Sussex/Surrey venues

Where have you considered/heard of already?

I'm in Sussex and cover that general area so I've seen lots of lovely places. Trouble is, what's the budget?

Horsham's an odd one though as you kinda have to travel to the venue regardless. 30 minutes away there's Grittenham Barn, they have a one weekend one booking policy so you have several days to put everything together.

Wow, my minds actually drawn a blank. I'm sure there's somewhere in Cranleigh too.

This year it's not been unusual for venues to be 30 minutes away, last Saturday it was a 50 minute drive.

Hang on a cottong picking minute, ... how about the South Lodge Hotel in Horsham?

Yeah it does seem like most places are going to be about a half hours drive. We've got a list which consists of Mannings Heath Hotel & Golf Club, Slaugham Place for marquees, Gatton manor, South Lodge. So except Slaugham Place, they are all quite similar, country hotel type places. They all seem to come in between 10-13k for the venue & food, which is fine with us, except South Lodge, which seems to be a bit more on the pricey side. But we are just curious to see if there are any places we may not have considered!

Yeah it does seem like most places are going to be about a half hours drive. We've got a list which consists of Mannings Heath Hotel & Golf Club, Slaugham Place for marquees, Gatton manor, South Lodge. So except Slaugham Place, they are all quite similar, country hotel type places. They all seem to come in between 10-13k for the venue & food, which is fine with us, except South Lodge, which seems to be a bit more on the pricey side. But we are just curious to see if there are any places we may not have considered!

Well it sounds as though you want something a bit more different. Not quite oven in a field different but something non standard.

You could always set up a marquee in the woods somewhere...but it'll need research. I've seen marquee's in the funniest of places and they are all self contained. I'm sure something will suit.

I've a wedding at the end of June where it's an early one at the registry office and then they sail off on a mini cruise for a few days. With all the guests in tow.

It's difficult though because everyhting is geared up for hotels and barns etc...let us know what you settle on.

Yep you do have it spot on really! We are both creative people in video games (I'm an artist and he's a designer) so we are frankly a little bored by the standard posh house look...! So we're either after somewhere a bit different from the norm, or somewhere where we can really add our own touches to it, but I get the impression that country houses aren't the best for it, and that marquees are the way to go. We have seen the big hat tipi marquees which look AMAZING but they do seem to add up to rather a lot once you've found somewhere to stick it, and all the furniture etc, before even considering catering and entertainment. Plus there is finding somewhere for it to go in the first place! I'd be interested to know where you have done marquee weddings though, even not neccessarily in the Sussex/Surrey area, as it may inspire me to find somewhere I hadn't thought of!

Ok dokey, well this one was last May:

http://www.chrisgilesphotography.co.uk/marquee-wedding-photography.html

They were married in Ash, Sevenoaks and at the back of the church was a Cricket field they commandeered, just went and put a Marquee right there, cars parked on the field, nice meadow at the back.

So, whilst this wasn't in the area looking at the owners of the local cricket fields may be a plan. It would be cool if woods were nearby though, you could do all sorts of quirky stuff, maybe stick an acoustic band and a camp fire there for the evening.

Nice to see someone thinking outside the box.

The other marquees I've done are on the sides of barns or in peoples back gardens but here's two nice ones for ideas...or ones I like.

http://www.chrisgilesphotography.co.uk/marquee-wedding-photography.html

http://www.chrisgilesphotography.co.uk/kentish-town-wedding.html

Ours is at Glenmore House in Surbiton, Surrey. This is the outside of it

its a freemasons lodge and has a beautiful old fashioned ballroom and a great modern bar area. It has a listing on hitched with some reviews (all good!)

That looks lovely, although a bit far from our church unfortunately

Wiston house?

Also, pangdean barn? You're going to have to travel to a degree, that's a lovely venue with easy access as just off the a23. My friend got married there (had reception there) and it was beautiful - you'd never know the a23 was close by!

Petworth park? or here? https://www.bartholomewbarn.co.uk/

My sister had her wedding at the Walled Garden at Cowdray Park in Midhurst, which was really lovely. We're having ours at Alfold church followed by the reception at North Hall Ian Loxwood, which has just had a refurb. It's really nice and has lots of outdoor space. It also only costs £150 for the hall hire. We also considered Dunsfold village hall, although it doesn't have much outside space.

You could approach Cranleigh school or the Rikiyo School to see if you could use their grounds for a marquee?

I was thinking the walled garden too but that's pushing a 45 minute drive. You can pay the Caowdray Castle Ruins folk to let you use it for photos.

The gardens are lovely with a big , nay, huge field at the back that is used for Polo.

My best friend is getting married at Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey (near DOrking). Its certainly different, and looks really nice!

xx

Do any of these helps. I've been building up this list of reviews for years, there are quite a few in Surrey.

Not sure if Albury Manor are still doing weddings, but that's a really nice venue if they are.

http://www.brianparkes.com/Wedding-Venue-Review/Venue-reviews.asp