What are the top wedding venues in West Sussex? Seeing as how I recently published a blog post with the top 15 wedding venues in Brighton and Hove, I thought I’d write up another list of the best venues that are a bit further afield – and to start, I went west (Like Fievel, the little mouse of my childhood)!
Finding the best wedding venue in West Sussex for your wedding day can feel so challenging. Not only do you have to think about the vibe of the day, but also how many guests you’ll have. Too many people in a small space will feel cramped, and too few in a big space will feel awkward and cold. I always think finding the venue is the most stressful part of wedding planning, so I hope this list helps point you in the right direction.
My only real advice from a photographer’s perspective is to look for a space with lots of natural light so you don’t get horrible circles under your eyes from bad lighting. Big windows, coupled with light coloured walls (they bounce and help even out light), really help ensure you have lots of lovely pictures and from different angles.
Top 27 wedding venues in West Sussex
Starting with Haywards Heath and moving down along the cost to Chichester and over to Midhurst, here are my favourite wedding venues in West Sussex.
Wedding venues in Haywards Heath
Balcombe Place near Haywards Heath
Here’s a fun little odd fact about me: I love wood finishings. Beautiful wood details make me so stinking giddy. So it’s no wonder a Balcombe Place is on this list! This is another new venue that just recently completed its renovations – and I must say they did a truly amazing job! The venue also has a really incredible marble fireplace and beautiful grounds. There are several rooms in the venue, with the largest able to hold 120 seated guests.
Slaugham Place in Haywards Heath
Slaugham Place wedding venue has one of the prettiest gardens you’ll ever set your eyes. This venue is perfect if you’re looking for a marquee wedding with ruins as the backdrop for your ceremony.
Wakehurst in Haywards Heath
Wakehurst is an impressive 16th century mansion with incredible views and a beautiful pond. This grand mansion has some of the most stunning rooms you’ll ever see. The wedding venue holds up to 80 seated guests for the wedding breakfast and has a licence for ceremonies. There is the option for a marquee, which holds up to 130 guests.
Nymans near Haywards Heath
There is something really beautiful about ruins and the way nature transforms a manmade structure over time. The ruins and gardens at Nymans make for the perfect ceremony location – and within 10 minutes Balcombe Place, you’re truly set for a perfect day.
Wildflower Wood near Haywards Heath
If you love a tipi wedding, Wildflower Wood comes packed with everything you need to make for an epic woodland wedding – fire pits, chairs, tables, toilets and power included (to name a few of the essentials). Their tipi can accommodate up to 120 guests and to be honest, they make a glamping wedding feel truly effortless.
Wedding Venues in Horsham
Brookfield Barn in Horsham
I’ve had the pleasure of being the Brookfield Barn photographer for two weddings, with another set for the summer of 2020! This place books up well in advance and is on the outskirts of Horsham – it is about halfway between Horsham and Haywards Heath. If you want a barn wedding with a gorgeous pond and outdoor ceremony location, it is the perfect wedding venue. Check out this recent wedding to get inspired.
Leonardslee Gardens in Horsham
Leonardslee Gardens was recently renovated in 2018 and the new wedding venue is truly breathtaking. The country estate has really beautiful gardens and several lakes, making this venue the complete package. It can hold 60 guests for the wedding breakfast in the house or up to 250 with the marquee.
Ridge Farm in Dorking
Ridge Farm is an incredible wedding venue with an amazing past. This 16th century farm house became famous in the 1970s as a recording studio, and has hosted the likes of Queen, Oasis, Superglass and Muse. Sleeping up to 24 people, the venue can be exclusively yours for 3 nights. With the prettiest grounds and buildings dotting the property as well as a tennis court and pool, this wedding venue would make for an incredible weekend wedding celebration. The pictures of the venue really don’t do it justice – so please do yourselves a favour and go have a proper look around!
Ghyll Manor in Horsham
Ghyll Manor is a 17th-century country house with incredible character and gorgeous oak beams. The real appeal of Ghyll Manor though is the gorgeous gardens – perfect for a variety of wedding photographs. The wedding venue can host up to 120 guests and has loads of potential for your big day.
Winston House in Steyning
Wiston House wedding venue dates back to the 16th century and is nestled in the South Downs National Park. Winston House wedding venue has 4 licensed spaces for ceremonies and the Great Hall is a really gorgeous space to hold your wedding breakfast. The Great Hall has truly massive ceilings and really, and I mean really, beautiful details.
Wedding venues in Hassocks
Wickwoods Country Club Hotel & Spa in Hassocks
For those looking for a more modern space, Wickwoods Country Club Hotel & Spa is a fabulous choice. The ceremony space is under an all glass ceiling with really lovely chandeliers – this can also be used for the wedding breakfast. My sister-in-law got married here a few years ago, and I can still remember the food. I feel like that says it all. But if it doesn’t, the grounds are also very picturesque.
Wedding venues in Worthing
Castle Goring in Worthing
Castle Goring has recently been renovated and opened as a wedding venue. It. Is. Stunning. I could literally stare at it all day – and thankfully I can with this virtual tour of the wedding venue. The Ceremony Hall is really breathtaking, with neutral whites and tall ceilings and can be used for the ceremony and/or wedding breakfast. There are several spaces you can utilise, and you can also use the lawns for a marquee.
