Vikki from Your Wedding Friend is back with us today to share a review for Rothamsted Manor in Hertfordshire. This Grade I listed manor is surrounded by beautiful uninterrupted views over the fields, perfect for your wedding day.
Photo credit: G N Bri Photography
Nestled in the countryside just outside Harpenden, Herts is a wonderful venue that you’ve probably not heard of; it’s the gorgeous Rothamsted Manor. A relative newbie to the wedding venue market, they’ve only really been hosting them for a couple of years. But this venue has a long and interesting history, even before its association with Rothamsted Enterprises.
The Grade 1 Listed manor house itself dates in part from the 1600’s but the estate has a history that reaches much further back in time than that. Surrounded by 12 acres of grounds the gorgeous manor house is the perfect backdrop to your big day.
Within the manor, you can choose which of the fabulous rooms to use but for your civil ceremony, the most ideal space is the Library. This carpeted room has a stunning fireplace and a capacity of around 76 guests. The manor is oak panelled throughout and this room is likewise. With attractive chairs, there is very little required to make this already stunning space into something amazing.
Photo credit: Lee Rushby Photography
The wedding breakfast and evening reception are usually held in the Great Drawing Room, featuring another fabulous fireplace, wooden floor and oak panelling with portraits of some of the original inhabitants. Dining tables are usually set up with large round tables and a long top table ideal for around 8 people. The large windows let in lots of light in the daytime and reflect the disco lights in the evening. Additional numbers can be accommodated for the evening reception and the brand-new bar gives you a gorgeous separate area for sitting and relaxing.
If you’re looking to accommodate a significantly larger number of guests, you can opt for a reception in a marquee or tipi in the grounds. As there isn’t a standard marquee or tipi set up, these can of course be tailor-made to suit your requirements so guest numbers are no limitation and they will be built to your exact specifications. You should be aware however that a marquee can dramatically affect the overall cost of your wedding.
Photo credit: Lee Rushby Photography
Rothamsted Manor are creating a list of some great preferred suppliers but are happy to discuss alternatives, should you have suppliers in mind. You should be able to negotiate here and with the grounds and just outside the manor you have the space to bring in something a bit unusual (we can recommend some amazing, quirky, specialist suppliers to suit your requirements).
One of the great things about holding your wedding in a manor is that you can add minimal amounts of decoration to this venue and it would still be beautiful. But the grandeur of the location lends itself to a ‘more is more’ approach too. If round tables aren’t your thing you could opt for long banqueting tables instead. The fireplaces all lend themselves to become beautiful backdrops to your day but likewise, it’s also possible to choose an alternate layout, possibly with the exception of the Library, giving you more of a blank wall. You could really feel like the lord or lady of the manor on your big day here.
Photo credit: Rothamsted Manor
Prices reflect the exclusivity, history and splendour of the manor house, but aren’t outrageous. Rothamsted Manor was never going to be a cheap option however you can see and feel every penny is worth it here. One thing to be aware of is that currently the venue has no bedrooms, but there are many hotels to choose from not too far away. If your privacy is important to you then this is guaranteed at Rothamsted, they can literally only accommodate one wedding at a time. There’s plenty of parking available though if you want all your guests staying at the same hotel, you might want to think about laying on transportation, however, be aware that you would need to confirm with the venue if you wish to leave any cars on-site overnight.
The team at Rothamsted prides itself on being flexible and unique so take a look. If you’re looking for a stunning, relatively intimate, historical venue then Rothamsted has bags of potential.
Contact Vikki to chat about your wedding planning, or for advice on picking a venue.
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SEE VIKKI’S OTHER VENUE REVIEWS HERE.
Photo credits:
Photographer: Lee Rushby Photography
Venue styling: Venue Styling by Sara
Venue: Rothamsted Manor
Video: Louise Shrigley Wedding Films
Wedding favours: Bomboniere by Maria
Flowers: Iris Design Floral
Wedding dress: George James Bridal
Suit: The Vintage Suit Hire Company
Flower girl dress: The TuTu Fairy
Makeup and Hair: Emma Morris Hair and Makeup
Bespoke hair accessories: Rachel Louise Bridal Accessories
Stationery: Sarah Ardrey Designs
Lighting: Blue Mark Entertainment
Bride: Sarah Beth Yeary
Groom: Josh Carr
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