Roll out the red carpet at South Lodge, where you’ll be heartily welcomed by 93 acres of gentle West Sussex countryside. The undulating South Downs are the backdrop to this 19th century Victorian country house, where delicious food, stunning gardens and our sumptuous spa will make your wedding day complete.
The Wordsworth suite is ideal for those with a larger guest list. Natural light floods in from the windows on three sides of the room, with views of the garden and the South Downs beyond. This lower ground floor room has patio doors that open up onto the terrace outside, which makes it perfect for the summer. The ornate decorative ceiling and three round crystal chandeliers also add a touch of pomp and ceremony for your big day.
While your guests can file in through the impressive stone arch of the main door, you can make a grand entrance through secret wooden doors at the back. And there’s plenty of opportunity to make the room your own. Keep it traditional with wooden chairs, our signature red curtains and show off the elegant wood-panelled walls. Or add contemporary flare with flower walls, white curtains and a petal-strewn aisle.
Opens up onto a private terrace Stunning views of the South Downs
Our Glyndebourne suite is a warm and welcoming option for those looking for a smaller ceremony – but there’s still plenty of room for a long aisle if you want to make an entrance. Located on the first floor, it has windows on two sides of the room, which flood the space with natural light.
Exquisite traditional details provide lots of character – there are exposed wooden beams, glistening chandeliers, ornamental engravings on the ceiling and even a tapestry at the back of the room. Making exchanging rings that bit more special.
Charming traditional features Light-filled cosy room
“ When we first arrived at South Lodge we fell in love with the stunning venue. When we were shown around the hotel, we were blown away by the amazing grounds that South Lodge has. Even in the pouring rain, we knew that this venue would be perfect for our wedding. Not only was the venue amazing but the staff were also so friendly and helpful. We cannot speak highly enough of the staff at South Lodge. We truly felt like we were treated like royalty! ”
- Mr and Mrs Rutledge
Available from April to September Enchanting canopy as the centrepiece Surrounded by pretty lawns and flowers
The intricate white canopy of our outdoor pavilion makes weddings look simply magical. To add to the occasion, we can put down a red carpet and white lawn chairs, as well as decorate the area with an archway of your favourite flowers, giant vases of blossoms or fairy lights.
Not only that, but the setting is spectacular, with our majestic 19th century building and the surrounding fields, trees and a fountain as the backdrop. Being outdoors means that you can take in the sounds of bird song and the breeze through the trees. And if the weather’s unpredictable? Don’t worry because we can set up both indoor and outdoor options so you can make a call on the day.
The Gladstone suite echoes the traditional design of South Lodge with its grand stone walls, crystal chandeliers overhead and views of the lawns, box hedges and ponds below. With a high ceiling and windows on three sides of the room, the suite gets filled with flattering natural light.
We can design the space to suit your style. It can be simple and delicate, with small round tables and Chiavari chairs, or turned into a white wonderland adorned with soft drapes and fairy lights. This is your chance to make the space reflect you and your dream wedding, from speeches, to cake cutting, to dancing until midnight.
Scenic views of our gardens and beyond Intricate historical design details
The Disraeli suite creates a lovely, inviting atmosphere for an intimate wedding. Light shines in through the large windows and onto the majestic stone walls, and the doors open out onto a private terrace so you and your party can take in the fresh air. There are beautiful views onto the gardens and we can set up awnings to offer some shade when it’s hot. There’s also our grand stone staircase outside, which makes for a great photo op.
Inside, you can choose from different dining arrangements, such as one long banqueting table or several round ones, each decorated in fresh linen, flowers and candles. The candelabra on the walls add a nice sense of occasion, lighting up the room and its wood-panelled walls. It’s all about those special touches for your big day.
Space for 10 to 50 guests
Views over the South Downs
Your own private terrace
Our rolling lawns, 19th century stone and breath-taking views of the South Downs are just the start. If you can steal away from the party, take a few moments to walk past the waterfall, sit together in our swinging seat or stand in the long grass as the sun sets. It’s sure to be a day you’ll remember forever.
Our friendly team of chefs have decades of experience behind them, and can chop, slice and bake your dream wedding breakfast into reality. Whether you want a Mediterranean feast, silver service or relaxed sharing dishes, we can make it happen. We blend the best of seasonal food with five-star service to provide award-winning dining.
And as for the toast, raise a glass with your favourite tipple. From non-alcoholic cocktails and English sparkling wine to fruit juices for the little ones, you can rest assured that everyone will be catered for.
Every happy couple deserves the lap of luxury on their wedding night and we know just how to turn things up a notch – with your very own hot tub. There’s nothing quite like seeing in your married life with a glass of fizz and a warm jacuzzi.
For family and friends, there’s a choice of 88 bedrooms, each one individually designed. There are cosy rooms with panoramas of the South Downs, family rooms with extra space, sumptuous suites with balconies and private gardens, and even bathrooms with two tubs – because why not!? With handmade mattresses, king-sized beds and opulent design, there’s a treat in store for everyone.
- Mrs and Mrs Busby-Steers
“ South Lodge had just set the bar too high and no other venues came close. ”
Sara and Will met in a coffee shop in Hove after swiping right on a dating app. When first date turned to true love, Will decided to propose on a skiing trip with friends. After carrying around the ring in his jacket pocket for a week, he finally found the perfect moment. Sara and Will were standing alone at the viewpoint of the resort’s glacier, watching the tips of the mountains turn orange from the ‘alpenglow’, when Will got down on one knee. Sara, with much delight, said yes.
