕The venue looked absolutely stunning (with also many thanks to Lisa from Novia Events and Laura from Sweetpea florist). You all helped us plan the perfect wedding celebration from start to finish, which Paul Heath, our amazing photographer, captured in fine detail! The food was absolutely delicious and plentiful. Even the sun came out just in time for the ceremony and onwards into a beautiful afternoon and evening to enjoy the outdoor games from The Hire Barn, prior to a fantastic disco courtesy of Ricky Gold (stepping in at the last minute to our huge relief!). 🌅💃 We have all made memories to last a lifetime! Highly recommend The Crown Hotel as a stunning wedding venue with a friendly and dedicated team. 💕xx
A
Alan Sent on 23/05/2026
4.2 out of 5 rating

The most AMAZING day, our wedding at the Crown

The most AMAZING day, our wedding at the Crown

We looked at a couple of venues and the Crown stood out for us, when chatting about our needs we found a perfect match in the Platinum package, numbers, set up the whole deal. Planning the finer details was easy working with the team. 

We wanted stress free on the day and it was delivered, the venue had recently been refurbished and looked amazing, food throughout the day and evening was excellent quality and choices and service from the team was superb and done with fun.

Hats off to the Crown, the wedding of the year was delivered (well at least the wedding of the year, at the Crown on that day 🙂 at 1PM)
H
Hannah Sent on 21/05/2026
4.6 out of 5 rating

Hannah and Robs Wedding - May 2026

We had the most amazing wedding here at the Crown Hotel in thier dedicated Sealy Suite. Laura and her events team were absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Nothing was too much trouble. We were so well looked after on the day and all the guests commented on how amazing the food was and how lovely the venue is! The private garden is a fantastic space and we could have our ceremony outside and some lawn games for the guests too. The rooms in the hotel are beautifully decorated and it was wonderful to have breakfast with all our family in the morning. We couldn't recommend The Crown enough for anyone planning thier wedding day!
H
Hattie Sent on 16/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing venue !!!

Laura and the team were absolutely amazing, kept us updated throughout the whole journey and on the day they were fab!! There was only 1 problem and it was sorted straight away!! The day went so smoothly and the staff were absolutely fab. Beautiful venue and amazing for photos!!!
J
Joan Sent on 04/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Ceremony and Reception

We were recommended The Crown Hotel and decided to visit despite never having been inside.
We met Laura, the wedding planner, who was amazing.
She was calm, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and extremely professional.
We had our entire day at The Crown and from the moment we arrived, everything was perfect.
The Sealy Suite is a private wing with it's own bar and it looked beautiful decorated with the fairy lights and drapes.
The food was absolutely delicious and the wine had lots of positive comments.
The team were brilliant and chatted away to guests as they served food, they were polite but also seemed to be keen we had a good time.
Nothing was too much trouble for all the team.
We also had an evening buffet which again, was delicious and plentiful.
Quite a few friends and family stayed for the night and the rooms were extremely comfortable and spacious.
The breakfast was also lovely.
Could not have wished for a better venue or team.
Michael
Michael Sent on 23/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our amazing wedding at The Crown

We had our wedding here on 11th October and it was a magical day.

Laura was fabulous throughout as the wedding organiser, Vince was superb on the day and Gemma was so friendly and helpful when called upon.

The room looked amazing, the grounds were super clean and tidy and the rooms were fantastic as well. We had guests from abroad and they said the booking of the rooms was super easy and nearly a year in advance.

We'd thoroughly recommend.
Gareth
Gareth Sent on 18/09/2025
4.6 out of 5 rating

September 5 2025

The Crown were brilliant at helping us plan our special day. A good price for an amazing day for those who are struggling to afford a wedding (like we were)
Very glad we chose The Crown as our venue.
R
Robert Sent on 12/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Day!

Laura and Rob from The Crown made our special day even more magical with the care and attention they provided. Laura was so helpful and friendly right from the beginning of the process, which was a blessing considering all the other things we had to do. Can't fault anything and would highly recommend this lovely venue :)
P
Paul Sent on 22/08/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Wonderful wedding venue and value for money

The Crown hotel was recommended to us by a friend as a potential venue for our son and his fiance's wedding and we are so glad they chose to get married there. From start to finish , the day ran incredibly smoothly with everyone having a wonderful day. The food was absolutely fantastic , I cannot praise it highly enough. The lamb was just perfect and my wife's Beef wellington was also superbly cooked. The chef and team deserve a huge well done .The room was beautifully decorated and the area outside made a perfect place for all the family and friends photographs to be taken.
We also had around 10 rooms booked overnight for guests and again , our room was a really good size , very clean and comfortable and a delicious breakfast the following morning.
Diane
Diane Sent on 21/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic, memorable wedding day

Laura and her team helped us to plan the wedding of our dreams. The hotel provides an old fashioned, comfortable theme, and the weather was on side to allow us an outside wedding as planned. Accommodation, service, staff and environment were all excellent and we would highly recommend.
C
Charlotte Sent on 21/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

10/10, can’t recommend more!

