Wedding Venues in the South East & Average Costs
Venues in the South East cover every wedding style imaginable, from historic grandeur to modern minimalism, meaning whatever vision you have for your special day, you’re bound to find it somewhere in the region.
The South East has so much history, from the codebreakers of Bletchley Park to the Renaissance-era Hampton Court Palace. And there are plenty of wedding venues in the region that are set within historical sites, letting you exchange your vows where centuries of history have taken place. Some of the most luxurious historical wedding venues in the South East include the region’s castles. Hever Castle & Gardens, Hedingham Castle, The Castle Westenhanger, Lympne Castle and Farnham Castle are just some of the castles in the South East which make for absolutely wonderful places to get married. If you’d prefer a stately home or country manor, you also have a massive selection to choose from, including Parklands Quendon Hall, Gosfield Hall Wedding Venue, Ashridge House, Hatfield House and Ardington House.
With countryside across the South East including The Cotswolds, The Chiltern Hills and The Kent Downs, another fantastic option is to choose a venue that lets you celebrate the great outdoors, with an open-air ceremony and reception. Venues with fabulous outdoor spaces across the South East include The Gardens, Hayne House, The Secret Garden, Reigate Hill and Browning Bros. Similarly, barn and farm venues are hugely popular, with the likes of The Old Kent Barn, Clock Barn, Preston Court, Gildings Barns and Chapel House Estate all being top choices.
The South East is also the perfect wedding destination if you’re looking for something fun and unique from your wedding venue, or you’re hoping to tie the knot somewhere that reflects your personalities. Of course, London is home to many one-of-a-kind venues, including The Queens House, London, Cutty Sark and Natural History Museum, to name just a few. The region has some superb historical landmarks, such as The Bodleian Library, Tudor House and Garden and The Old Lighthouse. Or you could go for the lofty Spinnaker Tower, exchange your vows surrounded by art at Southampton City Art Gallery, or scream the day away at Dreamland.
While the South East might be one of the country’s more expensive regions to get married in, there are still hundreds of lower-cost venues, meaning you can absolutely have the wedding of your dreams without the need for the budget of your nightmares. Just a small sampling of some of the more affordable wedding venues in the South East includes Monkton Barn Estate, Chart, Hills Golf Club, Stratton Court Barn, The Plough and Barn at Leigh, Highfield Park and Ivy Hill Hotel.
The average cost of a wedding venue in the South East is £5,626, which is actually around £300 less than the overall UK average. So, if you’re worried about cost, you can rest assured that there are plenty of options available to you, even if you don’t have a huge budget.
Average Wedding Venue Booking Lead Times in the South East
Because the South East is the most popular wedding region in the UK, you might not be surprised to learn that some venues can be booked up way in advance. On average, many venues will have a booking lead time of 18 months or so, while some of the most popular venues can have a wait of up to three years. This is especially true if you’re looking to secure a venue for a summer or weekend wedding, when there’s likely to be a lot of competition from other couples.
To increase your chances of finding a venue without such a lofty wait, it can be hugely beneficial to consider dates that are during the off-peak seasons, such as winter, or during the middle of the week. Not only will this increase your chances of securing a date within six months or so, but it could also save you money, with many venues offering discounts during the quieter wedding seasons.
