WEDDING VENUES OF 2021

So, the sun has set on my last wedding of the year and I’ve now got a few quiet months to reflect on the last eighteen months - from co-founding and running the What About Weddings campaign with Annabel Beeforth (Love My Dress) and Jessie Westwood (Studio Sorores) to getting back to conducting weddings with the most wonderful couples AND looking forward to 2022, there’s been a lot going on.

just married bicycle at holywell hall

Cute details at Holywell Hall

Gorgeous florals at RSA House

This year, or more accurately, June through to the end of October, have been jam-packed with weddings and I’ve been lucky enough to conduct ceremonies at some incredible venues so here’s a little round-up of where I’ve been this year - perhaps you might be inspired if you’re still venue hunting!

My first wedding of the year was not too far from home at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons here in Oxfordshire and then I was off on my travels for the rest of the summer - From Brympton House and RSA House to Euridge and Kew Gardens, the backdrops to this year’s ceremonies have been unforgettable.

Reflections in the sunshine at Eurdge

I’ve been lucky enough to visit the glorious Holywell Hall for lots of super ceremonies and I’ve popped down the M4 to Asylum Chapel as well. It was a joy to go back to Hillfields Farm this year and the journey to Oxnead Hall was so worth it as I was able to lead a wedding ceremony for a friend’s sister, so very special. There have also been so many weddings at homes and in stunning gardens where friends and family were finally able to gather to celebrate. Oh yes, it’s been an amazing year!

And 2022 is shaping up to be rather special too. I’ll be heading back to the heavenly Pynes House on a couple of occasions, dashing down the road to Hedsor House and revisiting some of my favourite venues from this year including Euridge, Holywell Hall and discovering lots of new places and spaces too so I’ll see you here this time next year to tell you just what they were all like!

celebrant wedding at kew gardens

Just before a wedding at Kew Gardens

Peeking into the church at Holywell Hall

An atmospheric wedding at Asylum Chapel

p.s. all photos in this feature were taken by me!

TOWN HALL HOTEL LONDON - PREFERRED PARTNER

Hello again and this is a very happy feature indeed. I'm absolutely thrilled to say that I'm now a Preferred Partner at the incredible Town Hall Hotel, London. After hearing such wonderful things about this wedding venue, it was fantastic to visit the team there and to hear all about their wedding offering. I'm already looking forward to my first Town Hall Hotel wedding.

So, if you've not yet discovered Town Hall Hotel for yourself, let me give you a quick introduction. The experience starts the moment you step inside and it's like traveling back in time or onto a film set. If you're a history buff, a lover of vintage or a fan of the golden age of glamour then you are in for a giant treat. The staircases, the paneling, the stained glass and the spot-on finishing touches. I swoon.

The amazing council chambers are a spectacular location for a wedding but there are so many rooms and spaces at Town Hall Hotel that are perfect for ceremonies that it might be hard to choose! I mean, I'm a history geek but I did fall for the cool, contemporary De Montfort Suite and I couldn't think of a better spot for an intimate wedding.

Town Hall Hotel is also super flexible. They can help you if you'd like some assistance or give you freedom to create the day that you've been secretly planning for years. There's no 'standard' wedding at Town Hall Hotel and that definitely makes me smile.

Lastly - food. I have to mention the food. If you're a bit of a foodie or if you just like the thought of a wedding breakfast that's downright delicious and a million mouthfuls away from the dull and lukewarm then you're going to LOVE the menus at Town Hall Hotel. Just take a look at the sample menu and I bet your tummy will rumble.

I'm totally head over heels for Town Hall Hotel. It's the coolest venue in London's vibrant East End and I just know that your wedding there will be brilliant - their preferred partners are all clearly as excellent as the venue itself...

You'll find Town Hall Hotel in Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9NF. The wedding team can be contacted on weddings@townhallhotel.com and you can download the wedding brochure here.

NO LICENCE NO PROBLEM - 10 AMAZING WEDDING VENUES

If I had to choose just one of the many reasons why celebrant-led weddings are so fantastic, I'd definitely mention wedding venues. You see, with a celebrant-led ceremony, you can choose any venue you like. It doesn't need to be licensed for civil ceremonies, you don't have to worry about the availability of a registrar and, without these restrictions, the world is your wedding venue oyster. 

Coco Wedding Venues has to be your new best friend when you're searching for your venue. It's stylish, easy to use and I love the venue categories too. Coco also lists lots of venues that don't have licenses and are perfect for celebrant-led ceremonies. Here are ten of my favourite locations for weddings that prove that not having a wedding licence is absolutely not a problem...

1. STANSTEAD BURY

Oooh yes, Stanstead Bury in Hertfordshire is an absolute jewel. It's a gorgeous Grade II listed manor house that makes the most gorgeous backdrop for a marquee or tipi wedding. I love the fact that you can bring your pets and work with your choice of suppliers to make your day super personal.

