Hotels can make the best wedding venues – but naturally you want somewhere special for the occasion. With the South East such a popular UK wedding destination, we look at 10 of the best venues, from a private island to the castle home of a former Queen.
From historic favourites to hidden gems, hotels can offer settings and service to make your wedding day seamless and spectacularly beautiful.
10 of the Most Beautiful Wedding Venues in the South East
Here, the Good Hotel Guide shares 10 of their top South East hotel wedding venues.
Hever Castle B&B, Edenbridge
Surrounded by the Kent countryside, this is no ordinary B&B. Hever Castle has a five-star B&B with 28 rooms – part of the former home of Anne Boleyn. Brimming with romance, rooms are within the Edwardian wing of the Tudor castle.
Meanwhile, for weddings you can go as big as you like – taking over part of the stately castle itself, opting for the country-house atmosphere of the Astor Wing or celebrating by the lake in the Italian Garden. To this day it’s a destination fit for a queen.
Read’s, Faversham
This elegant Georgian manor house is surrounded by peaceful gardens and lawns shaded by lofty cedar, weeping willow and horse chestnut trees. Known for its combination of elegance and home grown food, rooms are quietly stylish and traditional, offering space for the whole wedding party to stay.
The property is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies and has charming private dining areas perfect for intimate parties of up to 20 people. Photos on the lawn will look beautiful, and you can opt for exclusive use of the whole place, which makes it extra special.
Chewton Glen, New Milton
A five-star country house hotel in Hampshire with a celebrated spa, Chewton Glen is the epitome of a country house hotel with a twist. For example, in addition to the rooms and suites in the main house (all of which offer traditional charm and sumptuous soft furnishings), the hotel has made use of its enchanting New Forest location by introducing treehouse suites in the grounds.
Allowing you to wake amongst the treetops in decadent style, watch deer roam in the morning light and enjoy time and space to yourselves, it adds an extra layer of romance. Such surroundings truly lend themselves to weddings, and as such they have a number of options for planning your nuptials.
From intimate affairs to large events, you can say ‘I do’ amongst the treetops or in more traditional settings around the property. There are plenty of beautiful backdrops for photos and space for you and your guests to stay for a full weekend of celebrations.
Cliveden House, Taplow
A destination for the good and the great across the centuries, Cliveden House has a reputation that precedes it. From the role of its walled garden in the Profumo Affair to playing host to Meghan Markle the night before her marriage to Prince Harry, it is a seductive location for romance and for good reason.
The extraordinary country house is the pinnacle of luxury and excellence. Five-star all the way, it’s located in Berkshire and combines luxury spa facilities with award-winning restaurants. The wedding photos here would be nothing short of breathtaking, and they have everything you need to get hitched without a hitch.
They have a dedicated wedding planner, and spaces for events of every size and specification. They also offer exclusive use for parties of 60 or more, which really would be a treat.
The Goring, London
For classic romance, nowhere is more spectacular than The Goring in London. Five-star and flawless, the hotel is in the heart of Victoria near Buckingham Palace, and has been enchanting guests with its old world charm for more than a century. It’s also where the Duchess of Cambridge spent the night before her wedding.
From its Michelin Star restaurant to its Royal Warrant (the Queen Mother famously enjoyed Eggs Drumkilbo in The Dining Room), its luxurious rooms and suites to its uniquely tranquil spot in the city, it’s the perfect place to celebrate romance.
For weddings and civil partnerships in London you can opt for having everything from the ceremony to the celebrations here. Say your vows by the hand-embroidered chinoiserie of The Drawing Room or the garden setting on The Veranda. There are also a number of churches in their Belgravia neighbourhood if you prefer. Then there is a choice of private rooms available for the wedding breakfast, whether you have a party of 12 or 100.
Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, Bath
Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa sits inside one of the most iconic buildings in the city of Bath. Very much a luxury experience, the five-star hotel offers historic architecture, timeless style, and a really good afternoon tea.
The Spa & Bath House is a must while you’re here, built into the impressive architecture with finesse and including a range of facilities as well as treatments from British brand Elemental Herbology.
A place of Bridgerton-worthy swooning, it is a beautiful setting for a wedding, with space to say your vows in the garden or library, followed by dining and celebration spaces for up to 120 people.
Locanda on the Weir, Porlock Weir
In the heart of Exmoor National Park, Locanda on the Weir is a slight change of pace from the other destinations. Overlooking the 15th-century harbour at Porlock Weir in Somerset, and surrounded by woodland and sea, the natural beauty of the location is awe-inspiring.
Inside, the country house combines comfort with immaculate style. It has only four bedrooms (five if you book the whole property), and it’s perfect for what they describe as ‘intimate micro weddings’.
You can have your ceremony on site, party like it’s your own and dine on their exceptional Italian fare (dedicated to zero waste, which is a bonus) – all fully staffed and catered from £2000 per night inclusive.
Burgh Island Hotel, Bigbury-on-Sea
An Art Deco hotel where you arrive by sea tractor, Burgh Island Hotel is famed as a filming location and source of inspiration for Agatha Christie, as well as for its unique location. On a tidal island at the end of Bigbury beach, the setting is magical, and food has a reputation for excellence.
Your photos here will be exceptional whether they’re on the beach or by the natural mermaid pool. Like stepping into another world, weddings here mean taking over the whole property (which sleeps up to 50 guests in 25 rooms) – it’s the ultimate house party.
Have your ceremony as the waves lap the shore or opt for a candle-lit occasion after dusk. From there, everything is catered, from the wedding meal to an evening buffet, the band to breakfast the following morning.
The Feathered Nest, Chipping Norton
While described as a pub-with-rooms, The Feathered Nest in Chipping Norton is so much more than that. Elegantly updated whilst still offering a warm welcome, it is a foodie favourite located in the picturesque Evenlode valley.
A 300-year-old malthouse, there is a rich sense of history to the property, while food is overseen by Matt Weedon, who has headed some formidable Michelin-starred kitchens. Weddings are popular at this pretty inn, whether it’s summer celebrations in the gardens or cosy winter nuptials in this hedonistic haven.
Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Great Milton
The 15th-century manor house where Raymond Blanc has held two Michelin stars since 1984, Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is the epitome of good taste – literally. Surrounded by magnificent gardens where many of the ingredients for meals are grown, the hotel is a magnificent honey-stone building framed by lavender-lined paths.
The grounds are enchanting, offering the most beautiful photo opportunities, while the rooms are opulent with select features including four-poster beds and silk wallpapers. From intimate occasions to large celebrations, the experience is tailored to you from La Belle Epoque Conservatory to the walled garden glowing with candlelight and the Art Deco dining room.
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