5 Secret ingredients for the perfect countryside wedding

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to countryside venues in the West Midlands, so we have been thinking about what makes Arley House & Gardens the perfect countryside wedding venue.

For a start, we have an abundance of outdoor ceremony spaces and stunning gardens for your photography. We also serve a huge range of food and drink options from formal dining (indoors or outdoors) to casual grazing with rustic food stations which compliment the beautiful countryside setting. Not to mention the fact that we were voted the Best Countryside Wedding Venue, West Midlands 2020 at The Wedding Industry Awards.

Here are our top 5 secret ingredients for the perfect countryside wedding:

1. Choose your countryside wedding ceremony, your way

With countryside weddings, your venues tend to have more space and with this space comes choice: Choice of settings for your ceremony.

At Arley House & Gardens we are blessed with 3 indoor ceremony rooms, all licensed for civil ceremonies. Of these, the jewel in the crown is the The Valentia Suite. The ultimate blank canvas, with floor to ceiling windows and perfect countryside views to 3 sides, it can sit over 150 guests for a beautiful indoor ceremony, whilst fooling you into believing you are outside. And with the abundance of natural light, it works beautifully throughout the year.

For smaller and more intimate ceremonies, our cosy Turner Suite is the epitome of countryside wedding style with natural earthy tones and décor. Pheasants and stags adorn the walls which are painted in the aptly named Mouse’s Back (Farrow & Ball); the perfect choice for a countryside colour palette.

For the ultimate countryside wedding though, why not take it to the next level and say your vows outside, at one with the stunning surroundings, embracing the season’s colours, fragrances, floral landscapes and abundance of greenery. At Arley House & Gardens you are blessed with 2 choices of outdoor ceremony spaces: the first of which is our Italian Garden. Set in the historic grounds of the Arley Estate and a short walk over the lawns of Arley House, the Italian Garden features formal planting, breath-taking fountains and endless photo opportunities.

For the ultimate fairy-tale setting, the wedding pagoda on the rear lawn of Arley House delivers for those looking for privacy at their countryside wedding ceremony. With a delicate white structure set on rolling green lawns, surrounded by pretty planting and the backdrop of St. Peter’s Church, it’s peace and tranquillity is unrivalled.

And finally choose your outdoor wedding ceremony type. From civil ceremonies to blessings officiated by a celebrant or vowel renewals there is something for everyone. To top it off involve family and friends and even your beloved dog – one of the most joyous things of countryside wedding ceremonies being outdoors is that dogs are allowed! … Well they most certainly are at Arley House & Gardens.

2. Design the perfect drinks menu, inspired by countryside ingredients

After your perfect ceremony, it’s time to celebrate and greet your guests with a moorish drink and a selection of delicious canapés. At Arley House, we pride ourselves of being able to offer something a little different. With a huge selection of cocktails on offer, dressed on beautiful drinks stations in the gardens, the choice is endless for the countryside wedding.

Think refreshing seasonal coolers like Raspberry & Rose Sparkler, Summer Elderflower Mimosas or our new favourite Blackberry Mojitos. Made with the perfects blend of locally sourced spirits from our friends at Chase Distillery and fruits form the countryside hedgerow.

Relax, take your time and don’t forget to have some fun. Whether is through garden games like croquet on the lawn or a space hopper race with kids, a stroll through the stunning gardens, or simply relaxing on the terrace as you listen to the steam trains pulling into Arley Station over the River Severn, Arley House is the perfect place for enjoying everything a countryside wedding has to offer.

3. Bring the outside in with a countryside themed décor design

Embrace your  countryside wedding by designing your décor to bring the outside in. From the use of table top trees to majestic floral displays at your wedding breakfast, combing natural greenery and seasonal flowers to complement your bridesmaid’s colours or the season in which you marry in, your options are limitless.

With the added benefit of your wedding breakfast at Arley House being located in the Valentia Suite, with its panoramic views of the Arley Estate from 3 sides, it’s easy to achieve the feeling of being outdoors, whilst enjoying the benefit of the air-conditioning in summer or heating in winter. Just a few of the natural perks that a modern countryside venue bring!

With the added benefit of a BOSE sound system throughout the house you can also tailor your background play list, our all time favourite being Blur, Country House – reminds us of the night we collected our award for Best Countryside Wedding Venue at The Wedding Industry Awards, 2020.

4. Create a bespoke menu that says countryside wedding in look and taste

Imaginative food and exceptional service is something we pride ourselves on, with guests talking about the service they receive here at Arley House & Gardens for months after they have left us. Our Executive Chef, Phillip Bradley and his team are on hand to work with you to create a bespoke wedding menu, cooked from locally sourced ingredients to bring you the best in cuisine.

So where do you start with your countryside wedding food? How about designing your own Amazing Grazing Platter? Think all your favourite things to eat with a dash of Chef’s magic and wow, you’ve just got yourself a feast to remember! Served on rustic boards or in leaf shape dishes, food decorated with edible flowers and packed with colourful fruits and vegetables – let your imagination run wild. Don’t just think the fun stops there either. How about creating a dessert station with a countryside wedding theme including chocolate mousse served in edible chocolate flower pots or naked wedding cake decorated with fruits and flowers. Or go wild with a cocktail themed station based on favourites like Espresso Martinis with  Tiramisu, Coffee Granita, Baileys coffee truffles and caramel latte cheesecake.

5. Take exclusivity to the next level; own your countryside wedding venue!

Arley House is exclusively yours on your wedding day. We don’t like sharing, so why should you! We make sure that your countryside wedding is entirely bespoke to you. From setting up the day before to getting ready on the morning of your wedding, your countryside wedding venue can be exactly the peaceful haven you envisage it to be. The real benefit of choosing a venue in the countryside that does not share its space with other weddings or the public.

Why not make a weekend of it and own your countryside wedding venue for the whole weekend, as if you were lord and lady of the manor. Take over The Grange at Arley; our new boutique hotel with 14 luxury bedrooms, many of which have four poster beds. Literally a 5 minute walk away from Arley House, The Grange’s setting on the River Severn in the village of Upper Arley is unique, with additional accommodation provided in the form of 2 riverside suites in The Gaol at Arley (pronounced jail) and The Boathouse at Arley. Both are decorated in Farrow & Ball paints with tasteful furnishings and unrivalled river views.

Then take it to the next level with a host of optional extras – the greatest joy of choosing a country estate for your countryside wedding. For example, you can hire the private dining room at Arley House for a rehearsal dinner the night before your wedding. The following day, if a civil ceremony isn’t for you then you can marry in the church in the grounds of the estate; the ancient church of St Peters at Upper Arley.

What ever you choose for your countryside wedding, know that you have many many choices to make it truly your own. For more information or just an opportunity to have a great chat about your countryside wedding ideas, call Amy on 01299 848253. Alternatively email amy@arleyestate.co.uk to request a call back. We are here to be with you every step of the way and absolutely love it.