An ever-growing trend is of course to have man’s (or woman’s) best friend with you on your big day! After all, they are a huge part of your family and deserve to enjoy a slice of the celebrations too. As a Luxury Wedding Planner, I am often asked to find beautiful Stately Homes or Charming Country Houses which have exquisite elegance and grandeur, but also allow dogs. So after searching high and low for the most beautiful UK Dog-Friendly Wedding Venues, I have compiled a shortlist of venues for you and your furry best friend(s) to celebrate in style in!
Photo Credits: Rebecca Yale Photography
Authors Bio: Vivienne May Weddings was founded and created by Kerrie May. With over 8 years of experience in the luxury wedding & event industry, Kerrie has worked at some of the UK’s most iconic venues alongside a selection of renowned industry professionals and worked with a selection of high-net worth couples.
Kerrie is a UK Wedding Planner and has a distinctive reputation amongst her fellow luxury wedding professionals. Her wealth of experience, industry knowledge and unrivalled passion for bringing her clients vision to life is what drives her to plan impeccably designed, style-led and perfectly co-ordinated weddings, with romance at it’s heart.
Cliveden House, Berkshire - Awarded for ‘Best Service’ by the prestigious Conde Nast Johannsen’s Award for Excellence, this is a must-see for dog-loving couples wanting a luxurious, stately home wedding venue.
Photo Credits: Cliveden House, Berkshire @clivedenhouse
Cliveden House has a unique (and at times, scandalous) history which dates back to the 17th Century and with many original features, the Grade I listed country house hotel is a picturesque setting for your Wedding Day.
Amongst many of their Awards, they are also a 5 Red-Star Hotel (aka the highest star level any hotel in the UK can achieve) and that level of service extends to your canine companion during your stay. Cliveden Houses’ Astor Grill even offers a Dog-Friendly Menu, complete with doggy meals and snacks for your pooch to enjoy!
There are many options for you to choose for your Ceremony and Reception at Cliveden, from The Boudoir, to the French Dining Room, to The Great Hall, you are spoilt for choice! As you dine in the grand rooms at Cliveden, you will soon discover that their menus are lovingly-created by award-winning chef André Garrett and only includes the finest English, seasonal ingredients. (A personal favourite of mine is their exquisite Afternoon Tea menu – The Cliveden House Blend Tea is a must-try!)
Within the hotel lies 43 beautiful bedrooms and superb suites, or you could opt for the Spring Cottage boasting 3 bedrooms and views of the River Thames. Whichever option you choose, the attention to detail at Cliveden is second-to-none (and the team will even set up a bed for your furry friend and your pet will also find a set of ‘Dog Amenities’ – a lovely, personal touch!)
The Pavilion Spa is located within their picturesque Walled Garden and presents a selection of treatment options for you and your guests to indulge in style, alongside 2 swimming pools, hot tub and whirlpool spa.
Finally, as Cliveden House is set in 376 acres of National Trust grounds, there are incredible panoramic views at every turn, leaving plenty of space for a certain someone to burn off some energy!)
Pylewell Park, New Forest – An privately owned, exclusive-use wedding venue that only host a selected number of weddings a year which means they book up fast!
Photo Credits: Pylewell Park, New Forest @pylewell
Named the ‘Most glam venue to say I do’ by Tatler Magazine in 2020, Pylewell Park is set amongst 1500 acres and within the main gardens lies 27 idyllic acres of private land, complete with its own private lake and beach – the perfect place to let your furry friend explore and spend some quality time together! They are well-known for their love of Dogs at the estate and welcome them with big cuddles! They even hosted a festival for dogs in 2019: Dogstival!
For your Ceremony, there’s the option of outdoor weddings or religious weddings within the nearby Church. Then for your Drinks Reception you can enjoy the Balustrade Area and House Gardens, a most-romantic setting for your photographs and enjoying a cocktail (or two!) This area can then be transformed for your guests to enjoy on those late summer nights as you curl up next to their firepits and reflect on your amazing Wedding Day under the garlands of outdoor lighting.
The newly-built Pavillion hosts up to 200 guests and boasts floor-to-ceiling glass windows, luxurious furniture and exquisite chandeliers. Their take on personalised and bespoke menus are a breath-of-fresh-air for your Wedding Breakfast and Evening Food as their talented team aim to perfect any request!
