Cheshire is a county in the northwest of England known for its incredible countryside, rich Roman history and picturesque market towns. It’s the home of Cheshire cheese (one of England’s oldest cheeses), as well as the renowned Chester Zoo and the annual Creamfields Festival. With such a varied and beautiful selection of places to get married, Cheshire is also a location you should definitely consider when it comes to planning your wedding.
Our 2025 Wedding Report found that 9% of all UK weddings take place in Cheshire and the wider northwest, with 82% of local couples choosing to stay in the region for their big day. The average cost of a wedding in Cheshire is £18,408, which is over £2,000 less than the UK national average at £20,822. It’s also far less than couples pay in the nearby northeast, where the average cost is £20,415. This, together with the amazing array of venues and vendors, makes Cheshire a fantastic place to host your wedding.
Cheshire’s wedding scene is full of variety, with many couples turning their backs on centuries-old traditions in favour of a ceremony that reflects who they are. This includes brides choosing a dress in a colourful shade, rather than the traditional white, making a bold statement and creating a unique, striking look in wedding photos. Similarly, couples in the area are moving away from soft pastel colour schemes, favouring instead statement-making colours that are eye-catching and vibrant. Rich blues, summery yellows and hot reds are taking centre stage, which is perfect for such a huge celebration.
At the same time, other couples in Chester are leaning heavily into that classic wedding aesthetic and choosing luxurious countryside locations to have a sophisticated ceremony with live musicians and subtle lighting.
DIY elements are hugely popular, too, with many Cheshire couples going for handmade decorations, favours and other personal touches. This is reflected in couples in the region spending a lot less on decor than the UK average of £1,271, with Cheshire couples spending an average of only £945. It’s also common for brides to spend less on their hairstyling, with couples in the northwest spending the least on hair at £298, compared to the UK average of £358.
Another big trend in Cheshire is outdoor weddings, with many couples taking advantage of the county’s sprawling countryside settings. Venues with garden spaces, tipis, marquees and outdoor ceremony areas are increasingly in demand, especially during the summer when there’s a far higher chance of sunny days and warmer evenings.
Whether you’re dreaming of a country estate steeped in history, a stylish barn wedding to make the most of the summer sun, or a quirky and one-of-a-kind venue, Cheshire has something to suit every couple’s taste and budget.
To have a wedding where you feel like a member of the Royal Family, you could choose one of the many stately homes or country manors around the county. The appropriately named Merrydale Manor is located deep in 300 acres of Cheshire countryside and has several options for your ceremony and reception. Capesthorne Hall is a grand estate with perfectly pristine gardens that scream class and sophistication. Or, you might choose the Grade II listed Colshaw Hall, where they have a ceremony barn with oak beams and a stunning marble floor.
The Cheshire countryside is absolutely gorgeous, with the area known for its abundance of country parks and reserves. To get married surrounded by nature and beautiful scenery, you could choose one of the region’s many outdoor venues. Venues like Rylands Farmhouse & Events, Cheshire Woodland Weddings and Duddon Mill Farm all offer something unique to make sure your wedding is one to remember.
Cheshire also has its fair share of venues that are one-of-a-kind, ensuring your venue reflects your personality and passion. You could choose to get married at the medieval Norton Priory Museum and Gardens, where there are incredible ruins and landscaped Georgian gardens. Chester Zoo also has a dedicated events space, so you can say, ‘I do’, in a place which is home to more than 37,000 animals. To get married among the stars, Jodrell Bank is a high-tech venue with an immersive space dome with customisable backdrops.
If you’re looking to get married in the area but you’re conscious of budget, there are loads of affordable venue options in Cheshire. Check out venues like The Cock O'Barton, Brook Hall Hotel and Crabwall Manor Hotel and Spa, which all show that budget-friendly venues are wonderful and let you have the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.
The average amount couples spend on their venue in Cheshire is £5,623, which is £300 less than UK couples spend on average at £5,945. While it’s more or less in line with the overall average, it’s a lot less than the average in nearby Yorkshire, where the average spent on a venue is £7,356.
Because Cheshire is such a popular county for weddings, you’ll need to make sure you book your venue in plenty of time. The average booking lead time is 12 to 18 months, but this can be much longer if you’re hoping to get married during the busy summer wedding season and/or want to secure a sought-after weekend date. If this is the case, expect to have to book a date around two or more years ahead.
If you’re happy to be a little more flexible when it comes to dates and venues, you’ll likely find that you can find something six months or less from now. Dates that are midweek or in the depths of winter are usually far easier to secure with short notice, and are also more likely to be cheaper, which is ideal if you’re working with a smaller budget.
