With many brides-to-be having to scale down their guest lists as a result of coronavirus guidelines, small and intimate weddings are set to be a big wedding trend in 2021. If you are making the decision to opt for a smaller affair you’re still spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a venue.
The Best Small Wedding Venues in the UK
These intimate wedding venues in London and across the UK provide the perfect backdrop for a magical and romantic wedding day.
The Samling, Lake District
A striking Georgian house, The Samling is surrounded by a cluster of old Lakeland stone buildings. With 12 bedrooms and four different room classifications: Classic, Luxury, Junior Suites and Suites, the hotel is a perfect venue for an intimate wedding. But nothing about this setting is small scale, nestled in 65 private acres of rolling meadows, ancient woodlands teaming with wildlife and gardens and rolling down to Lake Windermere, your small wedding will leave a big impact on your guests. The Samling can accommodate up to 24 guests and this is currently the maximum number of guests allowed at a wedding ceremony and evening reception in the UK. The price for the takeover for 24 guests is £16,500 on a bed and breakfast basis.
Barnsley House, Cirencester, The Cotswolds
From hideaway rooms and a private cinema to a magical secret garden suite and picturesque gardens, Barnsley House is not only a gorgeous intimate wedding venue but also the perfect setting to create your first memories together as a married couple. The venue only offers exclusivity quite simply to ensure maximum privacy for your wedding party and the utmost indulgence of the house and outside space. Make the most of the what Barnsley House has to offer by checking you and the girls into the spa the afternoon before the big day.
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The Zetter Townhouse, London
Often described as the ultimate party pads, with two locations in the capital – Clerkenwell and Marylebone – the opulent Georgian townhouses are both available to exclusive wedding hire. The original 13-bedroom Zetter Townhouse in Clerkenwell boasts sumptuous and eclectic interiors by Russell Sage and feels like the private residence of a fabulously eccentric Great Aunt. Meanwhile, it’s sister property in Marylebone – just a stone’s throw from Selfridges, Oxford Street and Mayfair features 24 bedrooms and an award-winning cocktail lounge, Seymour’s Parlour.
Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
You may not think of this stunning 18th Century baroque masterpiece as the archetypal setting for a small wedding, however, the new micro-wedding offerings make the most of the intimate venues within the grandeur of Blenheim Palace. The Palace can currently host small ceremonies and receptions in The Orangery, as well as The Marlborough Room and The Oudenarde Room. Moreover, Blenheim’s catering partner, Searcys, boasts an exceptional reputation for its refined cuisine and excellent service. Following the ceremony, couples can host their guests for a seated drinks and canapés reception, followed by a delicious wedding breakfast.
Read More: Everything you Need to Know About Micro-Weddings
The Bingham, Richmond
A chic riverside hotel with a restaurant that glows over the Thames come twilight. The Bingham in Richmond is made of two Grade II listed 18th-century houses and run by a mother and daughter team. While its event space allows for up to 100 seated guests, the hotel has 15 bedrooms allowing for up to 30 people to stay overnight. Hire the whole hotel and choose from a casual barbecue by the water or a formal five-course wedding breakfast.
The Hollywood Arms, Chelsea, London
Tucked away on a Chelsea side street, just off the famous Kings Road, The Hollywood Arms is a London pub wedding venue inspired by the grandeur of English country estates. With gorgeous, quirky interiors and a fully stocked gin & cocktail lounge, The Boulevard Bar, its a fabulous setting for a small wedding reception. Whether it’s an intimate wedding brunch or a raucous mini-wedding reception, the in-house coordinator is on hand to take all the stress away from planning your big day.
Court House Farm, Portishead
A beautiful medieval manor a stone’s throw from Portishead Point and Woodhill Bay. This venue offers plenty of space and the perfect rustic, romantic backdrop to any wedding. Only a couple hours from London or 30 minutes from Bristol, Court House Farm is very well connected whilst maintaining the perfect feeling of country escape. The venue is open all year round and the owners are more than happy to work with you to help create your dream wedding.
Cley Windmill, Norfolk
For something a little different on the Norfolk coast, Cley Windmill is a B&B with tonnes of character. It’s set in a 19th-century grinding mill surrounded by open fields and perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies. It has a restaurant and a beautiful round Sitting Room too, which can hold up to 22 people. Given the intimacy of the space, it’s all about bespoke occasions whether you opt for a daytime or evening occasion. However, we’re particularly fond of the candlelight dinner option.
Pentillie Castle, Cornwall
In a timelessly elegant fairytale setting, surrounded by woodland and overlooking the River Tamar lies Pentillie Castle. Built in 1698, it has remained in the same family for more than 300 years. It is surprisingly spacious and classic, with 55 acres of gardens to roam in. It’s a wonderful place to feel like royalty and to welcome guests to a special occasion. Say your vows in the romantic Victorian Bathing Hut on the banks of the Tamar or on the Terrace if you prefer. You can furthermore tailor the rest of your day to suit you and your nearest and dearest as you please.
Romney Bay House, Kent
This beautiful 1920s mansion in a spectacular location amidst wild marshland scattered with ancient churches. Romney Bay House Hotel is a spectacular place for a small and intimate wedding reception. Plus, you can hire the whole hotel for up to 20 guests and take the whole hotel for an entire weekend from May to September.
Hever Castle B&B, Edenbridge
Hever Castle is probably best known as the home of famed and fated wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn. Today the magnificent 13th-century property is not only a spectacular attraction, but it’s also open for wedding hire. There are multiple spaces in this historic location so you can have a wedding of any size here. However, in the castle’s inner hall, there is the perfect amount of space for 60 ceremony guests and 40 wedding breakfast attendees. What could be more spectacular?
The Cavendish, Baslow
In the grounds of the Chatsworth estate, owned by the Duke of Devonshire, The Cavendish fuses a regal vibe with a country chic feel. Beautifully kept and magnificent views in the un-spoilt Peak District National Park. It’s a bit of a fairytale fantasy with space for 18 in The Boardroom, 10 in The Private Dining Room or 42 in The Gallery Restaurant.
Brunswick House, Vauxhall, London
Specialists in intimate gatherings, the team at Brunswick House are well-versed in all things weddings. Hire the house exclusively as your small wedding venue and your big day will flow from start to finish, with cocktails on the ground floor, a feast on the first floor and the party in the Cellar. As well as luxurious private rooms for you and your guests, the culinary offerings from Jackson Boxer (Orasay, Notting Hill) and Frank Boxer (Frank’s Café, Peckham) across the bar, restaurant and private dining rooms are real crowd pleasers.
Fischer’s at Baslow Hall, Baslow
Built in 1907 and set within five acres of grounds, Fischer’s at Baslow Hall is a charming manor house surrounded by elegant gardens. In the village of Baslow, it too is on the edge of the magnificent Chatsworth Estate. It welcomes intimate weddings of 10 guests or more who can stay in the 11 bedrooms that the hotel offers.
Tuddenham Mill, Suffolk
The 18th-century mill has been delightfully renovated with a modern flair is surrounded by 12 acres of grounds. Tuddenham Mill can cater for weddings of up to 60 people and is complete with chic interiors, old wooden beams and views over the millpond. The restaurant serves an elegant but contemporary menu. For those who want to keep it even smaller, the Terrace Room is a charming private dining room, ideal for intimate affairs of up to 36 people.
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