One of the most special days of your life deserves to take place in the most beautiful setting. This is a place you’ll remember forever, and so it’s unsurprising that choosing the right location is fundamental to any couple’s wedding plan.
The glorious New Forest is one such place, hugely popular with couples looking for the perfect place to say, ‘I do…’, due to its ancient woodlands and idyllic open heathland steeped in romantic history and natural beauty.
The vibrant and historic market town of Lymington sits right on the edge of the New Forest, and offers an incredible mix of coastal and woodland experiences for you and your guests to enjoy.
There are good New Forest transport links via rail, road and even sea here, with the Lymington ferry sailing regularly to and from Yarmouth, meaning you and your guests arrive stress-free and relaxed, set up from the very start to enjoy every moment of your wedding celebrations.
Grand and glorious
Bartley Lodge
Grand amidst its glorious natural surroundings, Bartley Lodge is a Grade II listed country house hotel, and a 25-minute drive along the A337 from Lymington. Approaching along its woodland drive, there’s a real sense of elegance, personality and charm.
Like all the hotels within the Collection, this very special venue can be versatile, so you might say ‘I do…’ in the exquisite Crystal Room, or prefer your ceremony outdoors within the gorgeous walled garden, with its rustic wooden arch and ancient oak tree a perfect backdrop to your wedding day photographs.
You can invite up to 80 guests to toast your nuptials on the gorgeous stone terrace, and to share your wedding feast in the 18th century Baronial Hall, complete with oak panelling and twinkling chandeliers. Open the doors to up to 150 friends and family in the evening, to dance and enjoy a private bar.
And if you and your party choose to stay overnight? Each room here is individually and thoughtfully designed, oozing style and sumptuousness. The Charles Lyell Suite is truly magnificent, with four-poster, chandelier, incredible views and every deluxe detail to delight the happiest of couples.
Another gorgeous venue set off perfectly by the natural beauty of its surroundings is Beaulieu Inn. Located just outside the ancient village of Beaulieu itself, it’s just a 20 minutes drive away from Lymington starting out on the B3056. This former coaching inn is a real home from home, full of character, unique charm and delightful touches.
The largest of all the venues at New Forest Collection, Beaulieu boasts a range of generous and versatile spaces. After your ceremony, your guest list of up to 120 can expand to accommodate up to 250 of your family and friends, enjoying the celebrations in the sumptuous Beaulieu Suite. The Ipley or Exbury rooms are more intimate settings, comfortably hosting up to 80 guests, with access to the beautiful gardens.
Relaxing within this indulgently comfortable space, you and your guests will be sure to sleep well within the delightfully quirky, cosy bedrooms and Beaulieu’s superbly appointed suites.
This magnificent 800-year-old estate is a very special venue indeed. Set within breathtaking surroundings, Burley Manor has always been a place of comfort, inspiration and luxury, and at only 30 minutes away along the A337, no wonder it’s a favourite with couples seeking the perfect wedding venue near Lymington.
Burley is also the place to choose if you’re looking for a stunning wedding barn venue in the New Forest. Its gorgeous original barn is an enchanting space for ceremony and celebration, with floor-to-ceiling traditional brick chimneys, vast exposed beams and beautiful evergreen flower displays. Outside, the impressive deer park is a spectacular backdrop for your photographs.
The barn has a light and spacious feel, with roaring log fires creating a deliciously warm and welcoming atmosphere in colder months, and is able to accommodate up to 80 guests for a seated meal.
Afterwards, as evening falls and fairy lights begin to twinkle against the night sky, you’re able to welcome up to 120 guests as the space is transformed for your evening festivities.
Burley is a delight, both outside and in, where its heritage charm is further enhanced with a contemporary boutique feel. Every room is individually designed, and the spacious Burley Suites also enjoy their own private balcony to really make the most of those incredible views.
The opulent and fully accessible Garden Suite is a luxurious space, and you and your guests are bound to want to make the most of the indulgent spa facilities at Burley too, with signature treatments a speciality, and a must for every bride-to-be.
If you’re looking for a more contemporary space for your special day, whilst still feeling the heart of the New Forest, the sophisticated Georgian townhouse Forest Lodge, near Lyndhurst, is the perfect location. It’s close to Lymington too, at only 20 minutes’ drive along the A337.
With its stylish boutique feel and access to a gorgeous courtyard garden, perfect for photographs, Forest Lodge can accommodate up to 80 guests to witness your ceremony, and up to 150 of your guests to celebrate with you within the elegant Forest Suite. Here, in a space enchantingly lit with twinkling chandeliers, you can raise a glass of champagne and enjoy the delicious and award-winning food that Forest Lodge is known for.
Because it’s not only the venues and locations themselves, but the food served within every one of New Forest Collection’s wedding venues that deserves special mention. Always locally sourced, seasonal and lovingly prepared, and never more so than for your wedding feast, every plate is thoughtfully designed according to your wishes.
Think light and lavish wedding breakfasts, delectable New Forest afternoon teas, and of course, the wedding feast itself. Whether you go bespoke, Mediterranean-inspired, or opt for the New Forest Hog Roast or BBQ, you’ll know that this secret ingredient will be yet another exceptional element of your magical New Forest wedding experience.
Lymington itself also adds a magic of its own, and staying near Lymington with time to explore, you and your guests might visit the impressive Iron Age settlement at nearby Buckland Rings, the bustling Saturday market, or even take a Summer dip in its famous Sea Water Baths.
We know that if you’re thinking of tying the knot in this incredible location you’ll want only the very best. The New Forest Collection offers a range of spectacular wedding venues near Lymington, each with its own unique charms and perfect for this most precious of times. Plus, with their dedicated teams on board, passionate about bringing your New Forest wedding visions to life, you can rest assured that whatever your heart desires, those dreams really can come true.
