10 Family Run Wedding Venues We Love
And while we must admit, we adore the aesthetic of the venues that grace the collection, what we really love is the fact that the majority of our venues are family run. Each and every one of our family run wedding venues are full of heart, with a story to tell and a reason why they do what they do. We can wholeheartedly say that the tight-knit teams couldn’t be happier to host your love story! So, get scrolling as it’s time to get up close and personal with the gang…
Prestwold Hall
It’s safe to say that Prestwold Hall’s gallery is not short of a stunning photograph or two! Located in the Leicestershire countryside, this Grade I listed wedding venue sits within 100 acres of parkland and manicured gardens. Location-wise, it’s particularly handy, with close by transport links to London and East Midlands Airport.
Prestwold Hall has been at the heart of the Packe family for over 360 years and to this day, remains as a private residence to the Packe-Drury-Lowe family. Having been acquired in 1649 by ancestor Sir Christopher Packe, Prestwold Hall was last altered and enlarged in 1843 with entertainment at the heart of the design. In fact, Prestwold was one of the first countryside properties to obtain a licence for weddings over 30 years ago. “Nothing gives my wife and I more pleasure than when the hall is chosen for your special day,” Owners Edward and Lisa tell us. “From your declarations of love during the wedding ceremony, to your drinks in our formal gardens, and finishing the evening dancing the night away in the house. We do hope you will enjoy your time with us and create very special memories that will last a lifetime.”
With an array of exclusive and elegant spaces on offer, it really is no wonder that it has become one of the most sought-after locations to say, ‘I Do’.
Brickhouse Vineyard
Brickhouse Vineyard is home to Joanna and Matt (and their two young daughters), who left their corporate careers in London in 2015 to pursue their dream and follow their hearts, creating something unique in Devon. Cue the most romantic setting for an intimate wedding and the opportunity to produce amazing wine! A driving motivation for them was to create a rural family business that would not only provide a better environment for their young family so they could spend more time with their two daughters, Emilia and Ellie, but also provide a better work-life balance. They could see the potential in the Grade II* listed house, one of the very first houses in Devon to be built from handmade bricks, the dilapidated threshing barn with the attached Round House, or horse gin, and the Vineyard.
After nearly three years of building works, the thatched, 18th Century Round House with massive oak beams and an octagonal softwood roof structure has been completely rebuilt, providing a beautiful space for wedding ceremonies. Sitting on the landscaped terrace, overlooking the vines, and the rolling Devon hills makes it an idyllic spot for Elopement, Micro Weddings and larger celebrations in the Barn. The beautifully restored traditional barn is the perfect barn wedding venue for up to 60 day-guests and up to 100 guests for your evening celebrations. It skilfully combines tradition and modern architectural design to create a unique synthesis of rustic charm and stylish elegance. Stunning features such as the open-vaulted oak beam roof alongside modern design and in-house bar for comfort and convenience provides a unique space . Complete with a private landscaped terrace offering views over the Vineyard to the sea beyond, parking for up to 25 cars and wheelchair-friendly, the Barn provides an impressive and versatile space for unforgettable wedding celebrations.
Located just 20 minutes from Exeter, you’ll instantly feel relaxed amongst the 20 acres of patchwork fields and woodlands. Whether you want an elopement as just the two of you, or you want to celebrate with all your loved ones, the family team will ensure that you have a truly memorable celebration.
Iscoyd Park
If you’re looking for romance, you’ll find it at Iscoyd Park. A Georgian country house wedding venue in Shropshire, the Godsal family have called this their beloved family home since 1843. Phil and Susie moved from London to take over the house from Phil’s father in 2009 and undertook a huge restoration and development program that continues to this day.
Despite the total refurbishment of the house it has always been of paramount importance to retain the family feel and atmosphere of the house. The interior design fuses the contemporary with the history and the paintings and artefacts that had been collected by previous generations of the family. The family still live in the house ( albeit in the attic) and manage the business and house. Poppy is on the waiting team and the younger children will join her soon!
“We have a fantastic team who are like an extended family, we all share a love and passion for Iscoyd as do our clients who choose Iscoyd for their wedding. As well as weddings we run a program of supper clubs, Sunday lunches, and afternoon teas which means we keep in touch with our couples and they continue to visit Iscoyd long after their wedding day.”
