No booking necessary! Come along and see us.
Come along to the award-winning Swynford Manor and discover everything our romantic, chic and elegant venue has to offer for your special day.
An open event is a wonderful way to see our beautiful venue fully dressed for a wedding. An informal time to wander around the house and grounds at your leisure. Take a look and imagine how your dream wedding can become a magical reality.
It's the perfect chance to meet our whole fantastic team and some of our preferred wedding supplier partners too.
We host our Wedding Open Evenings regularly on the second Monday of every month from 4pm to 9pm with the suppliers changing each month to offer a variety of decor and entertainment.
Entry is complimentary with a chilled welcome drink upon arrival.
We are one minute off the A11 between Cambridge and Newmarket and located in Cambridgeshire but minutes from Suffolk, Essex and Herts and only 90 minutes from central London.
Spring and summer weddings often give you the opportunity to marry beneath a blue sky surrounded by nature. At Swynford Manor, our pretty pergola is licensed for outdoor civil ceremonies, with ample space for up to 150 guests to sit on either side of the aisle, surrounded by our beautiful landscaped lawns.
Whatever time of year you choose to marry, the outdoor spaces at Swynford Manor offer a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos. With seven acres of green lawns and paddocks, framed by magnificent trees, you’ll find many idyllic spots for photographs of the two of you, and plenty of space for group shots too. Even if the weather is inclement, we hope you’ll still head outside – umbrella’s make great props!
Whether you decide to marry outside, in the Study or the Garden Room, invite your guests in to the garden or on to the outside terrace for reception drinks and canapés following the ceremony. There’s nothing quite like that first glass of Champagne as you celebrate in the great outdoors.
Of course, you can even dine outside if you would like to! At Swynford Manor, we’re more than happy to set up our terraced area with tables and chairs for your wedding breakfast. Alternatively, enjoy the elegance of our Garden Room which gives you the best of both worlds – a luxurious space with fabulous views.
Our flat lawn is simply crying out for garden games – perhaps a spot of croquet on a summer’s afternoon, a coconut shy, giant Jenga or an Easter egg hunt. Games work particularly well during welcome drinks or after the wedding breakfast.
As day turns to evening, we hope you’ll stroll outside once again. You might even decide to serve an evening menu in the garden – from a delicious barbecue on the terrace to a pizza party or picnic on the grass. It’s exclusively yours, after all!
If you have yet to visit Swynford Manor, we would love to show you all we have to offer. Simply call our friendly team on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
Planning an early-April wedding, Kerry and James were looking for a beautiful wedding venue in Cambridgeshire. With their hearts set on a church ceremony, they needed to find the perfect place for the celebrations, ideally where guests could also stay overnight.
I loved how modern and bright Swynford Manor was and that it didn’t need any decoration to achieve the look that I wanted.
Planning their spring wedding, the happy couple chose a colour scheme of ivory and silver with just a hint of mint green. Table centres were vases of different heights filled with Calla lilies and floating candles and surrounded by rose petals and crystals.
“I wanted it to be modern and classic. We chose mint green for the bridesmaids but I didn’t want to have the colour in the venue too much so kept most things ivory and silver.” – Kerry
After finding her dream dress, Kerry had quite an ordeal when it came to buying it! After problems with the bridal boutique and with a faulty gown, she eventually received the dress just two weeks before the big day.
“I loved my dress when I finally got it! It was a Champagne colour with detail on the bodice and a plain skirt.” The beautiful bride accessorised with elegant jewellery and Jimmy Choo shoes.
Meanwhile, James looked the part in a suit from Next while the six bridesmaids were stunning in long, mint green gowns with personalised bracelets from Kerry.
Following their romantic ceremony at Holy Trinity Church in Bottisham, welcome drinks and canapés greeted guests to Swynford Manor, alongside a fun ‘Pimp Your Prosecco’ table. A close-up magician and guitarist certainly added to the celebratory ambience.
When it came to the wedding breakfast, prawn and crab was served to start with a chicken main course and, for pudding, lemon tart. “We chose what we like and what we hoped most people would enjoy.”
As the sun went down, the newlyweds danced their first dance to ‘Over and Over’ by Nathan Sykes, accompanied by confetti cannons which created a fabulous party atmosphere.
Bacon and sausages in brioche buns proved an excellent choice for evening food, and the dance floor filled at the finale of this special day.
“I couldn’t choose just one moment – I loved everything from start to finish.”
If you’re looking for inspiration from this Cambridgeshire wedding venue, take a look at some of the other wonderful weddings we have hosted here at Swynford Manor.
