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 opting for a smaller affair you’re still set to be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a venue.
The Best Intimate Wedding Venues for Small Weddings
These intimate wedding venues 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.
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.
Lower Barns, St Austell
In the Cornish countryside near St Austell, Lower Barns brings together one-of-a-kind furnishings and a bold maelstrom of textures. The hotel creates an upbeat feel in their rural home and a fun and quirky environment for small and intimate weddings. The quirky bedrooms with freestanding baths or a custom-made breakfast bars are real conversation starters. Spend the evening before your nuptials stargazing from the outdoor hot tub and unwinding in style.
Court House Farm, Portished
A beautiful medievall manor a stone’s throw from Portished 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.
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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