Everything that encompasses Iscoyd Park is fuelled by the owner’s passion for what they do, endeavouring to always go the extra mile and embracing every new idea. This family run venue is rich with history, character and a very warm welcome.
Drovers Barn
Drover’s Barn is one heck of an incredible wedding venue and we have no doubt you’ll agree. Surrounded by meadows, fields and forest, this 16th Century Farm is nestled at the foothills of the Black Mountains (right on the border of Wales and Herefordshire). Channelling subtle South of France vibes courtesy of its stone buildings, the family team want to bring a sense of informality and creativity to their venue. Hosting ‘cool weddings in the sticks’, they love working with couples who want to bid farewell to lists of do’s and don’t. Instead, you’ll get exclusivity of this family run organic farm for the entire weekend.
After having children, owners Kesri and Paul moved from London to the country, buying a beautiful 16th Century Farm in 2010. They converted the buildings into cool, contemporary spaces and cottages, taking inspiration from their travels over the years. “We converted the farm into an organic farm (as we are passionate about how our food is grown and feel farms can help with climate change if farmed the right way). The food we grow feeds our onsite restaurant and we cook all of our food direct from the fields or locally sourced where the food has been ethically grown,” Kesri and Paul explain. From South Africa, they incorporate lots of lovely touches as a nod to their roots, including super stylish safari tents. “Our couples are foodies and the food (all cooked on open fires – In Africa we even cook Christmas dinner on the fire!!) is an important part of why couples book us.”
These guys do things a little differently and we are SO here for it.
Pynes House
Geoff, Heather, Kate and Jon took charge of the keys to Pynes House in 2011 and in that time, have carefully brought this country house wedding venue back to life. After years of loving restoration and hard work, the team have now established themselves as one of the most elegant settings in Devon. Tucked away in the Exe Valley, the venue is perfect for weddings all year-round, accommodating anything from an intimate gathering to a weekend-long extravagant celebration.
“We recently marked 10 years at Pynes House and it has been a real labour of love as we spent several years restoring the house and bringing it back to life to help secure its future whilst also creating a home for our two families. Despite needing a huge amount of work, we fell in love with the special atmosphere and beauty of the house and it may be a cliché but it really did capture our hearts and our imagination,” the owners tell us. “Our couples and their families so often tell us how special the house is to them too and it is really wonderful to know what a lovely place it holds in so many people’s stories. Our focus for weddings has been couples who want to have their own country house weekend (or midweek) wedding where they have a chance to stay together with their closest friends and family at the house and treat the house as their home for more than just one day.”
Their array of indoor spaces (the Ballroom is guaranteed to stop you in your tracks), accommodation and gardens will effortlessly win you over. This family run wedding venue is also believed to be the inspiration for Barton Park in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, and they can’t wait to share a snippet of the house’s history with you.
Greentrees Estate
New to the wedding scene, Greentrees Estate is a luxury outdoor barn wedding venue set within 170 acres of rolling Sussex countryside. Originally bought in 2014 and sympathetically restored by the family, it is now a sanctuary of natural beauty – while remaining accessible from London, Gatwick and Brighton. They have maintained many of the distinctive architectural features, offering couples a time-honoured location with contemporary touches. Greentrees Estate is totally flexible and is exclusively yours to enjoy, with a striking glass atrium, the Great Oak Hall and secluded gardens. And it doesn’t end there – there is accommodation for the newlyweds and up to 30 of your friends and family!
Browning Bros.
With two wedding venues in Essex (The Chalkney Water Meadow and The Woodland Orchard), Browning Bros. was born out of a vision between two brothers who wanted to do something that was anything but ordinary. These guys are all about delivering unique experiences, providing luxury glamping accommodation, alternative wild weddings, secret escapes, corporate events and much more.
Located on an organic family farm (now in the 5th generation), their story is based around their love of local heritage, natural beauty and farm diversification. Each venue offers an alfresco blank canvas where you can let your imagination run wild, not to mention their very appealing luxurious glamping for onsite accommodation for your guests. You can pitch up on the Friday, ready to celebrate and enjoy exclusivity of the venue for 48 hours! The brothers and their wives head up the team – “It’s like a Browning commune as we all live and work on the farm together. Nat and Archie’s parents also live on the farm and are involved too with the business, as mentors but also love helping with the bell tent rental set ups!”
