A Cotswold Wedding Venue Like No Other

Written by Emma Hla
Pauntley Court, the birthplace of Dick Whittington, is an enchanting and much loved  private family home. Deep in the heart of the Gloucestershire countryside, set in twenty acres, this historic house is framed by glorious formal gardens. With an abundance of character, magical warmth and charm, the Pauntley Court estate has opened its doors as the ultimate romantic wedding venue.

Owners Mark and Melissa were so excited to welcome lots of lovely engaged couples to their first open day last year and have the chance to show them the many creative possibilities that Pauntley Court offers. If you didn’t make it, then we’d love to show you around this wedding venue right now thanks to these beautiful images by the truly talented Hannah Buckland.

At Pauntley Court, they offer you a blank canvas, to allow you to design and plan a celebration unique to you. They offer you exclusive use of the Pauntley Court estate over three days with up to 24 guests staying with you to create memories you will never forget and allow you to make your dreams come true.

At the Open Day, everyone was welcomed with a glass of bubbles setting the scene for a relaxed and fun day. Each guest was given a specially commissioned map by Emerald Paper Design which wonderfully depicts the many enchanting areas such as the garden rooms, the lake, the 800 year old Norman church and 16th century Dovecote.

As guests wandered into  the main house, they could see the ballroom set up for both a civil ceremony and wedding breakfast, while beautiful music played by The Gloucestershire Harpist set the tone for an exciting day. The stunning centrepiece flowers by Wild & Co adorned the tables which were exquisitely styled by Coltswold Vintage Party Hire and Table to Dine For. Couples were able to chat with their talented suppliers while enjoying delicious grazing platters by Paisley Flour Catering. Everyone enjoyed a personal guided tour of the bedrooms in the main house, wing and The Dovecote with Mark and Melissa.

Just beyond the incredibly beautiful sunken garden overlooking the meadows, was the marquee from West Country Marquees, available for up to 150 guests. For those interested in a more intimate wedding for up to 50, they had their open sided stretch tent set up in the hornbeam cloisters, another of their many ‘garden rooms’ overlooking the Leadon Valley and fields beyond. Guests were able to chat with an amazing array of the very best local suppliers, who Melissa has handpicked to create the ultimate suppliers list for any wedding.

In the stunning marquee, couples were entertained by magician Kerry Scorah whilst sampling delicious canapés by Canapé to Cake and chatting at the bar by Oscars Bar Hire, beautifully flowered by Honeysuckle Flower Co.

As everyone wandered around the gardens, guests could clearly see how a wonderful outside blessing could be simply achieved within the natural beauty of the property as Valley Furniture had provided rustic benches along with Cotswold Vintage Hire who had set up stylish and romantic props on the flat lawn amongst the pleached hornbeams. Looking out from the ha-ha and the blessing lawn, they could see their resident family of swans majestically gliding across the lake.

Individual tours of the house, which sleeps up to 24, were personally led by Mark and Melissa who love to share the interesting history and colourful characters that have been part of Pauntley Court over the generations. Each of the 10 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms have all the modern luxuries you would expect from a 5 star property but they lose none of the charm of it being an historic country retreat.

The sun shone for what was an amazingly successful Open Day for guests and suppliers in a glorious setting; Pauntley Court is majestic and charming, whilst relaxed and friendly.

Supplier Credits

Bristol Disco Hire

Canapé to Cake

Capriccio Quartet

CB Hire

Charlotte Holder Hair

Cotswold Vintage Party Hire

Emerald Paper Design

Grania Flynn Massage

Hannah Buckland Photography

Honeysuckle Flower Co.

Ivory & Co Bridal

Kerry Scorah Magician

Ledbury Lifestyle

Oscar’s Bar Hire

Paisley Flour Catering

Pollyanna’s Cakes

Red Maple Photography

Sasha Brown Make Up Artist

Table To Dine For

Taste the Good Life

The Gloucestershire Harpist

Valley Furniture Hire

Victoria’s Signature Wedding Cakes

Vintage Gold China

Walker & Walker

West Country Marquees

Wild & Co Flowers

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