The happy couple: Sara and Will Newmarch
The special date: 19th March 2022
The chosen location: The Pavilion
The photographer: Paul Fletcher
The cake: Alice Marples
The outfit: Proposals in Crawley
Entertainment: RH Live
Music is very important to us and we managed to arrange a lovely guitarist for the ceremony as well as a great band to play throughout the day. We had a jazz three-piece on the terrace, and then your usual wedding band during the evening.
But the biggest surprise was for everyone else. We had organised a choreographed first dance to ‘Kiss from a Rose’ by Seal. The style was based on a Viennese Waltz and we hadn’t told anyone we were doing it. I think everyone was in awe when we came off the dance floor – it was a great moment.
We had a replica 14th century longsword in our possession for a while so we used that for cutting the cake – the faces of the flower girls were priceless! We also spent a long time on the table centrepieces and handmade favours, and seeing the whole room set up for the wedding breakfast was pretty special. As well as that, we had a special drinks menu dedicated to those who couldn’t be with us on the day, which really touched a lot of people.
Was there anything that stood out on your wedding day and what were your favourite finishing touches?
“Our style was based on Beauty and the Beast, Disney and medieval themes. Sara brought this to life spending hours working her creative magic with the centrepieces, individually making them a theme of each of her favourite Disney movies. Amongst other ideas we had our family crests painted on shields, and used a 14th century longsword replica to cut our cake. We also based our favours on the ‘Drink Me’ bottle from Alice in Wonderland. Ours contained a handmade gin
concocted.”
that we had
“ We initially loved the arrival to South Lodge – the winding road that leads you to the grand entrance. And the interior worked really well with our style. Additionally, the staff were really helpful and encouraging with all our ideas.“
What did you love most about South Lodge?
Did you have a theme for your big day?
The staff were really helpful and encouraging with all our ideas
”
“Plan early and do research on big things like photographers as those photographs you keep forever. Don’t be scared to have crazy unique ideas, they are the bits you remember the most! Invite who you want to be there, not who you think should be there. Also, when you plan it three times (because of Covid) like we did, you get pretty good at it!
“
Well, this was a weird one, as when choosing my dress, we had only just come out of lockdown, so I didn’t have the usual experience of being able to go in with all my bridesmaids and family to enjoy bubbly and pick a dress. In the end, I took my dad and my mother-inlaw shopping for hours, and didn’t find anything. We popped along to a boutique that was closing down and I found my dream dress which suited my Disney theme. It was perfect.”
“The grounds and the outdoor areas were perfect. We were incredibly lucky to have picked the first sunny Saturday in March, and so the outdoor ceremony, the terraces, the backdrop of the building and the South Downs really made for some special pictures. The food was incredible! Plus, we also had some axe throwing!”
What advice would you give to future couples?
The only way you’ll get a feel for the place is if you come and see it yourself. We can show you around and answer all your burning questions. Chat with our super friendly wedding team for as long as you need. We’re obsessed with weddings and would love to hear all your wonderful and wacky ideas.
If you think South Lodge is ‘the one’, we can hold the date for your wedding so you have time to choose which rooms work best for you. Bring friends, family, your great aunt Mildred – whoever you want – and take another look around. You can even practice walking down the aisle in preparation for your pinchme moment.
Once you’ve booked your date, it’s all systems go. But don’t worry, we can guide you through the logistics. We can help you as much or as little as you like to make sure everything is perfect. Any time you want to pop in for a catch-up and a coffee, we’re here for you and can’t wait to be part of your big day.
Yes, the food… the moment you’ve been waiting for. We’ll invite you to a menu tasting so you can try all our mouth-watering delights and start curating your perfect wedding feast.
Nerves… excitement… butterflies! When the big day arrives, there will be a rainbow of emotions, but your event manager will be on hand to attend to every little detail. All you need to do is enjoy the moment.
We are a B Corp and we’re super proud of it. It means we’re committed to finding ways we can do weddings better, to positively impact people and our planet.
You can enjoy dancing the night away right up until midnight. After that, we’re afraid you turn into a pumpkin! Just joking… that would be weird. Instead, you can carry on the celebrations in the bar.
Our facilities include ramps in all public areas for wheelchair users, with the exception of The Cellar, drop off at the front of the hotel, disabled parking bays and dedicated accessible bedrooms.
We have a lovely, friendly extended wedding family, made up of people who want to bring your dream to life. All our recommended suppliers are listed on our website, but you are welcome to bring in your own for decoration and special experiences.
We have the best of both worlds: rural beauty and great transport links (with easy access to the M23). We’re also a 25-minute drive from London Gatwick and one hour from London Heathrow, so it’s super easy for international guests or your honeymoon getaway.
South Lodge Lower Beeding Horsham West Sussex RH13 6PS
Once you have made a provisional booking for your marriage at South Lodge, you will need to contact our local Registry Office.
Horsham Registry Office Park House North Street Horsham RH12 9SB 01243 642122 01403 891711
southlodgeweddings@exclusive.co.uk
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