Dorfold Hall | Hitched.co.uk
12 Wintery Wedding Venues that WOW
Wedding experts reveal some of the UK’s most magical winter wedding venues
- Winter is the most popular time of year to propose in the UK, with almost a third of Brits (32%) popping the question then, with the majority of engagements in December (17%)
- Google Trends data shows online interest in ‘wedding planning’ peaks in January, as newly-engaged couples begin the process themselves
- The average spend on wedding venues in the UK is £7,600, but booking venues “out of season” or mid-week can save couples up to £10,000
- Cheshire’s Dorfold Hall ranks 5th in the top UK venues for a winter wedding.
While usually considered the most festive time of the year, exclusive user data from leading wedding planning website Hitched.co.uk has revealed that December is also the most popular month for Brits to propose, with 17% of those married last year saying they first got engaged in December while a third were engaged during winter.
Additionally, Google Trends data reveals that online searches for ‘wedding planning’ articles peak between Boxing Day and January 15th, as those newly engaged couples begin thinking about what happens next. Now, amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, many couples will certainly be worried about how to pay for their dream wedding as well as keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and keep the family warm.
The latest National Wedding Survey uncovered that the average cost of a wedding in the UK last year was £17,300, with the majority of that going straight to the venue where the average cost was £7,600. To help the newest cohort of couples navigate planning a wedding amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, wedding experts at Hitched have shared their top tips on how to save up to £10,000 on the perfect wedding day, by choosing a wedding date that’s out of season, or mid week.
12 of The UK’s Most Magical Winter Venues
If thoughts of roaring log fires, lakes covered in ice and glistening turrets fill you with festive joy, then getting married at a winter wedding venue might be for you. From castles to courts and everything in between, Hitched has rounded up some enchanting wintery wedding venues that would be perfect for a frosty and fabulous celebration.
- Marshwood Manor, Bridport, Dorset
Marshwood Manor is a one-of-a-kind winter wedding venue that allows the beauty of nature to speak for itself with every changing season. With both indoor and outdoor gathering spaces that exude charm and enchantment, you’ll feel as though you’re the main character of your very own festive fairytale.
The property’s Victorian brick haybarn is a sight to behold with its vaulted ceilings, natural wood panelling, and its very own terrace. Your festivities need not end once your reception comes to an end, as couples and their loved ones are welcome to stay in the luxury accommodations available.
- Elmore Court, Gloucestershire
Steeped in over 700 years of history, Elmore Court is an imposing country house that provides a stunning wedding backdrop come rain, shine or snow! The house was originally built to entertain, so it’s no surprise that it’s a five-star rated wedding venue today. The modern addition of the purpose-built Gillyflower event space puts this historic wedding venue firmly in the 21st century.
With acres of surrounding countryside set within a bend of the River Severn, this winter wedding venue looks simply stunning when covered in a blanket of snow or glistening ice. If that all sounds a little chilly to you, you’ll soon warm up next to the roaring fire or within the cosy and heated corners of Elmore.
- Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, East Grinstead, West Sussex
If you’re after grandeur and glamour, Ashdown Park, a stunning winter wedding venue in West Sussex, could be the one for you. Nestled in the heart of a 186-acre estate and set at the end of a sweeping drive, your guests will be blown away as they approach this grade II listed mansion!
The large stained-glass windows in the converted chapel make for a romantic wedding breakfast backdrop, whilst the lawns and lakes which surround the house look totally magical when dusted with snow.
- Dewsall Court, Herefordshire
Dewsall Court is a barn wedding venue which sits in the heart of the idyllic Herefordshire countryside – you couldn’t get more quintessentially British if you tried!
For the traditional couples out there, there is a charming ancient church just a short stroll from Dewsall Court. Once you’ve said your vows, you can head back along the lane to the rustic, oak-beamed grade II listed property to dance the night away. What’s more, this venue offers a two-night-stay offer for 20 of your guests!
- Dorfold Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire
Dorfold Hall is a Jacobean stately home and has plenty to offer when it comes to winter weddings. The white-brick-walled Coach House is the perfect home for a festive wedding, with style and elegance at the forefront of its décor.
This beautiful winter wedding venue can also accommodate 20 people for an overnight stay, meaning you and a small handful of your friends and family can spend a cosy night in this gorgeous winter wedding venue after the celebrations are over.