And, if you’ve yet to visit Swynford Manor, we would love to show you around. Simply give our friendly team a call on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
Choosing the perfect venue for your wedding reception is perhaps the most important decision of all. As well as suiting your budget and accommodating the number of guests you would like to invite, it’s vital that you feel inspired by the potential setting. And, of course, you should be impressed by the team managing the venue as you’ll be working with them to plan your special day.
At Swynford Manor, we hope you’ll love the stylish Garden Room with its black and white décor and beautiful windows, while the stunning gardens, The Study and The Drawing Room offer endless options for welcome drinks and entertainment.
Of course, your chosen menu is a key element of your wedding reception, from welcome drinks and canapés to the wedding breakfast and evening dining. A successful menu should suit your budget, the season and the style of your day.
Our talented chefs will work with you to create the perfect menu, whether you’re dreaming of delicious canapés on the lawn, a fine dining experience for your wedding breakfast, an evening barbecue or a pizza party!
Every couple wants to reflect their personalities through their wedding style and colour scheme. At Swynford Manor, our calming, neutral décor enables you to add your own additional colours, or work alongside the existing shades.
When it comes to your wedding reception, chat to us about the room layout and think about where you might add floral arrangements. Table centrepieces are the obvious choice, but you might also choose to have flowers at the entrance or around Byron Bar in The Drawing Room. While flowers add colour, you can also consider your table linen, chair decorations, china and glassware. Why not add some personalised touches with signage and, of course, give your wedding cake prime position as another element of your wedding style?
Fabulous entertainment creates a memorable party. Music is key for your evening celebration, whether you like the idea of a live band or DJ to fill the dance floor.
Put some thought in to how you plan to entertain your guests earlier in the day. You might, for example, have some garden games on the lawn, a close-up magician during welcome drinks or a fun casino in the evening.
Whatever you choose, consider the time of year and always plan something you think your guests will enjoy. If you have a number of children attending your wedding, it’s lovely to plan some entertainment for them, even if just a few games at the table or a treasure hunt in the garden.
If you have yet to visit Swynford Manor, we would love to show you all we have to offer. Simply call our friendly team on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
If you’re dreaming of an intimate ceremony, The Study is the place. Seating up to 100 guests, it’s effortlessly stylish with its high ceilings and striking décor, and you’ll say your vows in front of a beautifully carved fireplace. Afterwards, simply step outside for welcome drinks and canapés on the terrace.
With its monochrome décor, magnificent windows and views over the picturesque grounds, The Garden Room is a truly magnificent space for your wedding ceremony. Seating up to 150 guests, it’s the perfect room for slightly larger weddings throughout the year and its monochrome style simply oozes elegance. Embrace the chic black and white or introduce a splash of colour through your flowers.
Planning a summer celebration? Our idyllic garden pergola is licensed for outdoor wedding ceremonies, with ample space for up to 150 guests to be seated. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, it’s a truly memorable space. And, you can add your own style by adorning the pergola and the aisle with your chosen flowers. Of course, if you really want to make the most of the charming Cambridgeshire countryside, why not hold some outdoor entertainment on the terrace too?
If you have yet to visit Swynford Manor or you’d like to chat to us about your wedding ceremony, simply give our friendly team a call on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
If you’re planning your wedding towards the end of the spring season, you might decide to say ‘I do’ in the great outdoors. At Swynford Manor, our pretty pergola is licensed for civil ceremonies, giving you the opportunity to marry surrounded by our beautiful gardens. Of course, you can stay outside and enjoy reception drinks on the lawn as well.
As the glorious season approaches and the flowers begin to bloom, it’s time to consider your colour scheme. Embrace all that nature offers, perhaps choosing a palette of delicate pastels or focusing on shades of pink, hues of blue or the bright yellows found in abundance of this time of year. The elegant interior of Swynford Manor means you can introduce your chosen colours, or even just stick to crisp white with a hint of natural greenery.
Pastel shades are a wonderful choice for spring:
Delicate hues of green or blush pink also work perfectly:
Monochrome black and white is effortlessly elegant and lifted with some foliage:
Our talented in-house catering team will work with you to create the perfect menu for your spring wedding day, from delicious canapés on the lawn to a memorable wedding breakfast and delicious evening food. Seasonal produce is always a favourite and we’ll help you make the most of the great outdoors too. You might, for example, decide to have a hog roast on the lawn as day turns to evening?
Or why not introduce signature cocktails with a spring theme:
Embrace the season when planning the more intricate elements of your wedding day, from your table flowers to your cake design and favours.
