Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies at Froyle Park

The gardens have an Italianate character, with giant hydrangeas, parterre hedging, ancient olive trees, tumbling fountains, acanthus planters and pleached parasol trees. Beyond the Dome are views across the Hampshire countryside and neighbouring farmland, where guests will often see cows, ponies and sheep in the surrounding fields.

The bride’s approach

The bride’s approach is one of the most dramatic parts of an outdoor ceremony. As she walks towards the Dome, the Jacobean Manor House forms the backdrop behind her, naturally framing the entrance and photographs.

The Dome itself can accommodate up to 240 guests, making it suitable for both intimate ceremonies and much larger weddings.

Over the years the Dome has been styled in hundreds of different ways. We have seen elaborate floristry, draping and highly decorated ceremonial structures, as well as much simpler designs that allow the gardens and Manor House to provide most of the backdrop. It has hosted an extraordinary range of ceremonies, including Jewish chuppah ceremonies, Hindu mandap ceremonies, African white weddings and traditional ceremonies, Nikah ceremonies, British civil ceremonies and celebrant-led weddings.

Legal civil ceremonies and celebrant-led weddings

Couples wishing to become legally married at Froyle can book a civil ceremony with the registrars — the Dome is licensed for legal outdoor ceremonies. As this is a legal ceremony, there are certain requirements around its structure and wording, although couples retain some scope for personalisation.

For couples wanting complete freedom over their ceremony, a celebrant-led ceremony allows the content to be created around their personalities, story, family and culture. We can recommend celebrants to couples who would like this approach.

Plan B that isn’t a compromise

We normally make the final outdoor-versus-indoor decision once the weather forecast becomes stable and reliable, often on the morning of the wedding. If showers are forecast or conditions remain uncertain, we recommend moving indoors.

The Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 300 guests, the Great Hall up to 130 and the Drawing Room up to 60, so the wet-weather option does not need to feel like a compromise. Floristry intended for the Dome can often be repurposed indoors too – for example, arrangements can be used to decorate the Great Hall fireplace.

For us, the best outdoor wedding plan is one where the couple loves both Plan A and Plan B. At Froyle, both can feel like a wedding ceremony in their own right. Explore our wedding packages for capacities, spaces and options.