Like the rest of the UK, Cheshire’s weather can be up and down. Rain is always a possibility, even during the height of summer, but with a little luck it’ll stay dry and beautiful. That being said, each season brings its own charm, which can make for a fabulous wedding day.
Spring (March – May) is perfect for couples who love luscious florals and blooming, picture-perfect landscapes. Just imagine how amazing your wedding photos taken around historic Chester will look thanks to those fresh greens and vibrant colours. Temperatures range from 9°C (48°F) in March to 16°C (61°F) in May, with a mix of sunshine and showers.
Summer (June – August) is the most popular wedding season, with temperatures between 18°C (64°F) and 22°C (72°F). It’s the best time for outdoor weddings and marquee receptions, with the longest days and the highest chance of sunshine. Venues like Manley Mere are perfect, giving you an opportunity for incredible photos around the lake.
Autumn (September – November) is great for warm and cosy weddings, with Cheshire’s countryside turning beautiful shades of gold and red. Parks and gardens like Tatton Park Country Park are a real sight for sore eyes at this time of year. Temperatures range from 17°C (63°F) in September to 8°C (46°F) in November, but there is an increased chance of rain, so it’s worth choosing a venue that lets you and your guests keep toasty and dry.
Winter (December – February) creates a magical and intimate atmosphere. With temperatures between 2°C (36°F) and 7°C (45°F), it can be rather chilly, which means you’ll want a primarily indoor venue that lets you create a warm and welcoming ambience. Venues like Clonter Opera Theatre have great indoor space with bags of character, as well as gardens perfect for that wintry wedding photoshoot.
Cheshire is an easy location to get to in the northwest of England, offering plenty of options for you and your guests to get around without much hassle.
For those arriving by train, Chester, Crewe and Macclesfield all have railway stations with direct services to London, Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham. A direct train from London to Crewe takes just 90 minutes, making it a great location for guests travelling from the capital.
For international visitors, Manchester Airport (MAN) is around an hour away and offers flights to destinations around the world. Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is another great option, with flights to cities across Europe.
If your guests are driving, Cheshire is well-connected by motorways, with the M6, M56 and A55 providing easy access from across the country.
Cheshire has plenty of accommodation to choose from, including a huge amount of B&B and AirBnB options, as well as all the big-name budget hotel brands. There’s also a fantastic selection of hotels that have event space, so you can have your ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception all in one handy location, followed by simply stumbling upstairs to bed at the end of a fun-filled night. Hotels including Carden Park Hotel - Cheshire's Country Estate, Lion and Swan and Cottons Hotel and Spa are all top wedding venue hotels around the county.
If you are getting married in Cheshire but want to try and save where possible then here are 5 top tips to help you keep costs down. Get married out of season - getting married from November through to February is a sure fire way to keep costs down.
Cheshire offers plenty of fun entertainment options when it comes to your wedding. Just a few of our favourites include:
Venues that are designated as "Dry Hire" allow you to rent out simply the space itself - no food or beverages are included. This is ideal if you want to bring your own refreshments, hire outside catering, or in the case that you don't need catering at all. For couples looking to get married in Cheshire, there are a number of dry hire venues on offer that can help you get the most from your special day and be the perfect environment for you to set up in and create that all-important wedding vibe you have been longing for. When booking a dry hire venue it's particularly important to bear in mind any additional transportation costs that your suppliers may add to the overall cost if your location is based outside their usual service area.
You could significantly reduce your costs if you decide to get married in Cheshire between November and April. The cheapest dates to book are in December, January, February, or March if you narrow it down even further. For hotel and manor house weddings you may find that the package price per head is reduced by up to 50% by getting married off peak.
You could also look into the option of getting married on a weekday. Weekday weddings are often considerably cheaper and have a much greater availability at short notice that a traditional Saturday celebration.
Cheshire is the perfect place to start your search if you are looking for a large wedding venue. This could be because you have a large party of family and friends that you need to accommodate or you are thinking about putting on a particularly large and lavish event such as a specular Indian style wedding. Either way, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to wedding venues on offer in Cheshire. Be sure to check out the likes of Merrydale Manor and Heaton House farm which can easily accommodate upto 200 guests. If you really need a large capacity space, how about hiring a castle such as Peckforten Castle or the stunning Nunsmere Hall Hotel which has a capacity of up to 400. Whatever you choose you will find that the county of Cheshire will not disappoint and has the space for you.
