My love and congratulations to all you newly engaged couples out there, and especially those who said “yes” during the recent festive period!
As you embark on this exciting journey of planning your wedding, one of the first and most pivotal decisions you’ll make is choosing your venue. It’s the cornerstone upon which your wedding plans will take shape, setting the stage for everything else and the rest of your vision.
Today, I am thrilled to introduce you to a truly exceptional wedding venue nestled in the heart of Herefordshire, in the picturesque West Midlands countryside – Dewsall Court. This family-run country house, brimming with warmth and charm, stands as a testament to love, nature, sustainability and timeless elegance. I had the privilege of speaking with Samantha, who leads the dedicated team at Dewsall and am eager to share what I learned with you.
Throughout this article, I’ll unveil the rich history and captivating beauty that make Dewsall Court a truly extraordinary choice for your wedding. We’ll delve into the unique features that set it apart from the rest, and we’ll also showcase the impeccable services that Dewsall offer to transform your wedding dreams into reality. Whether you’re just beginning your wedding planning journey or still on the hunt for that perfect venue with guest accommodation, join me as we discover what makes Dewsall Court a hidden gem and the most beautiful and idyllic wedding venue in Herefordshire.
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Dewsall is a family home full of rich history and hidden secrets
Prior to the beautiful wedding and events venue it is today, Dewsall Court was a very happy family home with dogs, ponies, lots of parties, laughter, family feasts and sleepovers…
My parents bought a dilapidated Dewsall in 1989 and set about renovating it over 10 years. The house was built in 1644 and amongst others was owned by Guys Hospital for 300 years. We were the first owners to actually live in the house since the reign of Queen Anne (1702-14).
After my father died in 2007, my mother and I decided to start a business together at Dewsall – mainly for workshops and retreats but very quickly it became a wedding venue, because it lends itself so perfectly to romantic celebrations.
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We have many different spaces for ceremonies at Dewsall
From rooms covered by Chinoiserie to barns, lawns, lake and woodlands. Each of these beautiful spaces carries it’s own unique atmosphere…
The Country Church – A popular choice is to simply slip through a gate at the bottom of our garden and find this charming ancient church. We work closely with the parish to hold incredible ceremonies that work for everyone.
The Church Paddock – Walk through the blossoming apple trees to the church paddock set next to the lake with the church as a stunning backdrop. A popular ceremony place for outdoor blessings.
The Arboretum – For a woodland feel, this magical space with the speckled light shining through trees can make any wedding feel intimate.
The West Lawn – Overlooking the stunning black mountains and rolling Herefordshire hills, the West Lawn makes for a show-stopping Summer ceremony
and the case of English showers, our elegant canopy is available to protect your guests from the elements, in either rain or shine.
The Lake Field – For a fairy tale setting the Lake Field offers a tranquil backdrop to an outdoor ceremony. Hire from our selection of carpeted aisles to glide down before saying your vows overlooking the lake and beautiful weeping willow tree.
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The Conservatory and Chinoiserie – There are two perfect intimate spaces for indoor ceremonies within the house, each offering a beautifully crafted interior. Enjoy the light-filled classical conservatory or the hand-painted silk wallpaper of the Chinoiserie.
The Wainhouse – On a winter’s day where an outdoor ceremony seems less likely, the Wainhouse Barn is the perfect alternative with its magnificent glass front which opens out to the natural surroundings.
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How much does a wedding at Dewsall Court cost?
Very importantly, we are a package free zone.
We send out a brochure on enquiry which has the prices all included and once a couple have viewed we build a quote up based on their specific wishes.
Pricing is tricky in our world and for us, being straight up and honest about the likely ‘end of planning’ bill is so important. We want to be having a positive relationship with our couples (which we absolutely do!) and part of that is not piling on extra after extra throughout the planning process.
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Therefore, we include A LOT in our price and we quote initially on average spends so that a couple who have a tighter budget know they can bring it in under the suggested amount, and those on a bigger budget know that they can be more extravagant.
I think I can say with confidence that although we are quite a costly venue, we are upfront, transparent and entirely on the same side as our couples, wanting to ensure the absolute best and including everything we possibly can within the price.
Download our brochure
In terms of corkage, despite having a lovely wine list curated by natural wine company, Nothing But The Grape, we do also offer our couples the opportunity to bring their own special wine or fizz to Dewsall with a corkage charge.
However, we have recently found, since launching our hugely loved tasting events (12 course experience with matched wines included in the hire price), that many couples choose to use our wine and fizz suppliers for their wedding day.
For the other fabulous elements to the day, such as drinks reception beers, cocktail dispensers or even an espresso martini tower on the treehouse, this can all be done in house by our amazing bar team. The team work with their couples to create a day which is unique to them, fully supported so that the planning is part of the joy of a wedding and so that no wedding looks the same.
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Planning a wedding at short notice?
You can book Dewsall Court as your venue whether your wedding is 3 weeks or 3 years away
We have planned and delivered a wedding for 120 people with just 3 weeks notice. I think couples might feel like it is hard to plan a wedding in a short space of time but not with our team – it’s completely doable because the support you receive with the Dewsall team is strong, and we are really experienced.
