Rolling countryside, honey-coloured stone, beautiful gardens and some of the loveliest country houses in England. With these surroundings, it isn’t difficult to see why the Cotswolds is such a popular place to get married, especially for couples looking to escape the city.
Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxed barn wedding, a quintessentially English country house or a weekend-long celebration with all of your favourite people, there are some spectacular Cotswolds wedding venues to choose from.
And, of course, beautiful surroundings deserve the right soundtrack. From a string quartet playing as you walk down the aisle to a roaming band getting everyone ready for the evening, live music can completely transform the atmosphere of a wedding.
Manor by the Lake
On the edge of Cheltenham, Manor by the Lake is a beautiful Victorian manor house surrounded by seven acres of grounds and gardens. Weddings have exclusive use of the venue, with a choice of indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, including the Italianate gardens and the impressive Manor Arches.
With the house, lake and gardens all providing different backdrops throughout the day, there is plenty of scope to change the feel of your music too. Think a harpist or string duo for the ceremony, relaxed live music such as a jazz trio or acoustic singer as everyone heads outside for drinks and a party band once the evening celebrations begin.
Stone Barn
For couples looking for the rustic side of a Cotswolds wedding, Stone Barn is a gorgeous choice. Surrounded by the Gloucestershire countryside, its traditional stone buildings, exposed beams and rural setting create a wedding that feels relaxed while still being incredibly special.
It’s exactly the sort of setting where live music can become part of the atmosphere of the day rather than simply entertainment. Acoustic singers, strings and contemporary instrumentalists can work beautifully during the ceremony and drinks reception, before a band takes over for the evening.
Blackwell Grange
Close to Shipston-on-Stour and Warwick, Blackwell Grange combines the character of a historic Cotswolds estate with beautifully designed contemporary spaces.
The 16th-century Thatch Barn is a particularly lovely place to hold your ceremony, complete with original oak beams and an open fire. Better still from our perspective, the barn has natural acoustics designed to work beautifully with live music. Celebrations then move into the light-filled Orchard Barn, which can accommodate up to 150 guests for dinner and 200 for an evening party.
We can imagine strings or a pianist filling the Thatch Barn as guests arrive, followed by something much more energetic when everyone reaches the dance floor later that evening. Space is slightly limited in the Orchard Barn so we would suggest a DJ or a DJ Live act to get the party started.
Elmore Court
If you want your Cotswolds wedding to feel like one big house party, Elmore Court is a wonderful option. This historic Gloucestershire estate is exclusively yours for your celebration, with ceremonies possible in the Great Hall, outdoors in the grounds or at the nearby historic church.
Then there is The Gillyflower: Elmore’s sustainably built, soundproofed party space created for dinner, dancing and live music. It means you can move from the grandeur of the house and gardens during the day into a space made for a proper party in the evening.
For us, that makes Elmore Court particularly exciting musically. You can create something elegant and understated earlier in the day before completely changing the energy with a fantastic live band after dinner.
Euridge Manor
If your Pinterest board is filled with romantic English gardens, Euridge Manor might be the Cotswolds wedding venue for you.
Set within a private estate in the Wiltshire countryside, Euridge Manor hosts a limited number of exclusive-use weddings each year. There are six licensed ceremony locations across the estate, giving couples the opportunity to make the most of its extraordinary indoor and outdoor settings.
Euridge lends itself beautifully to a wedding where every detail feels considered. Live strings or a harp can add to the romance of an outdoor ceremony, while a contemporary duo or roaming musicians can bring a completely different feel to drinks and celebrations later in the day.
Choosing Music for Your Cotswolds Wedding
You might begin with a classical string quartet for your ceremony, introduce a contemporary acoustic act over drinks and then surprise your guests with a brilliant party band in the evening. Alternatively, one carefully chosen act can help create a consistent atmosphere throughout your celebration.
At Wislocki Music, we work with exceptional musicians and performers for weddings across the Cotswolds and throughout the UK. Whether you already know exactly what you want or need a little help finding the right music for your venue and your plans, get in touch with the Wislocki Music team and we can help create the soundtrack to your day.