Flowers (sugar or fresh) are a popular choice for spring wedding cakes. You might even decide on a semi-naked cake adorned with seasonal fruits or flowers:
Seed packets are a fun idea for a spring wedding favour, and of course daffodils make a lovely favour idea for spring too.
If you’re marrying in the spring, consider adopting an Easter theme. Eggs are the obvious form of décor, whether you chose a pastel colour scheme or a more glamorous gold and white alternative.
A simple chocolate egg wrapped in gold paper is an elegant favour choice for a boutique country house wedding. You might even write place names on egg shells!
We love these pretty floral decorations with seasonal flowers including lily of the valley. Carry the theme through to your cake.
And of course… don’t forget to arrange an Egg Hunt!
If you have yet to see Swynford Manor for yourself, we would love to show you all we have to offer. Simply call our friendly team on 01638 592609 or contact us online. In the meantime, we hope you’ll be inspired by our online Spring Gallery.
First things first… set your budget. Work out what you have to spend and set up a dedicated wedding bank account. Make a list of everything you imagine you want to buy and assign an amount of money to it. If you overspend in one area, you need to underspend in another. Of course, it’s always a good idea to allow a little contingency!
When planning your special day, consider whether there are some things you might be able to do yourself and save a little money in the process. You might, for example, decide to make your own wedding favours or elements of your stationery. Don’t be afraid to ask for help either – perhaps you have an aunt who makes wonderful cakes or a friend who might like to DJ or arrange a playlist for you. Be wary of giving yourself too much to do close to the day itself though. Arranging your own flowers, for example, is not a simple task and must be done at the last minute.
Always remember, this is your special day and it’s important to make it as personal as possible. If you have your heart set on a live band, you might decide to splurge a little on entertainment and spend less on flowers or shoes, for example. Plan the day you dream of and don’t spend money where you don’t want to.
At the height of the season, suppliers can be more expensive. You might, therefore, avoid marrying on a Saturday in the midst of summer, choosing a weekday instead. Equally, it’s wise to avoid Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day where flowers are in demand and prices rise.
Not only do seasonal flowers and seasonal food look and taste great, they also generally cost less money. Blooms that have to be shipped in from overseas are likely to cost more. Stick to the seasons and be considerate when decorating your venue and feeding your guests. Swynford Manor needs very little additional décor. Place floral arrangements where your guests will see and appreciate them. And, keep it simple – don’t over-feed people. Your wedding cake can make a fabulous dessert or part of the evening feast alongside a delicious selection of cheeses.
This is the time to turn in to an exceptional shopper! Instead of buying something as soon as you see it, shop around to get the best price. Look out for sales and last-minute deals. If you are looking too tie the knot sooner rather than later, you can make great savings on your venue. You might even find your dream dress in a sample sale. Decorations like fairy lights and vases can often be found in January sales too.
If you have friends marrying at the same time, you might decide to share certain things, particularly decorations. While you’re very unlikely to share your wedding dress, you might borrow hair pins or other accessories… it’s certainly worth a thought and you can use them as your ‘something borrowed’ too!
When it comes to decoration, time costs money. Simply arranged flowers and cakes with minimal decoration will generally cost less than large bouquets with a lot of wiring and cake designs that feature intricate piping or painted designs.