For longer engagements, we tend to assign our couple’s with a support team, 12 months ahead of their wedding date, but are always happy to answer questions prior to this of course.
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The experience we provide our couples is everything to us
We want every couple and guest to walk into Dewsall to have an all encompassing experience, it’s not just a wedding, its family, its friends, its celebration – it’s romance.
Attention to detail is paramount – absolutely nothing at Dewsall is ever ‘run of the mill’, regular or standard. A Dewsall celebration is a unique ‘fairytale’ in every sense of the word. We don’t believe in rushing such a momentous life moment and so our two night/three day weddings mean our couples and their friends and family can really indulge in the experience and make important, beautiful memories.
The whole Dewsall team will already have been perfecting every element of your wedding long before you arrive. First, you will be greeted by our very popular Dewsall House Host who will be there exclusively for you and your guests during your stay – attending to all your requests from the history of the house to where the ironing boards are kept – nothing is too much trouble.
Dewsall Weddings on Love My Dress
We have the most dreamy guest accommodation
Dewsall can accommodate up to 28 house guests across 10 stunning bedrooms within the house and grounds
With a two night stay as standard with the option to extend to really make the most of your wedding stay and even invite your wedding day guests back for a Brunch or BBQ event the day following to reminisce about the wedding day. Why rush your wedding stay when you can immerse yourself into it over a few magical days.
There are many beautiful rooms for the couple to choose to be their bridal suite as each space has its own style, little quirks and stunning views. But the most popular is the Dewsall Suite as it’s the biggest, taking up a third of the first floor with its emperor size bed, sitting room perfect for getting ready and the large windows letting in the glorious natural light for those hair and make up moments.
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We love Asian and Fusion weddings at Dewsall
We love to reflect and honour individual cultures, traditions, religions and cuisine
Couples will immediately have their own team, including an event manager, who will oversee everything and bring their ideas to fruition, advise on the ceremony or as with many fusion weddings – ceremonies, recommending suppliers as well as coordinating all the timings.
Also in their team will be their catering manager and for Asian weddings, a specialist chef who will discuss with them the perfect wedding feast using both regional and their own special family recipes. The food will be cooked by our kitchen team led by our head chef together with our specialist chef.
Your trusted Event Manager will also be at your side running through the plan you have meticulously made during the meetings you have shared and adding any finishing touches.
At the Welcome Dinner (a firm favourite) your catering manager along with your house host will be making sure everything is relaxed and on point. The next morning our fabulous breakfast team under the direction of your house host will serve breakfast to you and your houseguests in the conservatory including a special tray in the bridal suite for the bride if preferred.
The house will be a hive of activity with your hairdresser, makeup artist, photographer and of course your trusty house host and event manager always on hand. Behind the scenes will be our set-up team, catering team and the kitchen brigade all doing what they know and love so well! Everyone will be making sure everything runs smoothly and exactly how you have always dreamt your wedding day would be.
Because we introduce your personal wedding team to you early on in your planning process, by the time the weekend comes you have built up a great relationship with them. Instead of having little known event managers dashing about with a clipboard, you have a team you know well and who really care about how your day unveils!
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We are delighted to be a Foodie venue!
We pride ourselves on using the best local seasonal ingredients which are often organic and use as much as we can from our own garden and the hedgerows.
We have a loyal team of highly accomplished chefs who create and present food that never fails to impress our guests and our guests in turn never fail to be wowed – week in week out.
find out more about food & drink
Want to get married in church?
We have the most beautiful parish church at the bottom of the garden
Having married in it myself many years ago, I can vouch for the romantic setting.
There is no need for a car to take you to church since a short walk through our beautiful gardens takes you to the kissing gate at the church wall. It isn’t a grand or spectacular church but it is beautiful in its rural simplicity. The only other access to it is up a farm track!
I filled the windowsills with candlelight for a December wedding and it felt like we were stepping into the world of Jane Austen (very relevant since she was the great niece of the Duke of Chandos who was born at Dewsall a few centuries ago)!
Couples can bring in their own suppliers
We would never want to deny a couple the possibility of personalising their wedding day by bringing in their own preferred suppliers. It keeps things fresh for our team which is great too…
We do have our Little Black Book of absolute trusted, reliable and talented favourites however, and this is curated purely on our experience. Most importantly, it is not a paid list, which is unusual in this day and age! It is an authentic and genuine appraisal of who we think creates stunning work, and is a joy and delight to work with.
However, to be able to keep evolving in a world where new event creatives are emerging often, it is great to have other suppliers whom we are yet to know coming to Dewsall. Personalising your wedding day, in our opinion, is so, so important.
Dewsall Weddings on Love My Dress
Our best advice to couples getting married is…
Find a venue that lights you up, really check through what is included and the level of support you are given by the events team at your venue.
Try your best to afford a longer experience: this day marks the first day of the rest of your life, don’t rush it, make the most of a once in a lifetime moment when friends and family gather especially for you both.
Make sure that you are booking a venue that is genuine and caring about you, their team and the environment: people and place. Everyday our team at Dewsall work hard to ensure that these values are upheld and we never underestimate what a privilege and honour it is that a couple chooses us to mark this time in their lives.
