One of the privileges of being a Celebrant is that I am able to visit some beautiful, unique, luxurious wedding venues and Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa is all three at once.
This chocolate-box pretty venue really is a bit of a hidden gem on the Sussex coast (literally!), but within easy reach of London, and I met with lovely Nicky Dibben, the Events Manager, for a chat over tea and melt-in-the-mouth, homemade biscuits - yum!
The hotel has a fascinating history which is sure to surprise you,but which is only one of the many hidden charms of this really lovely place. (Click here to read more - spoiler alert: it may not all be as old as you think!)
The buildings are beautiful and absolutely one-of-a-kind, and the extensive grounds (30 acres) provide wonderful opportunities for walks - or perhaps a game of tennis or, even, croquet!
Standing by the sign in the photo below, I could hear the sound of the waves rolling onto the stones on the beach.
So I followed the arrow and can tell you that the beach is literally a 3-minute walk away. It would be a great place for your dog to have a run and splash in the water - did I mention that the hotel is dog-friendly? Unbelievably, it is!
Of course, I was visiting to see for myself what an amazing wedding venue it is, and it really is breathtaking. As an independent Celebrant, my ceremonies are not restricted to particular rooms, so not only could you choose the medieval-styled rooms in the main building, but you could choose to have an outdoor ceremony anywhere in the grounds, or even the charming 13th century chapel.
The hotel is available to be booked with exclusive use for your wedding, so with 39 bedrooms on site, this could be the perfect choice for anyone with family or friends who will be travelling to join you on your big day. (There is even a helipad for those who may be coming from further afield, or for anyone who'd like to really arrive in style!)
You would then have the hotel and grounds all to yourselves, so if you wanted to use a marquee (ooh, another potential location for your ceremony!) or decorate the rooms/grounds to suit your vision for your ideal wedding day, you absolutely could!
Another unexpected feature is an amazing spa, which is housed in a Sussex barn-style building, and which includes a heated outdoor pool. I can just imagine the bridal party having a wonderful time being pampered and spoiled here on the day before the wedding!
If it sounds as if I was a little swept away by this hotel, then I must confess that I was. It has everything you could wish for in a luxury wedding venue - plus, plus, plus! It is gorgeous at any time of year, and would be an amazing setting for a truly unique celebration.
Climping, West Sussex