Mapperton House & Gardens
Based on a weekend wedding in July. Includes 2-night venue hire and accommodation.
Based on a weekend wedding in July. Includes 2-night venue hire and accommodation.
Starting price includes:
- Two day exclusive use of gardens and grounds.
- Luxury three bedroom cottage for the night before and the night of your wedding.*.
- 9 x 12m marquee to provide outside cover and spaces to erect additional marquees if desired.
- Spectacular variety of stunning locations for your wedding photography.
- Exclusive use of two bedroom Keepers Cottage for the night before and night of your wedding *.
Please contact the venue for detailed prices, a list of what is included, optional extras, and anything else you will need to provide yourselves.
- Ceremony Capacity : 300
- Dinner Capacity : 400
- Standing Capacity : 250
- Licensed For Marriage : Yes
- Catering : Preferred Supplier
- Bar : In-house
- Accommodation : Sleeps 12
- Child Friendly : Yes
- Pets Welcome : Yes
- Licensed Until : 12am
- Exclusivity : Yes
- Disabled Facilities : Yes
Mapperton
Beaminster
Dorset
DT8 3NR
Setting
Undiscovered, exclusive and wildly romantic.
Mapperton House & Gardens, hidden in the rolling hills of West Dorset near Beaminster, offers a secluded and exclusive atmosphere, making it one of the most romantic wedding venues in the region. Voted Britain’s Finest Manor House by Country Life magazine, it has also received the Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award. The estate exudes timeless beauty, offering a range of enchanting spaces for couples to create their perfect day.
Ceremony
The venue offers multiple options for ceremonies, each steeped in charm.
Garden Pavillion
The Garden Pavilion, set amid fine shrubs and specimen plants, provides a grand yet inviting backdrop for outdoor ceremonies. It is perfect for exchanging vows in the open air.
The Orangery
Once you’ve exchanged your vows in the Garden Pavilion, it’s just a few steps down to outside the Orangery, where you can raise a glass with your family and friends. With exclusive use of the gardens you can allow your guests to explore the winding gravel paths, hidden grottoes and secret walkways with views over the cascading countryside beyond.
The Orangery is also licensed for civil ceremonies, so you can exchange your vows here too!
The Chapel
All Saints Church is a medieval church dating back to the 12th century and houses a monument by Peter Scheemakers, who also created Shakespeare’s famous memorial in Westminster Abbey. Located next to the manor house, All Saints Church boasts stained glass windows, beautiful carvings and romantic candelabra-style lighting and is available for intimate blessings with up to 90 guests. There’s room for musicians, too, and the red carpet leading to the altar, guarded by stone relief angels, looks wonderful, peppered with natural rose petal confetti.
Reception
The Coach House
Built in 1670, the Coach House at Mapperton has recently been converted into a magnificent entertaining space that accommodates up to 120 seated guests.
This spectacular building is part of one of Dorset’s most important manorial complexes and has a Grade I listing with Historic England. Steeped in local history, it has had many functions over the centuries-as a coach house, stables, and a sawmill-and most recently, one of the locations for the 2015 romantic hit ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. Guests will enjoy spotting the remaining elements of the set.
The meticulous renovation has retained all the historic features, including exposed stonework, lath and plaster surfaces, and full-height ceilings with original trusses and cross beams. A new biomass heating system ensures plenty of warmth on colder days, while a projector, professional sound system, and controllable lighting bring the venue into the 21st century.
Alongside the main space is a second large room containing a fully stocked and licensed bar, an area for guests seeking a break from the festivities.
While the Coach House will impress with its historic features and enduring charm, it is an entirely flexible space that can be decorated in many styles, whether you are going for a vintage theme or perhaps a more classical look.
The Marquee
Included in their package is a 9m x 12m clear-span marquee.
You can use this for your ceremony, wedding breakfast, evening do or as a comfy lounge area for you and your guests to enjoy. It can comfortably seat 100 guests or 200 standing.
If you have more than 100 guests, don’t worry; our marquee can be placed in other locations within the grounds here at Mapperton, allowing you to extend it to seat up to 500 guests.
Accommodation
Garden & Keepers Cottage
Mapperton provides on-site accommodation for up to 11 guests in its luxurious Garden Cottage and Keepers Cottage; both included in the venue hire for two nights.
Additionally, Mapperton partners with local hotels and cottages to offer over 100 beds, ensuring guests have a range of high-quality options nearby. For convenience, transport can be arranged for guests between accommodations and the venue.
Food & Drink
Mapperton offers two exceptional catering options for weddings. Oxbridge Farm Catering, led by local chef Joanna Killin, provides modern British cuisine with international influences. Fossil Farm Catering delivers a more personal touch, offering a menu shaped by their own experience as a recently married couple. Both caterers emphasise locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients to create menus tailored to each couple’s preferences.
Sustainability
Sustainability is a key priority at Mapperton. The venue uses a biomass boiler system to provide heating, hot water, and energy-efficient lighting throughout the estate.
Efforts to reduce waste include using glass and paper products instead of plastic, minimising printed materials, and prioritising recycling. Mapperton also works with local suppliers to reduce delivery miles and offers couples guidance on planning an eco-friendly wedding, from using seasonal food to repurposing wedding attire.
Local Area
Mapperton’s location in the heart of West Dorset provides easy access to local attractions. Beaminster, Bridport, and the nearby coastline offer charming towns, beaches, and countryside to explore, making it a perfect destination for a wedding weekend. Guests can enjoy local activities or simply relax in the tranquillity of the estate’s extensive gardens.
Getting There
By car:
Mapperton is located near Beaminster, Dorset.
- From Beaminster, take the B3163.
- From Crewkerne, go via the A303 and A3066.
- From Dorchester, go via the A37 and A356.
If you’re using a sat nav, the postcode is DT8 3NR, and there’s a car park on-site. Travel time from London is around 3 hours.
By train:
The closest train stations are Crewkerne (15 minutes away) and Dorchester (25 minutes away), with direct links to London.
Awards and Notables
- Country's Finest Manor House & Gardens 2020.
- Wedding Industry Awards 2022 - Best Country House Wedding Venue.