If you can’t decide between having your wedding in a gorgeous luxury country manor house hotel or an old rustic barn, an outdoor ceremony in stunning gardens or an indoor ceremony in a light and airy orangery, then why not choose a wedding venue that has it all?
Set in 50 acres of stunning gardens and parkland (with a Saxon moat no less!), Great Fosters near Egham in Surrey really does tick all these boxes!
5 reasons to tie the knot at Great Fosters
Are you just getting started with your wedding planning, and looking for a venue in Surrey? Then this post is for you! To help you decide, I thought it’d be helpful if I share five of my favourite things about Great Fosters that I found out when I went on a scouting trip to the hotel this month. (I have a wedding booked at this gorgeous venue later this month, and I just can’t wait! More on that to come soon!)
1. Gardens with wow-factor
Literally where do I start?! I was totally blown away by the gardens at Great Fosters! There’s an iconic Japanese bridge beautifully framed by wisteria (which looks especially gorgeous when in full bloom), an exquisite topiary garden, a delicately scented sunken rose garden as well as natural woodland paths should you fancy a bit of quiet time by yourselves on your big day. Oh, and there’s even an outdoor heated pool!
2. Your wedding your way
Great Fosters is licensed for civil ceremonies and can cater for wedding parties of all sizes, from intimate celebrations with just 30 guests to large parties with 160 day guests and 250 evening guests.
There is a range of locations for you to choose from for your ceremony and reception. There’s an elegant light-filled orangery with garden views which can be used for your ceremony and/or wedding breakfast, a large 14th century rustic barn (complete with minstrel gallery and open fire) which is perfect for large parties, as well as a garden ceremony area (available May-September) at the Archery Pavilion. In Summer you can have your cocktail hour out in the gardens on the Magnolia Lawn. In cooler months (or in case of bad weather) you can have your drinks and canapés in the conservatory with its private bar adjacent to the Orangery, or in the Painted Hall.
Basically, whatever the size of your wedding and whatever the season or weather, you are sure to find the perfect space for your special day here.
3. Yours for the day
Great Fosters only ever have 1 wedding per day, so you and your guests can enjoy this venue to the max. Because the function suite is separate to the rest of the hotel, this also means that you won’t be disturbed by (or disturb!) any other guests staying at the hotel.
4. Exceptional Food
Good food = happy wedding guests, and at Great Fosters you certainly won’t be disappointed! Their head chef and his team offer a wide range of mouth-watering dishes, and of course cater for all dietary requirements. Wherever possible, they use seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, ensuring that the food is always fresh and of the highest quality.
A few months before your wedding, you’ll be invited to a tasting so you can choose exactly what you want for your menu. (Believe me, choosing your menu will likely be one of your hardest decisions as it’s all so delicious!) Their sommelier will also be on hand should you need any help choosing wines to complement your menu and suit budget.
5. Stay the night in luxury
With 43 unique and carefully decorated rooms and suites, combined with charming historical features and tasteful modern decor, you are sure to have a luxurious and comfortable stay here. In fact, you may never want to leave!
So there you have it! I hope you’ve found this helpful? Do drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.
And of course, please watch this space for more photos of Great Fosters from Frances and Scott’s wedding coming soon…