If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding and looking for the perfect venue, we would love to show you all that Swynford Manor has to offer. Simply call our friendly team on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
“Stay true to who you are. Don’t let other people influence or dictate what you must have/do/invite. There are no rules…it’s your day, do it your way!” – Naomi & Stuart
“Enjoy the wedding planning and relax about the small things. Sam and I decided that if something didn’t make our day any better, it wasn’t worth worrying about.” Laura & Sam
“Never let anyone tell you that you’ve cut things too fine. We planned our wedding in sixteen weeks and it is totally doable. In fact, it’s probably easier because you don’t have as many options!” –Anna & Lee
“Don’t be a Bridezilla! Everything will be fine. Try to do things in plenty of time so you’re not stressed.” – Roxanne & Richard
“Enjoy it. All your hard work will pay off. All the little extras that you are fed up of making will really add the finishing touches to the day. The stress is well worth it, we would do it all again tomorrow if we could.” – Emma & Mick
“You don’t need to go over the top and spend loads of money. It’s actually quite fun making things yourself if you can, it makes it a bit more personal.” – Louise & Wes
“Relax and enjoy it. Take a moment to enjoy the lead up to the wedding as well as the day itself. Everyone is so busy wishing the time away for the day to get there, but the build-up and the excitement of those days before is magical!” – Kathleen & Steven
“Make sure you’re organised and all the little bits are completed at least 10 days before the wedding. Take that last week to do some calming things for you – a massage and any pre-wedding treatments.” – Rebecca & Martin
“Make sure you’re organised and all the little bits are completed at least 10 days before the wedding. Take that last week to do some calming things for you – a massage and any pre-wedding treatments.” – Rebecca & Martin
“Shop around and consider using Etsy for your decorations, outfits, favours, gifts… everything really! You deal with real people, not just a big corporation, so you know you’ll be looked after.” – Anna & Lee
“I would definitely recommend having a videographer so you can relive your day.” – Caroline & Lee
“Get your hair and make-up artist to arrive early, giving yourself plenty of time to get ready. Don’t be afraid to take your time to look at your hair and make-up. If you’re not happy, get it changed. There will be enough time if you started early.” – Rebecca & Martin
“Allow more time than you think for bridal prep. Things will take longer than you imagine and, if they don’t, you will have some precious time to relax with your bridal party.” – Naomi & Stuart
“On the day, make sure you have plenty of time with your husband. It’s all such a whirlwind. Just after our wedding breakfast we went up to our room so I could freshen up and have five minutes to take in the day and the fact that we were husband and wife.” – Roxanne & Richard
“The only thing we would do differently would be to have the day filmed. It goes so quickly.” – Roxanne & Richard
“I wish we’d done the speeches before dinner. I sat between my dad and my new husband and neither of them spoke all through the wedding breakfast because of nerves!” – Holly & Brendan
If you’ve found these top tips helpful and have yet to visit Swynford Manor, we would love to hear from you. Simply give us a call on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
Setting a December wedding date and looking for the perfect wedding venue in Cambridgeshire, Laura and Sam came across Swynford Manor. “We loved the modern, tasteful décor and the neutral colour scheme. It was also the perfect size.”
Marrying the week before Christmas, the happy couple chose a festive winter theme with neutral colour scheme and pretty fairy lights. “We wanted to create a relaxed, fun atmosphere and a great party!”
The beautiful bride chose a Ronald Joyce gown with long, lace sleeves, embellishment and a lavish train. Laura completed the look with diamond earrings and white lace shoe boots by Christian Louboutin. “My dress felt amazing and it really suited our winter theme.”
Sam wore a midnight blue dinner suit by William Hunt, the perfect choice for an elegant winter wedding. Meanwhile, Laura’s three bridesmaids were stunning in ivory gowns by Ghost with silver necklaces and diamond stud earrings.
Red and white roses were the order of the day at this stylish celebration. The bride carried an amazing arrangement of deep red roses surrounded by holly berries and pine cones while the bridesmaids wore white rose corsages. Wonderful Christmas decorations were in abundance and candles were used as the table centrepieces in The Garden Room.
Following the ceremony, Prosecco, beer and mulled wine were served in The Study, alongside some delicious canapés. “The amazing Ben Noke played piano during the drinks reception and we also had magician, Wayne Goodnam, to entertain the guests.”
Moving in to dine, a fabulous three-course wedding breakfast was a great success, particularly the sticky toffee pudding finale!
As day turned to evening, the newlyweds danced their first dance to ‘In Your Eyes’ by George Bensen and the party began.
Three large stands of cupcakes proved an excellent choice and delighted the guests in the evening. Designed as brides and grooms, they tasted as good as they looked.
“I can’t choose just one moment! But if I had to choose it would either be walking down the aisle or the party getting started.”
“Enjoy the planning and don’t worry about the small things. Sam and I agreed that if it didn’t make our day any better, it wasn’t worth worrying about.”
If you’re planning a winter wedding and looking for more real wedding inspiration from Swynford Manor, we think you’ll also love the festive celebration of Helen and James.
In the meantime, if you have yet to see Swynford Manor for yourself, we would love to show you around. Simply give our friendly team a call on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
Choose your style and colour scheme. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds and can often mean simply focusing on one or two colours which you will then introduce to your bridesmaid dresses, flowers and decorations. With those thoughts in mind, you can start to think about how to add your own personal touches to the day. The beauty of choosing an exclusive use wedding venue is that it’s all yours on your special day!
Decide where you are going to add decoration. Consider your tables and any other areas where your guests will spend time and where you might take photographs.
Table linen, chair back decorations, place names, table centrepieces and favours are all elements to think about for your wedding tables. Don’t over-decorate – you want your guests to be able to see their delicious food and appreciate the beauty of the manor.
