If 2020 has left you fed up with waiting for the large wedding you’ve dreamt off, and are now coming around to the idea of a micro wedding, fear not, having a smaller, more intimate wedding doesn’t have to mean ‘basic’, they can just be as stylish, can be even more special, and definitely still have the WOW factor.
I wanted to share with you my favourite luxury venues for micro weddings that I hope will help guide you in finding the perfect venue for your special day.
Aswarby Rectory – Aswarby, Lincolnshire
Aswarby is a stunning exclusive hire Georgian country house set in 9 acres of private grounds. The exclusive hire means that you get sole use of the stunning house and grounds for the duration of your stay. Aswarby has recently be renovated and the interiors are really something else, emphasising understated style and simplicity.
The house has three areas that are licensed for civil ceremonies, both indoors and outdoors, giving you lots of choice and flexibility, and if you are considering a church ceremony, they have St Denys Church situated next door which is just a short private wooded walk away.
The private grounds are simply stunning and have firepits and a gorgeous festoon pergola with a wood burning stove, perfect for getting cozy with your loved ones in the evening. And when the evening draws to an end, they have 8 bedrooms including a beautiful bridal suite for you and your guests.
Thorpe Manor – Banbury, Oxfordshire
Thorpe Manor is a beautiful secluded and charming Georgian house near Banbury nestled in its 200-acre estate and is perfect for an intimate wedding. Its interiors are a luxurious mix of new and old, giving the house a chic, contemporary and elegant space, perfect for your special day.
Thorpe Manor is an exclusive hire country house, with 14 bedrooms, all with a mix of stunning new and antique furniture. The house is fully equipped with everything you may need for a weekend wedding meaning you can keep your guests entertained, including the use of a glamourous cinema room, billiard room, gym and a beautiful summer house and hot tub, perfect for those summer months.
Barnsley House – Barnsley, Cotswolds
Barnsley house is situated in Barnsley, and picture-perfect village in the Cotswolds and is an exclusive country house retreat nestled in fairy-tale gardens. Barnsley House have a number of places to host your ceremony but my favourite has to be the temple garden which is absolutely stunning for a ceremony of up to 40 guests.
Barnsley house feels like a best kept secret, and has 18 individually designed bedrooms, plus another 6 rooms in their village pub situated across the road. Your guests can enjoy exclusive use of the garden spa with its hydrotherapy pool, sauna and steam room, play a game of tennis or there is a 30 seat private cinema where you can put your feet up the evening before your wedding and watch your favourite movies with your family and friends.
St Giles House – Dorset, South West
St Giles House is located in the heart of Dorset and is an exclusive use award winning family home, steeped with history and is a true oasis and somewhere to escape to unwind and reflect. St Giles is licensed to hold civil ceremonies in any of its principal rooms both in the house and also in the park. For more intimate weddings (up to 20 guests) the incredible shell grotto is a mind-blowing setting, however if it’s a more traditional setting you are after, then Wimborne St Giles church is located next door.
For the reception, dine in the main house which is filled with an abundance of character, where you will be surrounded by fireplaces, ancient books, portraits and delicate ceilings, and for after hours (when guidelines permit) they have an award winning nightclub where you can dance the night away. And when your evening draws to a close, St Giles have the gorgeous 17th Century Riding house which is located within the grounds and has seven double bedrooms, all have been designed with high attention to detail. The full hire also includes accommodation in the East and West Peppercot lodges which has one double bedroom, kitchen and living space, perfect for guests looking for a little added privacy.
Iscoyd Park – Whitchurch, Shropshire
Iscoyd Park is a classical Georgian house with a modern attitude that overlooks the borders of North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. Iscoyd is a family home that offers a personal feel and a warm welcome. The venue has three licensed rooms for civil ceremonies and a church five minutes drive away for those wanting a more traditional ceremony.
Iscoyd has an ambundance of accommodation, on site there are fourteen double bedrooms all with their own en-suite bathrooms and also included in the venue hire is Iscoyd cottage which is located on the edge of the park which hosts five double en-suite bedrooms and includes the bridal suite.
What’s great about Iscoyd Park is that they offer exclusive hire for one, two or three day hires.
