Your Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wedding - February /March 2021 (Issue 87)

Created by celebrated chef Raymond Blanc, this country house is renowned as one of Britain’s finest gastronomic and hotel experiences where Oxfordshire heritage meets French flair. Tucked away in the picturesque countryside, this 15 th -century manor sets the standard for haute cuisine in the two Michelin-starred restaurant. The menu celebrates 90 different herbs and vegetables from the two-acre kitchen garden and each dish is paired with wines from the extensive cellar. The lush gardens are an abundance of colour in summer and a walk around the seven pretty gardens leads to fragrant orchards and a mushroom valley. The individually designed suites echo owner Raymond’s travels, from the Far East to the Mediterranean. They reveal freestanding Victorian tubs, gold-leaf furniture and hand-painted ocean murals. From 15 to 50 guests (when restrictions lift), Provençal-style celebrations take place in the private dining room and there’s also a conservatory enjoying a private entrance and outdoor space. Micro wedding receptions can be held outside adjacent to the conservatory and blessings can be enjoyed in the picture-perfect gardens. This Grade II listed, 17 th -century English country house is home to elegant reception rooms furnished in Edwardian splendour, with historic portraits and works of art and impressive wood-panelled dining rooms. It offers flexible spaces to suit wedding parties of any size, and 56 individually styled, en-suite guest bedrooms. The house is decorated with climbing plants and ornamental turrets overlooking a large manicured lawn and boasts a red-brick Georgian frontage. Next to the main lodge sits the seven-bedroom Groom’s House built in the Georgian style and set in its private garden, along with the adjoining mews that’s home to a clocktower, which was once the Royal stables. The house is nestled in the heart of Windsor Great Park, a short walk from the top of Long Walk that leads to Windsor Castle. The gardens feature vibrant floral borders, impressive old trees and sweeping views over historic parkland, fields and vineyards. Its woodland trails and tree-lined avenues make a perfect backdrop for wedding photos, as do its iconic Tapestry Hall doors. Ceremonies take place in churches and other licensed wedding venues in and around Windsor. A popular choice is for couples to travel into Windsor Great Park and arrive at Cumberland Lodge by horse and carriage. Our historic reception rooms offer flexible spaces to cater for celebrations of any size. Our two main dining rooms, with their large windows and impressive fireplaces, can open into one larger room to accommodate up to 90 guests for a wedding breakfast or after-dinner dance when restrictions are lifted. Guests retire to the Tapestry Hall, Drawing Room and Sitting Room, and often out into the grounds during the warmer months. A light supper is included in the standard wedding packages. For smaller weddings, the venue can seat up to 16 guests in the elegant Princess Helena Drawing Room, which looks out on to landscaped gardens with expansive views of the Great Park beyond. Ceremony licence? No Contact: 01784 432 316, www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/venue-hire www.instagram.com/cumberlandlodge BELMOND LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS, OXFORD ❤ We love... the Belmond Gift Card for a day at the cookery school, a two Michelin-starred dinner or an indulgent overnight stay – a great way to thank loved ones who have helped with wedding planning. ❤ We love... the stunning sunsets over the Great Park. Turn to page 67 to read more. CUMBERLAND LODGE, WINDSOR, BERKSHIRE Ceremony licence? Yes Contact: 01844 278 881, www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/ uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons www.instagram.com/belmondlemanoir THEMED VENUES 21