Allocate a beautiful space for your wedding cake. As well as tasting delicious, it’s one of your key wedding decorations.
Consider your guests from the moment they arrive, starting with welcome drinks and moving through the wedding breakfast to your evening food options.
If you are inviting children, it’s a good idea to provide a specific children’s menu and always offer vegetarian alternatives (or vegan if necessary).
Try to match the style of your menu to the style of your day. If you want to create a relaxed, informal vibe, your food options should be equally ‘cosy’ and unfussy.
Keep your budget at bay by sticking to simple, seasonal food and drink options. The most important thing is that your food is beautifully prepared. The talented team at Swynford Manor will be delighted to work with you to help you choose your wedding menu.
Beautiful flowers can be all the decoration you need. A good florist should be able to suggest great ideas to suit your style and budget. Stick to seasonal blooms, bringing the outside in to Swynford Manor.
Save money by decorating only where your guests will spend time. Table centrepieces are a great idea.
Table centres should be either low enough for guests to see over the top, or high enough for them to see underneath. If they are at eye level, your guests won’t be able to see each other.
Re-use flowers where possible, perhaps standing your bouquets in vases on tables and moving arrangements from the Study to The Garden Room.
As well as your evening party, consider music throughout the day, from the moment your guests arrive and through the ceremony and welcome drinks.
Consider entertainment that works with your particular celebration. A close-up magician is a great idea during welcome drinks. In summer months, you might make the most of the gardens and grounds with a few garden games.
If you’re inviting children, entertain them with fun ideas like treasure hunts and quiz’s.
For more wedding inspiration take a look at Autumn Wedding Ideas for a Country House Wedding Venue or if you have yet to visit Swynford Manor, we would love to show you around. Simply give our friendly team a call on 01638 592609 or contact us online.
It had the contemporary, glamorous feel we were looking for. We loved the black and white colour scheme, the grand chandeliers and the accommodation with the copper baths!
Naomi
The happy couple decided to introduce an ‘Ibiza glam’ theme with a sophisticated colour scheme of black and gold. Working with the style of the venue, they hung white paper lanterns from the trees in the gardens and made black confetti cones with a personalised gold wax seal. Candles were placed on the lobby fireplace, with black lanterns and white rose petals on the staircase. A wish tree served as a modern alternative to the traditional guest book and black candelabras adorned with pearl garlands made perfect table centrepieces.
Naomi used her creative talents to make the top table flowers with artificial white hydrangeas in black wooden boxes. “We wanted to create a laid-back atmosphere that was romantic without being twee!”
With a very definite idea of the style of dress she would like, Naomi took the decision to design it herself. She sent a sketch of her dream gown to a bridal boutique in Colchester who then sent it on to a designer in Italy. “I took it to a local seamstress to make any final tweaks and eventually I had my dress!”
The beautiful bride completed her look with a pearl and feather comb, diamond earrings and stunning gold shoes by Badgley Mischka.
Stuart looked the part in a bespoke suit by Anthony Formal Wear, designing a modern take on the tuxedo consisting of a grey jacket with black lapels and black trousers. “He had the lining of his collar made in purple as it’s my favourite colour and he had our wedding date stitched on the inside pocket.”
Naomi’s sister was her maid of honour and looked beautiful in a backless, fishtail dress with cowl neck in black crepe. She accessorised with pearl earrings and a gold back chain.
Following an intimate ceremony in The Study at Swynford Manor, a drinks reception was held with a caricaturist to entertain the guests. Moving in to dine, Naomi and Stuart chose food they both loved, starting with a warm scotch egg and moving on to individual chicken pies with creamy mash. For pudding… a New York cheesecake with chocolate bon bon – simply delicious!
I loved all three courses as they were our favourite dishes. I just wish I could eat them all over again!
Naomi
As the sun went down, a cocktail hour was held in the Bar.
The newlyweds didn’t have a first dance, opting instead to ‘launch’ their evening party with performer Ellie Sax, a saxophonist with illuminated rainbow saxophone. “I wanted an Ibiza style sax player. She was amazing and worked so well with our DJ.”
Pizza and fries were served, and the dance floor filled at the finale of this spectacular wedding day.
“Stay true to yourselves and don’t be influenced by others. It’s your day, do it your way.”
If you’re looking for more real wedding inspiration from Swynford Manor, take a peek at the beautiful spring wedding of Holly and Brendan.
In the meantime, if you have yet to see Swynford Manor for yourself, we would love to show you around. Simply give our friendly team a call on 01638 592609 or contact us online.