Eastington Park Wedding Venue Guide

There’s just something about Eastington Park weddings that hit different. I’ve shot several weddings at this gorgeous Cotswolds wedding venue now, and I’ve never gotten tired of it. It’s one of those rare venues where the interiors are just as stunning as the gardens and I am so in love with it.

Maybe it’s the golden light you get before it sinks beneath the trees, the stunning pergola for outdoor ceremonies, or the dreamy Cotswolds stone exteriors. It’s one of my favourite places to photograph weddings.

As a Cotswolds wedding photographer, I’ve got some insider tips to help you plan a day that’s as fun, relaxed, and unforgettable as it should be.

About Eastington Park

Eastington Park has the perfect manor house feel. It has gorgeous traditional features (like the staircase), without looking dated or too moody. The space inside is super bright and open with neutral interiors which work so nicely for whatever wedding flowers and styling you choose. This wedding venue is also super easy to get to, you’re literally 10 minutes off the motorway so you can get that classic Cotswolds manor vibe but not be super in the middle of nowhere – and there’s loads of parking. Which isn’t always the case for venues in the heart of tourist areas.

The gardens are so beautiful, especially in the summer. With gorgeous cream parasols over the terrace it’s a beautiful place for cocktail hour and there’s loads of green space for you and your guests to spread out. There’s a sunken ceremony area which gives you that intimate feel and sections it off from the rest of the grounds, and you can get a stunning golden hour photos nearby also. I love using the huge mature trees at Eastington Park for framing photos.

Eastington Park Ceremony and Reception Spaces

One of the main reasons why I love photographing Eastington Park is because of the options given to couples getting married there. The reception space, the Ballroom, doubles as a gorgeous ceremony area. Every space has it’s own vibe but they’re all really versatile rooms so you can use them as you see fit.

Here’s a peek of some of my favourite spaces around the wedding venue and why I love them.

The Preparation area

This part of Eastington Park is just *chef’s kiss* – the first time I saw it I did a little happy dance because I have never (in 5 years of photographing weddings) seen this done and it’s a brilliant idea! So when you go to the main prep suite, there are TWO rooms. One is a smaller space with a dressing area for you to get ready, and for all the wedding stuff (hair, makeup, clothing) to be dumped in. BUT there is also a second area, connected with the dressing space by a little corridor – and it is BEAUTIFUL. Chaise lounge – check. Gorgeous four poster bed – check. LOADS of natural light – check. Neutral interiors so it looks classic but not dated – check.

This is perfect because you have a space to get ready in and leave all the stuff, and a second space you can keep clear just for those final photos, reveals and bridal portraits at the end. No stressing about clearing up to avoid background noise. You have two perfectly curated spaces to ensure you get the best wedding prep photos.

The Pergola

This outdoor ceremony space is a MUST if you have the weather. It’s such a gorgeous space, the way it looks with all the chairs lined up around it is stunning. You walk along the garden path from the house down to the ceremony space and they have music set up so you can have your aisle music play outside.

The pergola entrance can be decorated with your florals to tie it into your colour scheme and being in natural daylight – you couldn’t ask for better light for photos. Being outdoors also means I can easily move around without blocking your guests view or being trapped in a corner.

Once you’re married, we can do your confetti on the lawn as you walk out and head straight into family formals so everything flows so effortlessly.

The Ballroom

Speeches can be stressful, tables are super close together so there’s no room to move around. There’s loads of garish orange lighting and often, they can be a bit dark and gloomy. Doesn’t really give off the right vibe. Not here. The ballroom is a bright, open space with cream walls and panelling so you get that gorgeous character to the room but it feels really fresh and welcoming. You want to be in here. The windows along the side also look over the garden, so if you guests fancy a go on the outdoor swing – you can all see!

The top table, placed in the window. can be a little backlit but if you can stand to the side when giving your speech so you’re facing the windows to the right of the space = the light is perfect and so flattering for photos. I’ve had monochrome weddings here and bright colour – both look stunning in this backdrop.

Why do I love photographing weddings at Eastington Park?

This whole wedding venue is a dream to photograph. The venue is huge, there’s loads of space for guests to spread out and enjoy the day, there’s options to choose from when it comes to ceremony space and more importantly, from a photos perspective – this place is filled with natural light in nearly every room. This means your images are bright and clear, your colour scheme takes centre stage, and there’s no horrible colour cast on skin tones from strong coloured walls.

You’ve also got lots of grounds to walk around for portraits, mature trees which look stunning in the background and you have a gorgeous backdrop in the house itself too.

What type of couple should consider getting married at Eastington Park?

If you want a relaxed, elegant wedding which looks timeless and sits within the mid-tier wedding budget. This would be it.

Eastington Park has that luxe vibe with the period features and gorgeous grounds and it’s perfect for couples who want a garden party style wedding. This wedding venue is at it’s best on a warm day where guests can play lawn games outside and sip cocktails on the terrace. The staff here are pretty chill and they keep things moving until your wedding breakfast.

The food is also delish – and as a former food reviewer, you know I’m going to tell you straight!

Any insider tips for Eastington Park?

Firstly, you want to plan golden hour portraits a little earlier than you usually would. This is because with the high tree line the disappears behind the trees about 30-60 minutes before sunset is clocked. This just means we need to nip out a bit earlier to get those golden photos but they look best in the gardens so it’s worth the earlier time – trust me.

Secondly, make sure you allow time for formal bridal portraits before your ceremony. In the main prep room, we can do any emotional letter reads, reveals, and final get-ready photos before you head down the aisle. They key thing is to allow more time for these moments than you think you’ll need so you can really get into the feels and not worry about the registrar knocking on the door mid dress reveal photo (it can happen)!

Eastington Park wedding cost

Couples can expect to spend between £4,450 – £9,450 for a wedding at Eastington Park lodge in the Spring to Summer months. If you are willing to have a off-peak wedding and go for a Monday wedding in Jan/Feb – you can hire it for just under £3K! This hire price includes:

• Exclusive hire of wedding venue
• Honeymoon suite use on night of wedding
• Stay at lodge the night before your wedding
• Lawn games, cake stand, post-box, table plan easel
  

There is also the option to hire accommodation on site if you’d like to. Eastington Park can host up to 72 people overnight, so you can have everyone under one roof the night of your wedding if you’d like to. Double rooms are £135, and family rooms £165.

Catering isn’t included in the price of hire for the venue, so for a two course meal you’d be looking at £49 per person, and an additional £10 per person for canapes.

Eastington Park Venue – at a glance

Are you looking at Cotswolds wedding venues? Here’s what you need to know about getting married at Eastington Park in Gloucestershire.

• Location: Eastington, Gloucestershire
• Address: Eastington Park, Gloucestershire, GL10 3RY
• Phone: +44 (0)1453 827926
• Website: Eastington Park
• Capacity: 118 day guests
• Venue spaces: Pergola, Ballroom, Honeymoon Suite, the Lodge
• In house catering: Yes

Chloe & Alex’s Eastington Park – Wedding Suppliers

Cotswolds Wedding Photographer: Grace Dove Photography
Video: Alistair Kings
Wedding Venue: Eastington Park
Florist: Rebecca Hobbs
Make up: Phoebe Williams
Hair: Lara Stokes
DJ: Stick it on
Musician: Alex Norman