- Crondon Park, Stock, Essex
Crondon Park is a beautiful historic wedding venue located right in the heart of the Essex countryside. The 17th century building is available for private hire, meaning that you and your guests can enjoy a peaceful day in the secluded property.
Say your vows in the dignified Ryder Room, before starting to eat, drink and be merry in the Baronial Suite, which has a gorgeous Tudor barn aesthetic. Oak details and soft lighting make this the ideal place to get cosy during the colder months.
- The Crazy Bear, Great Milton, Oxfordshire
Luxury, grandeur, and elegance await at The Crazy Bear in Great Milton. Warmly lit with countless twinkling lights, lantern-style chandeliers, and classic candelabras, this hotel wedding venue is the perfect spot for when those cold winter evenings draw closer. With plenty of nooks and hideaways throughout the hotel to enjoy with your loved ones, you’ll be warmed right up in no time!
The Glasshouse, the venue’s spacious and elegantly appointed reception room, features countless windows that allow guests to appreciate the beauty of the season while remaining protected from the elements. What’s more, the hotel’s expert events team will work with you to ensure that every detail of your day exudes the magical ambience you’ve always dreamt it would.
- Crathorne Hall Hotel, Yarm, North Yorkshire
With beautiful views across the snow-dusted Leven Valley, the grand Crathorne Hall Hotel is a truly romantic and memorable winter wedding venue. Step in from the cold to roaring log fires, mulled wine, beautiful chandeliers and hearty, award-winning food, all in the surroundings of their breath-taking Christmas trees and winter decorations. If you’re on the hunt for a Christmas wedding venue, this could be it!
Guaranteeing privacy and exclusivity, you can hire this Edwardian country house exclusively for up to 150 guests so every cosy corner and all the gardens are yours to enjoy. You’ll feel like the real Lord and Lady of the Manor.
- Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire
At the end of a winding driveway sits the spectacular Jacobean hall of Hatfield House. Built in 1497, the Old Palace is brimming with history and Queen Elizabeth I even spent her childhood here. There are two venues at Hatfield House; the Palace for up to 200 guests and the modern Riding School for up to 110.
It’s the Old Palace where couples looking for the perfect winter wedding venue should turn. Tapestries adorn the walls, adding character and keeping out the cold, while warm lighting adds a cheering glow to the original brick walls and impressive portraits.
- The Caves, The Rowantree and Marlin’s Wynd, Lothian & Borders, Edinburgh
This collection of three vaults nestled in the depths of an 18th-century bridge in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town are quite something to behold. If you want a unique wedding venue, The Caves are rich in history, with every room telling a story.
From the main vault – built in the 1540s – that served as a stable to the French Cavalry to its second life as a watering hole for famous Scots such as Rabbie Burns. With exposed brickwork, huge arches and spectacular lighting, these exclusive use vaults are warm, inviting and full of character.
- Tall John’s House, Powys
Restored in 2018, this beautiful stone barn is a brand new wedding venue. Tall John’s House combines the lofty beams and romantic windows of the traditional barn with modern underfloor heating, permanent loos and cool background lighting to make an incredibly comfortable venue for those chilly winter months.
Sitting among the hills of the Llangorse Lake Valley, you’ll have views of the Black Mountains and loads of privacy. You’re allowed fireworks and confetti, plus your three day rental includes two nights in their adjoining cottage and their honeymoon cottage, so you can make a real celebration weekend. With no set suppliers or corkage, you can go wild with your winter mulled wine!
- The Tythe Barn, Oxfordshire
The 14th-century Tythe Barn in Launton is a gorgeous rustic wedding venue in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside. This barn is a chic take on rustic, mixing warmth, character and traditional charm with a cool, modern feel. Strung with twinkling fairy lights and evergreen foliage, Tythe Barn is a wonderfully inviting winter wedding venue.
Start by getting ready at their luxurious bridal preparation barn, ‘The Nook’, before heading to either one of their three barns or the stunning 12th-century church just across their frosty gardens for your ceremony. Your meal will be made by their in-house chefs using local, wholesome produce – and you can warm up some more with their extensive collection of wines and Champagne! With a wood-fired pizza oven, festoon lighting, drinks station, sweet cart and a huge range of photo backdrops, everything is covered at Tythe Barn.
For the full range of wedding venues available at Hitched.co.uk, please visit: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-venues/