2. HEATHFIELD HOUSE

Heathfield House | Images by Charlotte Bryer-Ash

Dorset's Heathfield House is pretty much the country house that you've always dreamed about. It's perfect for intimate weddings and you can hire the whole estate for a truly exclusive event. Enjoy your own 300 acres on the fringe of the New Forest that comes with a private chef, waiting staff and full housekeeping.

3. WILLINGTON LODGE

Willington Lodge | Images courtesy of Willington Lodge

Willington Lodge | Images courtesy of Willington Lodge

Heading a little further afield now, we whiz up to Shropshire and Willington Lodge. Surrounded by walled gardens, ponds, stables and picturesque fields, this luxurious bed & breakfast is perfect for a celebrant-led wedding. It's warm, friendly and the Morris family who own the Lodge are just the best hosts.

4. FERN & FIELD

If you've been dreaming about an outdoor ceremony then Fern & Field is likely to be just what you've imagined. Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the High Weald of Kent, Fern & Field host a limited number of weddings every year so that the working farm is protected but my goodness, those bluebells...

5. WISE WEDDING VENUE

You'll find Wise Wedding Venue tucked in 10 acres of established oak and silver birch trees (I swoon!). There are ceremony-perfect clearings tucked among the trees but it might just be the treehouse that steals your heart. Wise Wedding Venue is the most wonderful escape from the everyday.

6. AREA

Area | Images courtesy of jj Events

Area | Images courtesy of jj Events

If you're looking for a London vibe then Area might be just the spot for you. This blank canvas venue in the heart of creative Shoreditch has room for up to 150 guests and space for you to do just what you want. The huge windows overlook a private courtyard oasis and there's also a dedicated events team on hand to help you out.

7. GLYNDE PLACE

Glynde Place | Images courtesy of Glynde Place

Glynde Place | Images courtesy of Glynde Place

Just a stone's through from Brighton and Lewes, Glynde Place in Sussex sits at the foot of the beautiful South Downs. You've got space for up to 200 lucky guests and Glynde Place simply ooze old school elegance. The spaces indoors that could be available for your celebrant-led ceremony are just heaven.

8. BEAGLE

Oh how I love Beagle. This tip-top venue sits under three restored Victorian railway arches just next to Hoxton overground station. There are four indoor spaces for weddings and a great outdoor heated terrace that features a retractable roof! Beagle has scooped a host of awards since opening and it's easy to see why.

9. KNEPP CASTLE ESTATE

Home to free-roaming animals and natural beauty, Knepp Castle Estate in West Sussex is the thing that wild weddings dreams are made of. You can pitch up to 10 bell tents in the grounds too for your guests and who knows, you might have a few extra visitors in the form of deer or an Exmoor pony or two.

10. FIRLE PLACE

Firle Place | Image courtesy of Firle Place

Firle Place | Image courtesy of Firle Place

An absolutely gorgeous private estate, Firle Place in East Sussex is a truly memorable venue for your wedding. You've got oodles of options for your ceremony (and reception) so all you need to do is choose between the lawns, orchards, 18th Century herb garden and, of course, the historic house itself.

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PETS & WEDDING CEREMONIES

I am most definitely an animal lover. In fact, my beloved black labrador is sitting under my desk as I'm typing thing. So, it should come as no surprise that I'm also a big fan of inviting your pet to be at your wedding.

Let's be honest, if you've got a pet of any shape or size, you love it. There's also the possibility that you might well love your pet more than some of your human relatives! Family relationships aside, if you share your life with an animal, the chance are you'd like it by your side when you wed. If you're nodding along right now, read on...

If you're pet is going to be on the guest list, you need to make sure that the venue you choose is pet friendly. Obviously, if you opt for a celebrant-led wedding ceremony, you can go for any location that you like. Fields, paddocks, woods and lakeside glades are all perfect for pets and for ceremonies.

Alternatively, there are still plenty of options if you'd prefer a barn, country estate or stately home. Wedding venue directories such as Coco Wedding Venues even allow you to search specifically for locations that welcome furry friends.

Then, work out how best to include your pet. Whilst we're all seen those super cute videos of dogs delivering rings on cue, be realistic about your pet's abilities. Most of us would be happy for them to simply be present throughout with barking at the wrong moment or eating their floral collar.

So, have a good thing about everything (or ask your celebrant for some advice!). You might like to walk in with your pet and then encourage/bribe it to sit with you or with someone it knows. Just remember, there's no right and wrong - every animal has its own personality so choose something that suits yours without expecting too much. A stressed pet is never a good thing.

As with all things wedding, have a contingency plan (and, maybe, someone standing by with poop bags!). Remember that being able to have you pet with you on your wedding day is a special and beautiful thing. Even if they do get the odd muddy paw mark on your outfit...