From our 100 Best Wedding Venues 2020, these 15 wonderful orangeries and glasshouses are perfect for setting a romantic and light-filled backdrop to your day
Words Isabella Eckett
Weddings under glass are impossibly romantic and our selection provide a stunning light-filled backdrop for your big day. As with all our 100 Best Wedding Venues 2020, these are places the team have visited personally. Here’s our pick of the best of the best – 15 spectacular properties across the country with the most dreamy orangeries and glasshouses.
Syon Park, London
One of the last great houses in the capital, this offers a slice of country – and it’s only 25-minutes from London central. The lavish interiors of the main house will make your jaw drop. As the sun sets the bridal procession can be led via the wooded Queen’s Walk to the Great Conservatory bursting with life thanks to the blooming flowers and exotic palms. syonpark.co.uk
Sezincote, Gloucestershire
This exotic venue only hosts a handful of weddings a year, so it’s as exclusive as it gets. The 200-year-old replica of an Indian palace, set in the lovely Gloucestershire landscape, is dotted with temples, grottoes, waterfalls and canals reminiscent of the Taj Mahal. There’s a spectacular curved glass orangery and the Dining Room has hand-painted walls featuring colourful Indian landscapes. sezincote.co.uk
Rushton Hall Hotel & Spa, Northamptonshire
The state-ot-the-art orangery at this 16th-century hotel was cleverly designed for weddings. Inside the beautiful stone facade is a dramatic entrance hall, picture gallery and ornate ballroom. The grand hotel is the perfect place to house all your guests, with charming roaring fires and four-poster beds. Head to the sunken lawn in the stunning gardens for gorgeous wedding photos. rushtonhall.com
Kensington Palace, London
Kensington Palace remains a royal residence, so it is uniquely prestigious, only hosting a select number of weddings each year. One of the finest spaces is The Orangery, a light-filled Queen Anne glasshouse that requires very little dressing. This opens up on to a south-facing terrace and Orangery Lawn. Smaller outside spaces, including the Sunken Garden. Or opt for the King’s Gallery – lined with masterpieces from the Royal Collection. hrp.org.uk
Bridwell, Devon
A peaceful countryside retreat, Bridwell is available for exclusive hire. Plan your weekend of pleasure at the 18-bedroom Georgian House with stunning Orangery, Gothic-style Chapel, Parkland and Old Stables. The Lord Ivar and Lady Ivar suites are exquisite, with four-poster beds, fine linen and hand-painted porcelain. Luxe glamping is also on offer here. bridwell.co.uk
Aynhoe Park, Oxfordshire
Your jaw will drop the moment you enter this extraordinary exclusive-hire country pad. The interiors are playfully unique and taxidermy and valuable collectors’ items are carefully placed throughout. Classical sculptures that could have come straight from a museum line the orangery walls. As evening turns to nightfall, guests can head downstairs into the secret cellar to discover the owner’s bar, before heading to their luxurious bedrooms – we love the Mathew Williamson-styled suite. aynhoepark.co.uk
11 Cavendish Square, London
An orangery with an impressive glass ceiling right in the heart of London’s iconic West – who knew! Located in a Georgian townhouse this has a fresh, contemporary fee that makes it perfect for weddings. Another huge bonus is the pretty courtyard where you can host a fabulous alfresco drinks reception. There are numerous other event spaces to choose from here, with traditional period features throughout adding to the property’s charm. 11cavendishsq.com
Anrán, Devon
A hidden oasis in the south west, this can be all yours for three nights (minimum) and offers 40 boutique-luxe bedrooms. Hold a mesmerising reception at The Glasshouse then dance the night away at The Hut – a recently renovated treasure dating back to World War II. With lake, lily pond and 18th-century courtyard, the photo ops are endless. We love The Cow Shed for a BBQ brunch the next day. anran.co.uk
Hampton Court Palace, Surrey
Blending Tudor and Baroque architecture, Hampton Court Palace is an iconic setting for a wedding – and the grounds are simply spectacular. The Orangery and Privy Garden was originally designed for King William III and is still fit for a king. With marble sculptures and chequerboard floor, it oozes character. If you want to combine it with something more intimate, Little Banqueting House offers glorious Antonio Verrio murals and views of the Thames. hrp.org.uk
Gaynes Park, Essex
Not far from the capital and set in a peaceful location, Gaynes Park offers dramatic skyline views in the distance. Enter up the long winding driveway through park and farmland and you’ll find countryside bliss. This private estate can be exclusively yours for an elegant wedding. With historic barn, walled garden, orangery and Apple Loft Cottage, it really does tick all the boxes as one of our 100 Best Wedding Venues. gaynespark.co.uk
Deer Park, Devon
The sky’s the limit at this Georgian party pad. Available for exclusive hire, you’re guaranteed to have a weekend packed full of fun. The ultra-stylish house has antique furniture, designer wallpapers and rich velvet furnishings throughout. Get hitched in the decadent orangery, leading out to romantic Italian gardens. Bespoke best of British menus are on offer. For the newlyweds, the thatched treehouse is an idyllic hideaway. It’s also dog friendly. Hurrah! deerpark.co.uk
St Audries Park, Somerset
This exclusive-hire estate has panoramic views of the rolling Somerset hills, coastline and beyond. The winding driveway leads to a dramatic Gothic manor house with serious Hollywood-location potential. There’s also a picturesque church, several cottages and lodges nestled around the grounds. The opulent Victorian orangery has a one-of-a-kind golden aisle fit for a princess – it’s hard not to be in love with the place. audries-park.co.uk
Kew Gardens, London
A treasured UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kew has got to be the ultimate venue in London for a garden party. Take in the scents of the botanical gardens, which cover over 300 acres. The magnificent 18th-century orangery designed by Sir William Chambers was once filled with rare and precious citrus trees. You can also walk down the aisle in the stunning Nash Conservatory, a glasshouse moved piece by piece from Buckingham Palace in 1836 – it has our royal seal of approval! kew.org
Euridge House and Orangery, Wiltshire
A breathtakingly beautiful venue, Euridge has English charm with a Venetian twist. Think grand moated manor house, crumbling castle ruins, sun-drenched terraces and flowering rose gardens and you’ve almost got the measure of its many extraordinary settings. The coral-coloured orangery has sparkling chandeliers plus stunning views over the valley while the ballroom downstairs features an impressive shell and stalactite entrance. In summer months, a lakeside ceremony can be arranged at The Boathouse. euridgeorangeryweddings.com
Port Eliot, Cornwall
With breathtaking scenery, Port Eliot is steeped in history and it is also home to the largest yurt in Europe. The 3,800-acre estate has endless wedding options – say I do at St Germans church, the romantic Boat House or light-flooded Orangery. Turn your wedding into a Cornish staycation by checking into the Georgian farmhouse with your nearest and dearest. On-site glamping is also available. porteliot.co.uk
MORE WEDDING VENUES INSPIRATION?
Amy Braund of The Bingham gives tips on planning a whirlwind wedding
