Planning a wedding is one of life’s most exciting milestones, yet those first steps can sometimes feel a little overwhelming – full of possibility and yet hard to know where to begin. From discovering the perfect setting to gathering a trusted circle of suppliers, each decision shapes the celebration that will follow.
At Unique Homestays, our venue owners have spent years at the heart of some of Britain’s most remarkable wedding celebrations, gathering insights into what truly makes the day unforgettable. Through years of experience, they’ve gathered invaluable insights into what truly makes a wedding day unforgettable.
Here, they share their advice on choosing a venue that truly resonates, navigating the practical details, collaborating with talented suppliers, and creating a celebration that feels entirely your own.
The Lost Music Hall, Devon: Jennie
In a secluded South Hams valley on the historic Great Ambrook estate, The Lost Music Hall sets the stage for Champagne-filled revelry and dancing until midnight in its underground cellar club. This bohemian country manor in the heart of South Devon is designed for modern romantics.
Finding your venue
“Go with your heart,” Jennie advises. “There’s always a way to figure out the logistics.” She encourages couples to explore options that might not typically host wedding celebrations. With the right suppliers and planning, she says, anywhere can become extraordinary.
Above all, her advice is to choose a venue where you feel supported. “Go with where you feel understood and cared for. Somewhere that ‘gets’ your vision for your celebration,” she says.
Choosing suppliers
Selecting trusted suppliers is key to creating a relaxed and enjoyable wedding day. “A safe pair of hands is worth everything in terms of a relaxed day for you,” she says. It “doesn’t have to be daunting. There are many brilliant people and suppliers available who will bring everything together for you and it’s not as much work as you might imagine.”
She recommends getting “all the practical information to your suppliers well in advance. Your suppliers can check access and any practical logistics with the venue.”
Planning and logistics
Jennie advises appointing someone to run the celebration for you, whether that’s a wedding planner, coordinator, or trusted friend or family member. “Delegate everything you possibly can. And then delegate some more!” she says. “You can then relax and enjoy your celebrations and your guests.”
She also encourages couples to keep their plans realistic and focus on enjoying the experience. “Don’t do too much. Keep the celebrations achievable, find good people to help you with that, and keep the emphasis on enjoying your day.”
Ceremony logistics, particularly when working with registrars, are also important to plan carefully. “If a registrar is officiating for your ceremony, then make sure that they have the address and full directions,” she advises. Jennie also recommends having someone responsible for assisting them when they arrive, from finding a parking spot to giving them a printed order of service and getting them set up with a microphone.
Styling the celebration
When it comes to styling, Jennie recommends working with the natural character of the venue. “Go with the vibe of the venue and the season. Then everything will blend together. If it helps, ask to see pictures of how other couples have styled the venue and the grounds. Avoid spending too much time looking at flashy weddings on Instagram. And avoid the pressure to feel you have to have all the traditional elements of a wedding celebration.”
Scarlet Hall, Cheshire: Gail & Chris
Enveloped by 12 acres of private estate in Cheshire, Scarlet Hall offers a verdant and historic wedding setting. From moonlit speeches amongst the apple trees to dancing beneath timber beams, this country house venue creates a romantic backdrop for celebrations in every season.
Finding your venue
Gail and Chris encourage couples to begin their planning by focusing on what is most meaningful to them. “Choose a venue that provides what is important to you, that might be a blank canvas where you can unleash your creativity, enabling you to create a personal celebration,” they say. They also advise that “a dry hire venue is great as it gives you the choice of spending money on what’s important to you and saving in areas that aren’t as important.”
Extending the celebration
Rather than compressing everything into a single day, Gail and Chris recommend spreading celebrations across a weekend. “A full day can feel rushed. Having time for a relaxed meal with family beforehand, lawn games, barbecues and a post-wedding gathering allows you to truly enjoy the experience,” they explain.
Leaning on experience
“A recommended wedding planner to run your day from beginning to the end will make your celebrations feel effortless and relaxed for both you and your guests. A great planner coupled with recommended suppliers from a venue will create a stress-free day and translate your vision into reality. It also makes the planning process so much easier,” they say.
