Wedding hotels

Amberley Castle 

West Sussex, United Kingdom

Wow factor   This moated medieaval castle has all the visual trappings of a fairy tale, including a portcullis and battlements.

Need to know   Weddings involving more than 40 guests will guarantee exclusive use of the castle. The hotel has its own wedding coordinator and a list of recommended suppliers; the head chef and master sommelier are available to give advice.

Inspiration   Amberley staff arrange around 90 bespoke weddings a year, from intimate parties of a dozen to marquee weddings for 150.

Babington House

Northeast Somerset, United Kingdom

Wow factor   The hotel's Cowshed spa is a fabulous place to relax and prepare for your big day.

Need to know   Weddings are held Monday to Thursday only, and are based on exclusive use of the hotel and all its 28 bedrooms.

Inspiration   Weddings are a regular feature at Babington House, and always run seamlessly thanks to a very experienced team. The functions manager, Hannah Meager (01373 814907), dedicates time to every couple, dispensing advice, guidance and recommendations.

Barnsley House

Cotswolds, United Kingdom

Wow factor   The hotel's helipad is ideal for making grand entrances and exits.

Need to know   Weddings are only held on Thursdays, and wedding parties have to book the hotel in its entirety. There are 18 rooms in the hotel, and it has an additional seven rooms in The Village Pub across the road. Wedding parties can also have sole use of the hotel spa for a further fee.

Inspiration   Barnsley House has hosted many weddings, each of them unique and tailor-made to suit the couple's wishes. The manicured gardens at Barnsley House look beautiful all year round and make an idyllic setting.

Bingham

London, United Kingdom

Wow factor   Gorgeous location on the River Thames, on the leafy Surrey fringe of London. Many happy couples make a splash by going away by boat.

Need to know   If you want a Saturday wedding, the minimum number of guests is 50. The maximum number of guests for a sit-down meal is 100, and 150 for a drinks reception. Exclusive hire of the hotel is possible.

Inspiration   The Bingham holds an average of 80 weddings a year, and provides a dedicated wedding co-ordinator who can arrange every detail, from invitations to entertainment.

Blakes

London, United Kingdom

Wow factor   The Corfu Suite, Anouska Hempel's original white-on-white room, is the perfect place to start your honeymoon.

Need to know   Couples wishing to get married at Blakes must inform the Register Office of the date and time of their ceremony. Ceremonies are held in Suite 007 which can accommodate 36 people. The hotel can arrange lunch or dinner in the restaurant for up to 80 guests, or canapés for 100 guests. Of the hotel's 46 rooms, a maximum of ten may be booked by a wedding party. The hotel can arrange spectacular floral displays, and Anouska Hempel Couture can create your dream wedding dress.

Inspiration   Suite 007 is spectacularly decorated in shades of raspberry and ivory. The Blakes team can create any kind of decorative scheme, from romantic chic to sleek glamour, using petals, candles, flowers and decorations.

Brown's Hotel

London, United Kingdom

Wow factor   Celebrate with a ceremony at one of the most distinguished and historic addresses in Mayfair.

Need to know   A private wedding coordinator is assigned to all couples getting married in the hotel, and Brown’s ensures that no two ceremonies will take place on the same day within its walls, meaning that its staff will lavish their attention on you and you alone. There are three private-event rooms to choose from for the wedding banquet and the chef meets with all couples before the big day to ensure the menu is as mouth-watering as can be.

Inspiration   Spend your wedding night in one of the hotel’s exquisite Junior Suites – Brown’s own wedding gift – with candles, bath salts and a scattering of rose petals prepared just for you.

Calcot Manor

Cotswolds, United Kingdom

Wow factor   The hotel’s beautifully restored 14th-century tithe barn is an ideal venue for an intimate and atmospheric Cotswolds wedding.

Need to know   The hotel’s beautifully restored 14th-century tithe barn is an ideal venue for an intimate and atmospheric Cotswolds wedding.

Inspiration   Ratchet up the romance by sharing a bottle of champagne in the hotel’s outdoor hot tub.

Charlton House 

Northeast Somerset, United Kingdom

Wow factor   Soothe away last-minute nerves in the hotel's spa, which offers a range of specially designed bridal treatments.

Need to know   The marquee usually goes up in spring and stays up until it is dismantled at the end of October, so if you want to take advantage of the extra outdoor space and the terrace, it is best to book a date during the summer months. The East Wing provides an intimate and very private setting for the couple and their witnesses. For larger weddings, the Orangery can accommodate up to 110 guests, although there is only space for a maximum of 60 guests for a banquet. Charlton House can arrange the flowers, music, cake and photographer.

Inspiration   The resident special events manager has many years' experience of handling bespoke wedding celebrations at the hotel, and when it comes to creating a truly special day, she knows every trick in the book. Entertainments for guests include clay-pigeon shooting and archery in the grounds, or quad biking nearby.