From enquiring to leaving the venue the day after our wedding, the crown hotel were everything we could have asked them to be. Laura in particular was professional, responsive, attentive and helped us bring everything we wanted to life. The bar and waiting staff, particularly Vince and Andrew were incredible and our guests absolutely loved them. The food was amazing and we had so many comments about how people wished they wore looser clothing 😂 Nothing seemed like too big of an ask the whole time we were there. When we arrived on the Friday to set up the whole room was done, all we had to do was add our decor and personal touches, the room looked absolutely beautiful. The bedrooms were clean and spacious and the decor was also beautiful. The day went absolutely seamlessly from start to finish, if anything had gone wrong I don’t think we would have even noticed! We had a tiny hiccup with our entrance music but even that was sorted within seconds! Luckily for us my family live round the corner so we can come back whenever we visit! Thank you thank you thank you!
Keith
Keith Sent on 22/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A day we will remember for a long time

The Crown hosted our wedding reception at the end of May and the experience can be summed up in a single word – wonderful!
From the very first time we met Laura, our wedding coordinator through to breakfast on the day after our reception the experience was perfect
The Sealy Suite looked stunning and the food both at the main reception and in the evening was excellent. We have had many comments to that effect, with one guest saying, for example, that Arancini was the best they had ever had. We both had the Lamb which was perfect.
We were glad that the weather was nice on the day which really allowed our guests to enjoy the walled garden to the full.
Robert did a good job of acting as MC and Laura was brilliant giving us great care and attention during all the preparations before the event, and also for being there on the day to help see that it all went off smoothy.
It will be a day we remember for a very long time!
R
Rebecca Sent on 17/12/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic Venue

Can’t recommend the crown high enough. Laura was brilliant in helping us set up our special day and everything we wanted they provided. Food was great, the room was beautiful and everyone had a great time.
R
Richard Sent on 11/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The Crown Hotel

We cannot recommend The Crown enough. We booked the venue on a short timescale (2 and half months) and Laura guided us through everything we would need. We used some of their recommended suppliers for flowers, cake, photbooth and they were all great.
Our guests were blown away by the quality of food on the day and also the bedrooms were great.
The staff working on the day were all really helpful, happy and made the day flow. Top marks from us for the whole event- from planning to completion.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to make your big decisions easier.

Badges

Hitched Wedding Awards 2026 Winner
Hitched Wedding Awards 2025 Winner
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The Crown Hotel Real Weddings

Carly & Graham
40 photos · 10/08/2024

Deals

Meet the team

Laura Ramm
Laura Ramm
Wedding & Events Coordinator

Our dedicated Wedding & Events Coordinator Laura is the heart and soul behind many of the unforgettable weddings and events hosted at The Crown. With over two and a half years of experience orchestrating seamless celebrations at the hotel, as well as over 10 years working in events, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for creating magical moments. Known for her attention to detail, calming presence, and creative flair, Laura works closely with each of our guests to bring their vision to life, ensuring every event is a unique and cherished experience. From initial consultations to the final dance, Laura is dedicated to providing exceptional service and crafting memories that last a lifetime.

Vincent  Palmer
Vincent Palmer
Event Manager

Vince, another of the hotels Event Managers, is the life of the party! Known for his vibrant personality and flamboyant flair, Vince brings an infectious energy to every event he works. With a passion for making guests days, he infuses each detail with a sense of theatricality and excitement. From grand weddings to intimate gatherings, over the past ten years Vince's creativity and meticulous planning have helped ensure that every guest feels like royalty.

Christopher  Sparshott
Christopher Sparshott
Event Manager

Since joining The Crown Hotel in 2022, Chris has brought energy into our team, quickly becoming indispensable. He's not just running events; he's crafting experiences, and we're incredibly excited to witness the imaginative and unforgettable moments he'll continue to create for our guests. Chris brings a fresh perspective, making him a valuable addition to The Crown family.

Preferred suppliers

Rooster
5.0 out of 5 rating , 14 reviews
· Music and DJs
Pegasus Discos
5.0 out of 5 rating , 3 reviews
· Music and DJs

Map

West Street DT11 7AJ Blandford Forum (Dorset)
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