Anthology Farm, The Cotswolds: Jo
Anthology Farm is surrounded by 500 acres of picturesque farmland near the Regency spa town of Cheltenham. Whether celebrations unfold against a backdrop of rolling hills and open skies or within its sleek wedding barn, this historic Cotswolds venue provides an idyllic setting for a sophisticated countryside wedding.
Creating a vision
After securing the venue, Jo encourages couples to focus on making the day a true reflection of themselves. “How will the day tell your story and reflect your style? I love seeing weddings come together after months of planning and you can see from the colours, the music, the type of food, the tablescapes and stationery that the couple have chosen, that the wedding is unmistakably them.”
“Personalising your wedding doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself if you’re not particularly creative,” she adds, “there are so many amazing local suppliers out there that can help you personalise your day and make it unique.”
A wedding planner can also be invaluable. “Book a wedding planner, such as Lucy Ann Events. Her expertise will help in the run-up to the day and she’ll look after you on the day, ensuring everything runs smoothly, liaising with all the suppliers so you can relax and enjoy the day,” she says.
Choosing suppliers
Jo recommends working with local suppliers who understand the setting and can enhance the experience. “I love working with Wren and May Florists, they try to use locally grown flowers as much as possible – seasonal and sustainable,” she says.
She adds that Anthology Farm lends itself well to weekend and multi-day celebrations too, so it’s good to bear this in mind when choosing caterers. “Choose a caterer such as Provenance Catering who can look after you for the whole weekend. Casual Friday night drinks and snacks to welcome guests to get to know each other before the big day, Saturday brunch before the wedding, the wedding breakfast and evening food, and a relaxing Sunday barbecue.”
Photography and videography
When planning photography and film, Jo encourages couples to think beyond the obvious. “Choose a photographer that’ll think outside the box, who will still be able to create beautiful photos even if it’s raining.”
She recommends Isobel Murphy, whose “attention to detail is second to none,” and Helen Rose, whose “style is inspired by nature – a perfect fit for Anthology Farm couples.”
She also believes videography is often underestimated. “I think the moving image is so powerful, it can literally transport you back to that moment. Dan Dolan Films is so talented and creates the most beautiful films,” she says.
Styling the celebration
The neutral palette of Anthology Farm’s barns lends itself beautifully to countryside weddings, but that doesn’t necessarily mean rustic. “Luxury linens, natural and organic greenery, beautiful tableware and glasses, tapered candles look stunning against the beautiful valley backdrop.”
Florin, Ceredigion: Meirion
Set on the West Wales Heritage Coast in five acres of enchanting gardens, weddings at Florin unfold beneath wide skies and wild blooms. From intimate elopements within the castle-like manor to larger garden celebrations, this Ceredigion home offers a setting that feels both magical and deeply personal.
Visiting the venue
For owner Meirion, one of the most special and important parts of planning the weddings is visiting the venue. Couples often arrive with practical questions in mind – guest numbers, facilities and weather preparations. Whilst these questions are important, as the viewing unfolds they begin to picture the celebration coming to life.
“As a venue, one comes to realise that these viewings are not simply appointments in a diary. They are the very first chapter in a couple’s wedding story,” he says. “They’ve seen the wonderful photographs on the Unique Homestays website and they’ve shared links with family but now it is reality and they start to imagine and start talking about table settings, flowers and guest lists.”
“The mansion becomes more than a building; it becomes the backdrop to their vows, their laughter, their first dance. You can almost see it happening in their eyes – the ceremony unfolding, the music playing, the room filled with the people they love most.” Once couples get a sense of the space they can envision where people can gather for drinks and photographs.
Outdoors, once they take in the stone archway, weeping willow tree and garden cabin, “they are picturing guests mingling with champagne in hand. They stand in open spaces and quietly imagine exchanging vows under the sky.”
Being there “allows couples to breathe, to feel, to envision not just the event itself, but the emotion of the day – the joy, the tears, the celebration.”
Feeling inspired? Read about Wedding trends for 2026 or browse our full collection of exclusive-use wedding venues.