If you want an authentic backdrop for a wildly romantic wedding, you’ve found it here in Essex.
The Barns, East Yorkshire
If you’re after authenticity, you need to check out The Barns, East Yorkshire. This family run wedding venue is all about those relaxed rustic vibes, offering you total freedom to create a wedding that is yours and yours only. Owned by Ed and Kate (with their amazing team), you’ll find this fabulous husband and wife team at the helm, welcoming couples through the doors of their family farm with a warm welcome and plenty of smiles! There’s no denying it – they are passionate about giving every couple the best day of their lives and that means attention to detail and always going the extra mile to make each wedding special.
The venue has two barns, the oldest dating back over 200 years and the farm is next to Trent Falls, where the Humber Estuary, River Trent and River Ouse meet. This means that guests can get a glimpse of passing ships during the drinks reception, which always raises a few eyebrows! The venue is a photographer’s favourite because it is authentic, beautiful and oozes rustic charm. Couples love it because they have a beautiful ceremony, a cracking party afterwards and can feel confident that The Barns team will look after them. Picture garden games in the courtyard, crackling firepits, leather Chesterfield sofas and you’ve got The Barns.
Cluny Castle
From the moment Cluny Castle was built in the 14th Century, it has remained a much-loved family home to the Gordons, with Bronya and Cosmo Linzee Gordon now in charge. Over time, it has been expanded, restored and renovated, and is now a majestic mansion tucked away in tranquil Aberdeenshire countryside in Scotland. This majestic castle wedding venue is renowned for its romance and history, as well its magical and secluded setting. The mansion boasts beautiful grounds, a rich heritage and an array of architectural delights for you to enjoy on an exclusive use basis. Just 25 minutes from Aberdeen airport, you and your guests will be provided with a home from home that you’ll never want to leave! You can expect a unique chapel, acres of wooded parkland and the magnificent backdrop of the castle.
“During the hundreds of years that have passed since Cluny was built it has remained the much loved home of our family, the Gordons of Cluny. Over time the castle has been expanded upon and has changed shape quite dramatically since the 1500s while under the stewardship of the Clan; the final addition being the completion of the chapel in 1870 courtesy of John Gordon, resulting in one of the largest privately owned castles in the whole of Scotland. In recent years we are proud to have been able to manifest our ambitions and refurbish, renovate and continue the line of the family within the same magnificent granite walls while focusing on the modernities of 21st century living.
Cluny Castle is an incredible property and our beloved family home. Renowned for its romance, seclusion and enchanting setting, we are very excited for others to be able to experience this wonderful castle first hand and look forward to extending a warm welcome to our guests here at Cluny.” – Bronya & Cosmo Linzee Gordon of Cluny.
Your guests will be wowed by the rich heritage, exuberant architecture and stunning setting for which Cluny Castle is well renowned…
Plas Dinam
You have probably spotted a selection of epic photographs at Plas Dinam across our socials (colourful smoke bombs galore) and we really do have a soft spot for this family run wedding venue in Mid Wales. After Lord and Lady Davies moved out in 2012, their daughter Eldrydd and her husband Tyson returned from Australia with her family to begin a new venture. Eldrydd was born and brought up at Plas Dinam, but worked as a vet in Australia for many years, where she met Tyson.
After renovating, restoring and improvements, it has now been transformed into an exclusive hire, multi day, award-winning country estate wedding venue in Mid Wales. Though they do not live onsite, their love for Plas Dinam as a family house, and the gorgeous grounds and surrounding hills has been passed to their 4 children as well as many, many guests who have stayed at Plas Dinam. Tyson’s practical (Australian) skills have been key in developing the on-site accommodation, the glass roof “Stables” party barn, and multiple improvements within the 15 bedroom house. The children are now thoroughly involved, helping with everything from mowing to setting out chairs for a ceremony. Eldrydd says, “Plas Dinam has always been a place for family gatherings, music and fun and we enjoy continuing that tradition.”
Renowned for their incredible glass-roofed party barn, Plas Dinam is surrounded by vibrant gardens, wildflower meadows and rambling woodland walks. Their ethos is friendly, family run and super flexible, where you can make the house your own for the whole weekend. There’s room for up to 34 of your loved ones to say in the house, with a Lodge and glamping for the rest of your guest list.