Your Wedding Ceremony
"No better or more romantic place"
- Liz Elliot, Editor at Large, House and Garden and mother of the bride
Your Wedding
We have assembled a first-class team of dedicated professionals to support you in making your dream wedding a reality.
Let your imagination run wild.
YOUR CHOICE OF CEREMONY
The Orangery
The 18th Century orangery with its Cotswold stone roof and huge arch windows is a wonderfully romantic place to tie the knot. It can seat 160 outside and 40 inside.
In the event of bad weather, the ceremony can be held under the awning of the marquee.
Under the Lime Tree
Imagine exchanging your vows under the boughs of a 400-year-old lime tree. 200 guests can be seated comfortably outside with the beautiful Jacobean façade of the house in the background. It is a dreamy way to start your life together.
Church Wedding
For those of you who are looking for a traditional church wedding, the charming church of St Mary the Virgin is in the village of Marshfield only 10 minutes away. It can seat 200.
"The wedding venue of dreams!"
- , Pearl van den Ende, international wedding planner
THE CELEBRATION
No better place to celebrate with champagne and canapes than Hamswell House's amazing terrace. It has breath-taking panoramic views over the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. On a clear day, you can even see the White Horse at Westbury 20 miles away.
When you are ready, explore the garden. At every turn you come across amazing features such as the pergola with the 200-year-old wisteria, the Monk's Window and the Knot Garden. Then stroll along the 18th Century ornamental canal with its Neptune fountain and clusters of waterlilies. The garden is a photographer's playground perfect for capturing striking Instagrammable images of your special day.
"The perfect mix of grandeur and relaxed elegance"
- Sarah Speechly - bride
THE PARTY
After drinks and canapes, the bespoke marquee provides the perfect ambience for the party of a lifetime. You have had the day before for set-up and styling, so it is exactly as you want it.
Our recommended caterers will serve you whatever you desire. And as we do not charge corkage, the champagne and wine can flow without breaking the bank.
As night draws in, the twinkling stars above the dancefloor light up, so do the festoons around the marquee, the lanterns on the terrace and the soft floodlights on the main house and the Neptune fountain. The band strikes up... It is time for the first dance...
"Truly magical experience"
- Chloe and Simon Arnoldi - bride and groom
GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT WEDDINGS
"The perfect hidden gem"
- The English Wedding Blog
WEDDING PRICES
The Venue
The cost of hiring the venue for a wedding on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays is £9500 between May and September and £7000 in April and October. The marquee is extra. Lunch party the next day for £2500.
The cost includes:
- The use of the romantic orangery for a civil ceremony or a chill-out area;
- Use of the ceremony lawn with its 400-year-old lime trees;
- Use of the house terrace with its spectacular panoramic views, the beautiful ornamental gardens, wisteria-covered pergola, the knot garden and C18th water garden for the drinks reception and photographs;
- Use of the croquet lawn for the erection of a marquee up to three days prior to the wedding, for the day of the wedding and for the dismantling of the marquee the day afterwards;
- Access to the marquee on the day before the wedding for set-up and styling;
- Use of the house lanterns, house floodlights and the illumination of the Neptune fountain;
- Use of the dedicated mains power supply;
- Free corkage throughout the entire event;
- Overnight parking for the guests for up to 100 cars.
THE MARQUEE
Bath Marquees will erect the marquee for you. The cost of this is from about £6000 + VAT and is in addition to the venue hire.
The price includes marquee, carpeting, lining, entrance porch, dance floor, tables, chairs, bar, kitchen marquee, lighting and luxury loos. In fact, everything you need except for what the caterers will bring with them and the flowers. Contact Henry at Bath Marquees: www.bathmarquees.co.uk tel: 07888 841517
The Drink
We do not charge corkage. You can bring your own wine and champagne and drinks for the entire event if you wish. This is in contrast with many hotels and commercial venues where the mark up on the wines and champagnes can be eye-watering.
This is another reason why couples prefer Hamswell.
The Food
We have four excellent caterers working at Hamswell. Each of them has a wedding planner with whom you can discuss possible menus, table settings and your plans for the day. They all offer tastings. Prices are usually quoted to include table linens, cutlery and waiting staff as well as the food and are from about £65 + VAT per head for a three-course sit-down meal including canapes.
Our four preferred caterers are:
- Epic Caterers: www.epiccaterers.com tel: 0345 5210123
- Queen and Whippet: www.queenandwhippet.com tel: 07969 954674
- Eat Five Star: www.eat5star.com tel: 01225 302275
- The Mint Room (Indian): www.themintroom.co.uk tel: 0117 3291300
If none of these caterers can meet your requirements, you can use one of your own choosing for an additional charge of £500.