Within the House sits a breath-taking Penthouse, complete with 3 exquisite bedrooms and private terrace, whilst your closest family, friends (and pet pooches) can retire to the 10 newly refurbished bedrooms which have been beautifully decorated to be in-keeping with the charming, period features.
Sibton Park, Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk – Amongst the idyllic Suffolk countryside lies Sibton Park, a stunning Grade II listed, Georgian Country Estate set in 5,000 acres!
Photo Credits: Sibton Park, Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk @wildernessreserve
Your own exclusive countryside retreat, complete with a brand-new, breath-taking Orangery, enchanting Walled Gardens, Picturesque Cottages, Gym, Private Cinema and Games Room (the list goes on!) The team at Sibton Park have literally thought of everything! They even promise to oblige with even the most unusual wedding requests (anyone fancy a Unicorn attending their wedding?!) And what’s more? Your furry friend can stay and celebrate with you! With plenty of grounds on offer to keep your pet pooch entertained, they will be spoilt for choice!
For your Civil Ceremony, The Dining Room is decorated with ornate hand-painted botanical wallpaper is a lovely option, alternatively you can opt for the spectacular Orangery embracing a neutral colour pallet and floor-to-ceiling windows, or decide to go al-fresco with a picturesque ceremony in their gorgeous gardens. And for your Evening Reception you can head to their Vaulted Cellar!
There are numerous eclectic options for you, your guests and your furry friends to retreat to once the festivities have drawn to a close. Within the main house is 13 unique bedrooms (11 of these are fitted with marble-floored bathrooms and roll-top bath = heaven!) Amongst the estate also sits several beautiful Cottages, Lodges and Barns for you to choose from! The immaculate Gate Lodges are one of their standout options for a luxuriously modern break. They are the original estates Gatehouses which have been ingeniously extended to create two 1 bedroom Cottages, complete with tall ceilings adorned with French Windows which open onto your own private terrace.
And my personal favourite part of the estate? When you arrive at the Estate your host will greet you at their very own Gatehouse Sweetshop where you can bag a selection of traditional sweets – what more could you ask for?
Matfen Hall, Northumbria – After a draw-dropping £300,000 renovation project, Maften Hall is ready to celebrate in style with you.
Photo Credits: Matfen Hall @matfenhall
Winner of The UK Wedding Awards 2020, Matfen Hall is set in the charming Northumbrian countryside and offers a truly unique setting for your Wedding day. Before the big day arrives, you can pamper yourselves (and your bridal party) at their on-site Aqua Vitae Spa or enjoy a round of golf on their championship golf course. Afterwards you can take your best furry friend for long walks around the beautiful grounds!
The Great Hall is the location for a grand ceremony. Complemented with decadent antique mirrors, magnificent arches and original rose windows, and perfectly finished with a large stone fireplace for you to exchange your vows in front of (a perfect backdrop to fill with an abundance of flowers and candles).
After your ‘I do’s’ you can then enjoy your dazzling drinks reception in the private Cloisters courtyard or Dutch Gardens. Surrounded by enchanting woodlands, lots of wisteria and a beautiful stone bridge, there are endless choices for your Wedding photograph. Then into The Terrace Room for your Wedding Breakfast. The traditional charm of the half-panelled walls and ornate fireplace are combined perfectly with the elegant neutral tones and array of natural light.
Once you’ve indulged in exquisite culinary delights, you can lead your guests to Sir Edwards Cocktail Bar (cocktail hour anyone?) Or you can head to the Cloisters Courtyard where you can dance the night away under the stars!
And that’s not all, for a real party-starter you need to check out their Vault Bar. Based in the original cellars, it is an underground party hot-spot complete with Snaparrazi Photo Booth! They have literally thought of everything!
Once the celebrations have drawn to a close, you can unwind in your beautifully decorated bedrooms (along with your canine companion!)
There are so many beautiful, dog-friendly wedding venues across the UK which means that every single member of your family can be with you on your wedding day to celebrate with you. However finding these venues sounds easier than it is as most venues unfortunately do not allow any animals on-site as they have to protect the building and its furnishings. If having your fur baby with you on your wedding day is essential but you’re still having difficulty finding the right venue for you, check out my Full Planning service and allow me to find your perfect, dog-friendly wedding venue.