Wedding at Thorpe manor
Located in picturesque county of Oxfordshire, surrounded by beautiful English Countryside sits the enchanting Thorpe Manor. The Georgian mansion has recently been renovated by owners, Natasha and Henry who through meticulous interior design, managed to capture all luxury, charm and a cozy warmth you wish from every English country estate.
A wedding at Thorpe Manor is truly a dream from start to finish. Let us walk you through one of the best wedding venues in England...
From the driveway, Thorpe Manor has the look of a classic English country house, but from the garden it appears somehow less imposing and more homely. This is a lovely little perk when it comes to wedding photos, providing a nice variety of backdrops.
Having been built in the 1600s, it's fair to say that a full renovation was overdue when Henry inherited the house from his stepfather in 2013. And this was not a simple case of a lick of paint; the entire house has had new wiring and plumbing systems installed, new lights, repaired stonework, reupholstered furniture, restored windows, new wood floors - the list goes on! Practically, this means there'll be no fighting for hot water on the morning of your wedding, you'll be warm and cosy during the night and can rest assured that 'everything just works.'
Natasha's eye for interior design was put to good use too; each room is different, made individual thanks to thoughtful details, some evoking memories of the rich horse racing history of Henry's stepfather.
As you might expect from a large manor house, the home includes 14 stunning ensuite bedrooms, resplendent with freestanding baths, rainforest showers and, for us coffee lovers, Nespresso machines! This is such a plus - just settle in with your closest friends and family and make the house feel like home for a few days.
In terms of wedding day options, walk through the front door and you're greeted by beautiful, original tiles and a grand staircase in the entrance hall. This is a nice wide space - complete with baby grand piano - big enough to welcome up to 120 guests for a drinks reception. Just off the entrance hall is the drawing room, which seats 60 people for a wedding reception, and the bar, ideal for a glass of brandy by the fire when the party is winding down.
The house is set in its own 200 acre estate, so there's plenty of outdoor space. Think drinks in the garden, croquet on the lawn or even evening drinks in the hot tub! Marquees work really well too, and are required if you have over 60 guests. Natasha and Henry have gone the extra mile when it comes to entertainment too, adding a theater and a games room - we can't help but think Father of the Bride with the girls the night before the wedding would be perfect!
The Details...
Thank you to Kristin Sautter for partnering with us on this venue guide.
Did we mention there's a butler at your service from the minute you arrive? You'll get the true English experience and won't have to lift a finger for the duration of your stay! He can bring you a morning coffee, unpack your bags and book any activities that you might like, such as wine tasting, cooking classes or archery, all without leaving the estate.
It's also worth noting that Thorpe Manor is licensed for wedding ceremonies in the flower room and the summerhouse, or if you'd rather get married in a church, there's one directly opposite the house which dates back to the 13th Century and seats up to 120 guests - how's that for choice! Another perk is that there's no corkage charged on wine or champagne served in a marquee on the wedding day (and there's a bar on site for all other alcohol during your stay).
The bridal suite is a vision of true beauty... it runs along nearly the full width of the south side of the house and is one of our favorites, with antique chandeliers, silk curtains and a bathroom which has to be seen to be believed, with marble floor and an original mosaic bath. There's no place better to wake up on your wedding day.
There's a minimum 3-night stay from May to September and December, 2-night stay in April and October, and just one night in November, January and March, but the price per night decreases the more nights you stay, so 3 nights can offer great value. That being said, with the house being as lovely as it is, a one-night winter wedding also provides the opportunity to enjoy the house on a slightly smaller budget. If you'd like to discuss your options, get in touch with us and we can advise you!
One of the best things about a wedding at Thorpe Manor is the how cosy the house feels despite its size, any numbers work really well, but to take advantage of all the rooms a minimum of 26 guests would give you best value for money, but with the addition of a marquee in the garden you can go all the way up to 200. That feeling of being with all your nearest and dearest for a few days is truly invaluable, so if you don't often all get together, Thorpe Manor works really well. We'd suggest a rehearsal dinner in the dining room and a movie in the theater the night before, your wedding the next day, with the doors of the house open into the garden so everyone is free to mingle and enjoy the grounds, then a full English breakfast the next morning before you head off on your honeymoon.
Where is Thorpe Manor?
The estate sits in the village of Thorpe Mandeville, just outside Banbury. This is an area packed with things to do; make the most of being here by visiting some of the chocolate-box villages in the Cotswolds (think of the house in The Holiday!), or the lavender fields overlooking Evesham.
If you prefer a day in the city before coming back to relax with a cocktail by the fire, Oxford is 20 minutes from Banbury on the train, while the bright lights of London are just over an hour away. This is a prime example of why getting married in the UK is so appealing, you can be in some of the most beautiful countryside in the world, yet only an hour from Heathrow and the city. Really though, once you arrive you're unlikely to want to leave - we didn't!
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