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When it comes to finding the best luxury wedding venues, you’re spoilt for choice in London. And while this is a good thing, it can also mean the huge variety of choices can be overwhelming.
Not sure where to start? Let me help you out and list the ones that are worth considering.
CENTRAL LONDON – BEST LUXURY WEDDING VENUES
The Mandarin Oriental at Hyde Park
Mandarin Oriental at Hyde Park is one of my favourite luxury London hotel wedding venues because it’s one of the best both for convenience and aesthetics. It’s located centrally and is within easy reach wherever you may be staying in Central London. And if you have guests coming from overseas, they don’t need to worry about transportation issues or accommodation options. Whether they’re arriving via the Eurostar or the London airports, the hotel is easily accessible and is less than 20mins from King’s Cross St Pancras. With all the commercial establishments nearby, they can even have a quick shopping trip the day before or after your wedding.
The Mandarin Oriental’s function areas have light-filled and tastefully styled rooms that can accommodate both intimate and grand affairs. For intimate weddings, the Asquith, Balfour, and Loggia rooms are the best options, each with a capacity of 40 to 70 people. Among the three, the Loggia is my top choice due to its symmetry and proximity to the outdoor terrace. Asquith and Balfour can be combined to create a bigger room to accommodate up to 180 people. If your wedding is a bit bigger, the Serpentine Suite (200pax) and Carlyle (250pax) are also good options. And if you’re keen on a much bigger space, the Ballroom is big enough to accommodate up to 400 people.
While the Carlyle is a popular wedding venue for ceremonies at the NED London, the Ballroom is best used for wedding receptions. It’s available for exclusive hire and comes with access to the Royal Garden Terrace, their outdoor space facing Hyde Park. If you’re using the grand ballroom for your reception, the events team can even arrange for you to enter the private entrance from Hyde Park. This entrance is normally reserved for the royal family and for dignitaries.
The Mandarin Oriental doesn’t offer exclusive use of the hotel, but you do get exclusive use of the entire event space. The hotel’s event spaces are closed off to regular hotel guests and there’s also a separate entrance so there’s no need to worry about loitering strangers at your wedding.
The NED London
Part of the famous SOHO house group, the NED London is one of the best luxury London wedding venues. Known for its 1920s glamour aesthetics, there’s simply nothing like it.
The NED London is licensed to hold ceremonies, so your guests never have to leave the hotel until the carriages arrive at midnight. The NED is easy to locate and reach making it ideal if you have guests coming from overseas or who are visiting London for the first time.
The NED London’s sixth floor is available for exclusive event hire. This gives you the flexibility to choose from six Grade-1 listed spaces and two outdoor terraces to use for your celebration.
The Saloon is the lightest among the spaces. It’s stylishly decorated with an 18th-century chandelier, ornate chalk frieze, and gorgeous parquet flooring. The Saloon is a popular choice for holding wedding ceremonies or evening dancing.
Then there’s the iconic Tapestry room lit by several crystal chandeliers. Marvel at the pastoral tapestry wrapping the walls on top of the original walnut paneling. This space is a popular choice for the wedding reception due to it having the largest capacity (up to 200) among all the spaces.
But if you prefer having a more intimate wedding, you can choose the Wren room or the Rose room. Each room is just as elegant as the rest of the event spaces but cosy enough to accommodate less than 15 guests.
Dartmouth House
Dartmouth House is a gorgeous hidden gem right in the heart of Mayfair in Central London. You don’t have to choose between the logistical ease and comfort of London luxury wedding venues and the grandeur of Cotswold’s best stately homes. You’ll have them both at Dartmouth House and more. This Grade II listed Georgian House looks great from any angle. Whether you choose to adorn it with beautiful flowers or keep it minimal, you’re sure to have a stunning background as you say I do.
And before I forget, can I just mention their beautiful outdoor space? It’s perfect for intimate weddings. Use it for your outdoor ceremony or treat your guests to an alfresco cocktail hour.
Dartmouth House’s central London location makes it easy for your international guests to travel to your luxury destination wedding. Whether they’re flying from London Heathrow or Gatwick, or taking the Eurostar from continental Europe, it’s within easy reach. Less than a 10mins walk from Green Park station and with an abundance of accommodation options, it truly is a great option if you have guests coming from all over the world.
WEST LONDON LUXURY WEDDING VENUES
Chiswick House and Gardens
Further out is the idyllic Chiswick House and Gardens, a beautiful oasis tucked in leafy West London. Chiswick House is a great option for you if both aesthetics and practicality are of importance. Among my list of luxury London wedding venues, this is the only one that doesn’t give a lot of options when choosing a space. You only have one choice for the ceremony space and the reception area. Very straightforward and dare I say, perfect for indecisive couples!
Wedding ceremonies at Chiswick House are held at the 19th-century Glass House Conservatory set within the lush Italian Garden. If you get lucky, you might just be able to say I do while the wisterias are in full bloom during the spring. Your guests can then enjoy canapes and welcome drinks, relax and mingle during cocktail hour on the raised lawns of the Italian Gardens before they proceed to the reception. Although the Conservatory is huge, it can only accommodate up to 100 people. This is because only the central rotunda is allowed to be used due to the fragile condition of the Conservatory’s wings.
All wedding receptions happen at the Garden Pavillion, a dry-hire semi-permanent marquee beside the main house. The marquee’s interiors are plain and neutral so you can easily dress it up or down depending on your style. The outdoor space has a spacious lawn that you can furnish with seating. You can also use the extra outdoor space to entertain your guests with lawn games. The good news is you can have more people at your wedding reception. The marquee has a capacity of up to 200 guests.
