Hertfordshire is one of the Three Counties (along with Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire) and is known for its abundance of quintessential British countryside as well as being just a stone’s throw from London. It’s home to towns and cities, as well as quaint villages, and a selection of top visitor attractions like Hertfordshire Zoo and The Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter. It also has great transport links and a wide variety of venues and event spaces, making it the perfect location to host your wedding.
Our 2025 Wedding Report found that Hertfordshire and the rest of the south east of England host 16% of all UK weddings, with more than four out of every five couples choosing to stay in the region for their big day. This shows that Hertfordshire has so much to offer, from its vibrant history to its wide variety of venues. This is despite the fact that the cost of a wedding in Hertfordshire and the wider south east region is on the expensive side, costing an average of £22,644. This is more than the national average of £20,822, but less than the amount couples in London pay at an average of £28,629.
While it may be a pricier option, there’s no doubting that Hertfordshire has a lot to offer. Whether you’re looking for a wedding that’s grand and luxurious or intimate and low-key, there’s plenty of variety when it comes to having a Hertfordshire wedding.
Weddings in Hertfordshire often embrace the county’s mix of history, countryside and love of the finer things in life.
Countryside and rustic weddings are hugely popular at the moment, with barn venues and farm settings allowing couples to incorporate relaxed, nature-inspired decor with creative lighting and beautiful floral arrangements. Couples in the region spend the lowest amount in the country on wedding transport, spending an average of £396 compared to the national average of £626. This also shows that couples are happy to embrace everything a single venue has to offer. This love of the natural side of Hertfordshire also means couples want to look after what they have, so there’s a growing interest in sustainability, with many opting for eco-friendly options like artificial flowers, which offer a lasting and cost-effective alternative to fresh blooms.
Historic and elegant weddings are also a big trend, with many couples choosing stately homes and other historic sites as their venue. After all, Hertfordshire has a rich royal history, and couples are all too happy to embrace that history.
Festival-style weddings are growing in popularity, with some venues offering marquee receptions, live music and street food catering for a relaxed and fun atmosphere. This is also great when it comes to twilight weddings, with venues offering couples the chance to tie the knot beneath the stars miles from built-up areas.
With miles and miles of rural landscapes, picturesque villages, grand manor houses and deep woodlands, there’s no shortage of fantastic wedding venues in and around Hertfordshire.
To get married at a venue filled with class, elegance and history, there are plenty of venues that date back hundreds of years. Hatfield House in Hatfield is a Tudor Old Palace that was built in 1485 and was actually the childhood home of Elizabeth I. Ashridge House in Berkhamsted epitomises sophistication and was once home to King Henry VIII. There’s also Fanhams Hall in Ware, a Grade II listed Jacobean Manor House.
Hertfordshire is known for its wonderful countryside, so an outdoor wedding should be a real consideration. Cress Lake Weddings sits on the banks of a lake in Hemel Hempstead; Tewinbury is a quaint farmhouse venue in Welwyn and Micklefield Hall in Rickmansworth is full of character and charm.
If you’re after a venue with originality to make sure your wedding stands out, there are also loads of unique venues around the county. The Cloisters in Letchworth Garden City was designed according to the Arts and Crafts Movement; St Albans Museum and Gallery is a fantastic Georgian building filled with artwork and artefacts; and the Old Albanian Sports Club is ideal for fans of Rugby.
While Hertfordshire and the southeast are more expensive than other regions, there is still a large selection of venues that are suitable even if you have a smaller budget. Brickendon Grange in Brickendon, Nikunja in Aldenham and Letchworth Golf Club are all fantastic venues that are great even if you’d prefer not to spend a fortune.
The average cost of a wedding venue in Hertfordshire and the southeast is £5,626, which is actually less than the overall UK average of £5,945. It’s also more than £1,000 less than the average cost of a venue in nearby London, which is £7,020.
Because of its proximity to London and its beautiful venues, Hertfordshire is a highly sought-after wedding location, meaning you’ll need to book early to secure your dream venue.
For most venues, it’s best to book at least 12 to 18 months in advance. However, if you’re looking to book a popular venue or get married during the busy summer season or at the weekend, don’t be surprised if you’ll need to book two years or more ahead of your preferred date.
If you’re open to a weekday or off-peak wedding, you might find availability less than a year ahead, or potentially sooner if you’re happy to get married midweek or during the first couple of months of the year.
Like the rest of the UK, Hertfordshire’s weather can be unpredictable, though you generally won’t experience many extreme highs or lows. Because it’s so close to London, the weather in Hertfordshire is often similar, just with less smog than you might expect to see in the capital.
Spring (March – May) is one of the prettiest times to get married in Hertfordshire, with the countryside bursting with life as gardens bloom. Temperatures range from 10°C (50°F) in March to 16°C (61°F) in May. Spring showers are possible, but venues with beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces can help you make the most of it whatever the weather.
Summer (June – August) is peak wedding season in Hertfordshire, with temperatures between 18°C (64°F) and 24°C (75°F). Long daylight hours make it the best time for outdoor ceremonies, allowing you to make the most of what the county has to offer. Just make sure you have a backup plan in place in case you get unlucky.
Autumn (September – November) sees cooler temperatures, ranging from 17°C (63°F) in September to 9°C (48°F) in November, and a far higher likelihood of rain. But, the golden autumn leaves create a stunning natural backdrop, which can look stunning in your wedding photos.
Winter (December – February) brings crisp, frosty mornings and long, dark evenings. Temperatures usually stay between 2°C (36°F) and 8°C (46°F), though it can sometimes drop below zero. A winter wedding in Hertfordshire can feel magical, especially in one of the county’s historic manor houses like Shendish Manor Hotel in Hemel Hempstead or Pendley Manor Hotel in Tring.
One of Hertfordshire’s biggest advantages is its fantastic transport links, making it easy for guests to attend your wedding from practically anywhere.
Hertfordshire is just 20 to 30 minutes from London by train, with direct routes from London King’s Cross, St Pancras and Euston to towns like Watford, St Albans and Stevenage. Trains run frequently, making it one of the easiest counties to reach for London-based guests. There are also regular trains from Birmingham that run through the county, allowing guests to travel from all over the country.
For those flying in, London Luton Airport (LTN) is nearby, offering flights to and from major UK and European destinations. Stansted Airport (STN) is also an option, located just outside the county.
Hertfordshire is well connected by motorways, with the M25, M1 and A1(M) running through the county. This makes it an easy drive for guests travelling from London, the Midlands and beyond.
When it comes to somewhere to stay, Hertfordshire offers everything from family-run B&Bs and budget chain hotels to world-famous luxury hotels frequented by the Hollywood elite. Many venues also have event spaces, making them ideal wedding venues in themselves. It’s definitely worth checking them out, with hotels like Kingsbridge House, The Kings Oak Hotel and Aubrey Park Hotel allowing you to get married and celebrate afterwards all under one roof.