Worthing Dome in Worthing
For those with a love of the sea, Worthing Dome is a really lovely setting for your wedding breakfast. Right in the heart of of Worthing, the venue looks out onto the sea. The wedding venue has large windows, a beautiful ceiling and an elegant, neutral palette. The venue can hold up to 190 guests.
Cissbury Barn near Worthing
Cissbury Barn is another wedding venue nestled in the South Downs and is just outside Worthing. This makes for really lovely photographs! The wedding venue can perform civil ceremonies and seat up to 120 guests for a wedding breakfast.
Wedding venues in Arundel
Amberley Castle in Arundel
Oh Amberly Castle, how you make my heart pitter patter. The grounds are beautiful, the castle is beautiful. Need I say more? Because honestly, as soon as I hear the word castle, I get really giddy. If you didn’t know already, I’m an American. Born and bred in the Midwest. I studied a lot of European history in uni but it wasn’t till I came to visit my husband’s family that I saw my first castle and I about died. I recently had the honour of photographing a wedding at Lewes Castle and I’m not even going to try and hide my desperation at wanting to do a wedding at Amberley. If you also have a serious love of castles and history, you can’t go wrong with this wedding venue.
Bignor Park in Pulborough
Bignor Park is about 15 minutes north of Arundel, and is such a dream wedding venue. With no extra charge to hold your civil ceremony, you’ll definitely want to spend all day here enjoying the gardens and gorgeous wedding venue. I love the open-sided marquee you can have erected in the courtyard as the brick walls with bits of greenery looks so amazing. Bignor Park hosts just 12 weddings a year, so this is well worth looking into early!
Wedding venues in Chichester
Chichester Cathedral in Chichester
Chichester Cathedral is right in the heart of Chichester but you’ll feel a world away in the stunning gardens. The wedding venue is really gorgeous with so many places for photographs. The Vicars’ Hall can seat up to 100 comfortably. Chichester Cathedral wedding venue can be seen on the blog by clicking here.
The Guildhall in Chichester
If ever there was a wedding ceremony venue I literally wanted to just go up to the walls and stroke, it would be The Guildhall in the heart of Chichester. It is so beautiful it hurts. This old Franciscan friary are what weddings are made of.
Goodwood House in Chichester
Goodwood House seriously has the most spectacular art decorating the walls and really beautiful furnishings. This venue is luxury at its finest. There are three rooms to choose from for your wedding breakfast, with the Ballroom holding up to 180 seated guests. The venue is also has a licence for civil ceremonies.
West Dean Gardens near Chichester
You really can’t be a wedding with well tended gardens, and West Dean Gardens‘ name says it all: GARDENS. The West Dean Gardens has a beautiful Victorian Greenhouse, sunken garden and an Edwardian Pergola that is to die for! If you want to celebrate your wedding in a marquee surrounded by beautiful gardens, this place is perfect.
Stansted House near Chichester
Stansted House is a really luxurious stately home in The Downs and just outside of Chichester on the border of Hampshire and West Sussex. Stansted has a private chapel for blessings and the lawns are perfect for a marquee wedding.
Southend Barns near Chichester
Southend Barns are perhaps the be all and end all of barn weddings. They have alpacas. They also have two beautiful spaces dedicated for ceremonies and the Threshing Barn lets in loads of natural light.
Upwaltham Barns near Chichester
Upwaltham Barns has scenic views of the rolling South Downs and is a lovely barn wedding venue with beautiful, natural light. If you’re looking for a barn wedding in the Chichester area, this one is a fab choice.
Farbridge near Chichester
If you haven’t noticed a general trend, Chichester has some of the loveliest barn wedding venues in all the land. Farbridge definitely ranks as one of the most beautiful. Seriously, go check them out and swoon with me. This is one of those venues that I’m completely smitten with.
Duncton Mill Fishery near Petworth
Duncton Mill Fishery wedding venue is the perfect spot for a waterside marquee wedding in West Sussex. This wedding venue gives you complete flexibility to create a wedding completely to your liking.
Wedding venues in Midhurst
Walled Garden at Cowdray in Midhurst
In Cowdray Park you’ll find the lovely Walled Garden wedding venue. It’s right next to the Cowdray Ruins! The Walled Garden has beautiful (and I really do mean beautiful) gardens. And if you weren’t already swooning, the function rooms have stunning Georgian stonework walls. The wedding venue can hold well over 100 guests.
Cowdray House in Midhurst
Not far from Walled Garden, you’ll find Cowdray House – it’s just a 5 minute drive down the road. This wedding venue is so incredibly stunning and if the grounds don’t make your jaw drop, Buck Hall and it’s magnificent fireplace will. The hall can accommodate 150 guests for a wedding breakfast.
Hopefully this list has you feeling one step closer to planning the most amazing wedding. You want the big day to be perfect, but here’s a little secret: no matter the venue or budget, your wedding can and will be epic. To help you make it memorable, check out my top tips guide blog post for all the best insights I have on making your wedding incredible.
If you’re still in need of inspiration on your hunt for the right wedding venue, check out my list of Brighton wedding venues and my top wedding venues in East Sussex.
