Selected as part of our 100 Best Wedding Venues 2020, these fabulous weekenders are the perfect place to hold an extended wedding celebration, with space to spread out, luxury bedrooms for you and your guests and lots of lavish extras
Words Isabella Eckett
Weekend retreats just had to be included in our 100 Best Wedding Venues selection because they are completely in tune with modern celebrations. More couples want to extend the party and treat those they love to a glamorous experience (weekend or midweek) in a gorgeous photogenic setting with multiple event spaces, lots of cosy or luxurious guest accom and all sorts of other crowd pleasers. Here’s our top ten of stars for the weekend wedding party of your dreams.
Gosfield Hall, Essex
Marry your Prince Charming at this Georgian estate and former palace. The 23 luxurious bedrooms include the The Rococco Bridal Suite, designed during the residency of Louis XVIII. Make your way down the 120-foot aisle in Queen Charlotte’s oak panelled gallery or in the Grand Salon with hand-painted ceiling and baby grand piano. The original carriageway has recently been renovated for an outdoor vow exchange. gosfield-hall.co.uk
Holbrook Manor, Somerset
This stunning Georgian country retreat has a quintessentially British flavour, decorated with creeping Ivy and blooming wisteria. Recently renovated, it’s the perfect balance of old and new. Guests will soon settle in to the boutique-style bedrooms looking out over the rolling Wessex countryside. Walk down the aisle in the Garden Room, with twinkling chandeliers overhead. You can even tie the knot at the pretty Summer House. holbrookmanor.com
Thorpe Manor, Oxfordshire
This 14-bedroom family home has been beautifully restored and now it’s an ultra-stylish blend of old and luxe, with antique French furniture, an impressive cinema and relaxed country kitchen. The owners, Natasha and Henry, were the first to marry at the venue meaning no detail has been missed. Bespoke menus, friendly butlers and fun activities (such as wine tasting or flower arranging) all add to the experience. thorpemanorhouse.co.uk
Sibton Park, Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk
Orangery? Walled garden? Georgian mansion? Check. This exclusive-hire estate has it all. Put your guests up in the coolest accommodation – a pink farmhouse, electricity-free cottages and a cleverly converted fruit and veg glasshouse. Explore the vast landscape on Pashley Bicycles. Guests can enjoy tennis, clay-pigeon shooting, fishing, archery and more. Add some wedding wow with a Woodland Firefeast or Bonfire Experience. Just don’t forget your wellies! wildernessreserve.com
Achnagairn Estate, Scotland
For an enchanting fairytale wedding choose Achnagairn Estate in the Scottish Highlands. Guests can stay in the grand castle or one of the luxury lodges. Get ready in the enormous bridal suite with four-poster and in-room bathtub. Sip champagne in the formal gardens before heading to the magnificent ballroom. There are plenty of country pursuits on offer and staff will go the extra mile to ensure all your dreams come true. perfect-manors.com
Cain Manor, Surrey
You can make yourself at home at this rustic venue (available for exclusive hire) nestled on the Surrey-Hampshire border. Surrounded by mature woodland, with views over the Golden Valley, it’s a truly tranquil setting. At the heart of the venue is The Music Room with thick oak-beams and cathedral-style windows. There’s a beautiful bridal suite and 12 further bedrooms for your very special guests. bijouweddingvenues.co.uk
Huntsham Court, Devon
You can have everyone under one rather grand roof at this impressive 40-bedroom stately home. While the setting is baronial, the atmosphere is not because flexibility is at the core of what they do. Food trucks, late-night DJs, staff or no staff – it’s all up to you. Breakfast in your PJs is encouraged and you can spread out across the five reception rooms. On your wedding eve, Huntsham offers a Date Night Dinner menu – recreating whatever you had on that fateful first night. huntshamcourt.co.uk
Hedsor House, Buckinghamshire
Hedsor House deserves its place on the 100 Best Wedding Venues for lots of reasons – for this family-owned manor house in the Bucks countryside is the ultimate party pad. A pink rhododendron-lined driveway leads to the spectacular property. Strikingly symmetrical, it’s a dream for those all-important wedding snaps. Get hitched at the nearby medieval church or imposing Centre Hall with domed ceiling in the main house. There’s a stunning Bridal Suite with large dressing area for all your maids and acres of space for guests to spread out and live it large. hedsor.com
Holmewood Hall, Cambridgeshire
Looking for a venue to hold a grand ceremony? The decadent Gold Room at Holmewood Hall is the answer, with its 50-foot aisle and 18-carat gold-leaf ceiling. In summer months, marry outside at The Bandstand looking over the wonderful parkland. The Tudor-style mansion has 15 beautiful bedrooms, Banqueting Hall, plus The Vault for a late-night tipple. holmewood-hall.co.uk
Cowdray House, West Sussex
This incredible private home offers tennis courts, outdoor pool, croquet lawn, secret bowling alley and helipad. Situated within the 16,500-acre Cowdray Estate, you are promised complete privacy for the party of a lifetime. Dine in Buck Hall under the astonishing vaulted ceiling or in the atmospheric wood panelled Dining Room. Expect all the luxuries of a five-star hotel, including Cowdray-embossed towels, robes and slippers. Bliss! cowdray.co.uk
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