Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding - Page number 22 - June/July 2021 (Issue 89)

CUMBERLAND LODGE, WINDSOR, BERKSHIRE This Grade II listed, 17 th -century English country house is a former Royal residence, home to elegant reception rooms furnished in Edwardian splendour showcasing historic portraits and works of art. The impressive rooms offer flexible spaces to suit wedding parties large and small, and there are 56 individually styled, en-suite bedrooms perfect for guest accommodation. The house, boasting a red-brick Georgian frontage, overlooks a manicured lawn. Next to the main lodge sits the seven-bedroom Groom’s House, also built in the Georgian style, and set in a private garden, along with the adjoining mews that’s home to a clocktower, which was once the Royal stables. The house is nestled in the heart of Windsor Great Park, a short walk from the top of Long Walk that leads to Windsor Castle. The gardens feature vibrant floral borders, impressive old trees and sweeping views over historic parkland, fields and vineyards. Its woodland trails and tree-lined avenues make a perfect backdrop for wedding photos, as do its iconic Tapestry Hall doors. Ceremonies take place in churches and other licensed wedding venues in and around Windsor. A popular choice is for couples to travel into Windsor Great Park and arrive at Cumberland Lodge by horse and carriage. The historic reception rooms offer flexible spaces to cater for celebrations of any size. The two main dining rooms, with their large windows and impressive fireplaces, can open into one larger room to accommodate up to 90 guests for a wedding breakfast or after-dinner dance. Guests retire to the Tapestry Hall, used as one of the backdrops in The King’s Speech (2010), starring Colin Firth. For smaller weddings, the venue can seat up to 16 guests in the elegant Princess Helena Drawing Room, which looks out on to landscaped gardens with expansive views of the Great Park beyond. Ceremony licence? No Contact: 01784 220 521, www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/venue-hire www.facebook.com/cumberlandlodge www.instagram.com/cumberlandlodge WE LOVE... that wedding parties can choose to stay an extra night or two in Groom’s House. There’s ample free parking on-site, and the wedding coordinator can arrange a horse and carriage ride through the Great Park if couples require. WHATLEY HALL, BANBURY, OXFORDSHIRE This characterful 17 th -century hotel is located on the River Cherwell on the edge of the Cotswolds. Dating back to 1677, the historic inn boasts many original features including stone passages and a wooden staircase. To the rear of the property are manicured gardens and there’s ample complimentary parking. Ceremonies take place in The Parkside Suite, an elegant long room with windows all along one side, which holds up to 120 guests. The wedding breakfast and reception is hosted in The Swift Restaurant for up to 110 loved ones and this area boasts a wonderful bay window showcasing views of the garden (with access to it). Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: 01295 253 261, www.whatelyhall.co.uk/weddings www.facebook.com/MercureBanburyWhatelyHall WE LOVE... the al fresco dining options including a barbecue and stone-baked pizza oven. THE COACH HOUSE BARN AT DORNEY COURT, WINDSOR, BERKSHIRE The Coach House Barn is a stunning reinterpretation of Dorney Court’s Victorian brewery set in acres of mature parkland that surround the main house. Looking across a private landscaped courtyard, the barn is a wonderful addition to the estate and an ideal location for a wedding breakfast. Reception drinks and canapés can be served within the courtyard or on the manicured lawn framed by ancient yew hedges, herbaceous borders and ornamental trees. Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: 01628 603 505, https://dorneycourt.co.uk www.facebook.com/DorneyCourt WE LOVE... that the two-bedroom Gale Cottage is included in the venue hire price for the night. Photography of Dorney Court courtesy of www.kategrayphotography.com 22