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Which fancy hotel would you have a micro wedding at in the UK?

153 replies

Reori · 26/01/2025 13:25

i am engaged and decided I really don’t want to have a big wedding. I like weddings but most weddings to me are nothing spectacular especially when you find out how much they cost per head.

Fiance and I are also the last siblings in our families to get married so the novelty is kind of gone.

Fiance and I initially assumed we would do something small abroad with our siblings and parents. But I find the concept of being married in a country which I don’t know at all and where I don’t speak the language really daunting. The idea of running around the Tuscan countryside trying to find a place that sells a specific object really unappealing.

I was hoping to book my family rooms at a big country house and share a sort of mini break with food and activities.

Cliveden is at the top of my list but I just think there must be better value for money elsewhere.

What would you do if you were having my style of wedding?

OP posts:
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6
MarCardarell · 27/01/2025 00:00

Bovey Castle

HalfasleepChrisintheMorning · 26/01/2025 23:59

Swinton, or a bit cheaper Coniston
theconistonhotel.com/

Bleachbum · 26/01/2025 23:54

I went to a wedding at Babington House in Somerset and it was glorious. the chapel is lovely, they really took care of us all and it felt so intimate, despite not having exclusive use.

Another option is Foxhill Manor in the Cotswolds. It’s on a huge estate that offers everything you are looking for. You can take exclusive use of the manor or by room. Or there’s also larger hotel on the estate. They have an excellent country activities team and they can design a bespoke weekend for you. I’ve used them for executive team weekends and I can’t fault their team.

Other luxury country house hotels that I’ve stayed at which could be worth looking into are:

  • Beaverbrook, Surrey
  • Lime Wood, New Forest
  • Bovey Castle, Dartmoor
waltzingparrot · 26/01/2025 23:48

Andy & Kim Murray's Cromlix hotel in Scotland has just one another award. Luxury, small, lots of outdoor and indoor activities. There's a YouTube video tour of it. Looks amazing.

Pancakeflipper · 26/01/2025 23:45

Adding The Grove to your list to check out.

Though been a couple of years since we have stayed.

jamimmi · 26/01/2025 23:43

The Glipin in the lakes definitely do weddings where you can have exclusive use of the lake house and use the lovley hotel suits for anyone you can't fit in the lake house. They will bring then back and forth. A friends son did this a couple of years ago and it looked devine. Spa and all food sorted. I'm sure you could clay pigeon shoot too

annlee3817 · 26/01/2025 23:39

The Swan Hotel in Bibury (Cotswolds) is meant to be really good, I'm eyeing it up for a weekend away, it's a lovely area of the Cotswolds

XWKD · 26/01/2025 23:35

If you'd fancy a trip to Ireland, Ashford Castle and Adare Manor are incredible.

I'd like Brown's in London myself. I love its understated grandeur.

Babyenroute · 26/01/2025 23:30

Roaminginthegloaming · 26/01/2025 23:22

I’m going to a wedding this Summer at Winton Castle, 30 minutes from Edinburgh. The wedding party gets sole use of the castle - it looks wonderful!

www.wintoncastle.co.uk

Edited

Love Winton Castle, we almost chose it as our venue but had a last minute change of heart to wed on the west coast. I think it would be too big for 12 people though and is quite a traditional wedding venue with dining room suitable for nearer 70

howsupport · 26/01/2025 23:27

Rectory Hotel, Crudwell

Babyenroute · 26/01/2025 23:26

One of the Pig hotels in England or the Fife Arms in Scotland.

TheGirlattheBack · 26/01/2025 23:21

Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds

hulahooper2 · 26/01/2025 23:05

Cameron house on loch lomond

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 26/01/2025 23:04

Petersham
Hotel in Richmond you can add in a boat trip maybe?

PemberleynotWemberley · 26/01/2025 23:02

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding, @Reori .
I know I'm biased, but the edges of Dartmoor are ravishingly beautiful and there are some wonderful country house hotels. Check out

Gidleigh Park near Chagford
Bovey Castle near Moretonhampstead
Endsleigh, at Milton Abbot
Horn of Plenty near Tavistock

Devon is heaven.

Themightypuma · 26/01/2025 22:15

I’d look at

The Newt
Limewood
Thyme
Gara Rock
The Scarlet

All totally stunning hotels. The Newt would probably be top of the list but I’m not sure it’s going to come in on budget.

FrangipaniBlue · 26/01/2025 22:04

Armathwaite Hall or Inn on the Lake - both in the Lake District and both have spas and clay pigeon shooting on site!

Badlands1 · 26/01/2025 18:59

100% Limewood in the New Forest - way nicer than Babington which has sort of lost it's edge recently

MrsKeats · 26/01/2025 18:42

The Samling in The Lakes.

Printedword · 26/01/2025 17:30

InternetRandom · 26/01/2025 13:34

The Goring does this. Would be obviously not a countryside experience but they have lovely gardens.

My SIL was married there, it was lovely

WinterOnItsWayOut · 26/01/2025 16:28

Limewood in the New Forest
The Painswick in the Cotswolds

Both of them are small. Limewood has lovely gardens

For large, Gleneagles is lovely

Harassedevictee · 26/01/2025 16:25

@Reori
Milsom’s in Dedham Vale https://www.milsomhotels.com/milsoms/

It’s a small country house (15 rooms) with a swimming pool, pool house and treatment rooms. Beautiful views and you can go to Flatford Mill which is lovely.

Milsoms Hotel • Luxury Restaurant in Dedham, Essex • Milsom Hotels & Restaurants

Milsoms hotel is a luxury boutique in Dedham Essex, offers fifteen luxury hotel bedrooms. Milsoms restaurant is a contemporary brasserie in Dedham.

https://www.milsomhotels.com/milsoms

mandarinchocolate · 26/01/2025 16:18

Have a look at Elcot The Retreat and The Mitre

https://retreatelcotpark.com/

https://mitrehamptoncourt.com/?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=local&utmcampaign=hotel-themitre