The top 5 things to look for from a Cotswolds wedding venue

The Cotswolds has no shortage of beautiful places to tie the knot. From traditional honey-stoned barns to grand country houses, there’s a setting to suit every kind of celebration; whether you’re planning an intimate gathering with your nearest and dearest, or a lavish party for 200+ guests. But with so much choice, how do you choose the right wedding venue for you?

To help you find “the one”, here are the top 5 things you should look for from a Cotswold wedding venue.

1) Genuine exclusivity

“Exclusive use” can mean different things at different venues. Some venues say they’re totally exclusive, but in reality you only get the ceremony and reception room to yourself, while other guests share the bar or gardens. Other venues may be rushing you out the door and setting up a second wedding the minute your last dance ends. 

3 questions to ask each venue:

• Which spaces are exclusively ours throughout the celebrations, and for how long?
• Can our guests roam the grounds freely?
• What time do we need to pack up and leave?

What ‘exclusivity’ means at Water’s Edge:

Every wedding here is exclusively yours for two nights, giving you private access to the venue and grounds for the entirety of your celebrations. You’ll have plenty of time to settle in the day before, and there’s no need to rush off the morning after. We only welcome a select number of weddings each year, allowing us to give your celebration the time and attention it deserves.

2) Enough capacity in each space

It goes without saying that your venue needs to be big enough for your guest list. But that’s only part of the picture. Think about how your day will flow, from the ceremony to the wedding breakfast to the evening party, and whether each space will feel right for the number of guests you’re inviting.

3 questions to ask each venue:

• Where can we hold our ceremony, wedding breakfast, and evening party?
• How many guests can each space comfortably accommodate?
• What’s the plan if the weather turns?

Where a Water’s Edge wedding unfolds:

We have two beautiful ceremony spaces at Water’s Edge: our outdoor ‘island’ beside the water, and our indoor wood-panelled ceremony room. The island can seat 180 guests, while the indoor space can seat 120 (or up to 170 with the addition of our tent canopy). Once the ceremony and drinks are over, you’ll then move to our reception room and courtyard, connected by large bi-fold doors.

3) On-site accommodation

Your guests will need somewhere to sleep once the last dance ends. Finding accommodation and booking transport to get there can be a real hassle, and they might have to call it a night earlier than they’d like. A venue with on-site accommodation helps to take that stress away, allowing your closest loved ones to celebrate with you for a little longer.

3 questions to ask each venue:

• How many of us can stay on site and for how many nights?
• Is accommodation included in the venue hire or is it charged separately?
• Where can the rest of our guests stay nearby?

Accommodation options at Water’s Edge:

Every Water’s Edge wedding features a two night stay for you and your closest loved ones in our three luxurious super king bedrooms; with plenty of space to get ready, unwind, and enjoy the celebrations from the evening before to the morning after. Your other guests won’t have far to go, either, with several wonderful accommodation options nearby in the Cotswold towns of Ewen and Cirencester.

4) Quality food and drink

Food is one of the most memorable parts of any wedding. Every venue approaches food differently; for example, some have their own kitchen team, while others may ask you to bring in an external caterer. Some only offer three-course set menus, while others offer much more choice and flexibility. Make sure that your venue’s approach to food and drink matches your expectations.

3 questions to ask each venue:

• Do you offer in-house catering or will we need to bring in our own caterers?
• How flexible are your menus?
• Where do your ingredients come from?

How Water’s Edge approaches food and drink:

We offer a fantastic range of menus, all cooked by our talented in-house kitchen team. Every dish is shaped by the seasons, and all produce is either foraged from the estate or sourced from our trusted local suppliers. You can choose a three-course wedding breakfast or BBQ sharing platters inspired by traditional fire cooking; or, we can create something completely bespoke to your celebration.

5) An expert wedding team

The people behind the wedding venue can make or break your day. When planning a wedding, you’ll likely have lots of questions and decisions to make; so you need a dedicated person that will guide you from your first enquiry, and an on-site wedding team that will handle every little detail on the day. 

3 questions to ask each venue:

• Will we deal with the same person from our first enquiry to the wedding day?
• Will we have a dedicated wedding coordinator?
• Who will be on hand on the day to keep everything running smoothly?

Meet the Water’s Edge team:

We’re a family-run wedding venue with an expert team behind us. When you enquire, our Venue Manager, Will, is responsible for showing you around the venue and answering your questions. Your dedicated wedding coordinator will then guide you through the planning process, and our front of house and management teams will make sure every moment of your celebration runs smoothly.

Book your private viewing to see how your celebrations could unfold at our exclusive use wedding venue in the Cotswolds.