Testimonials

There were so many beautiful outdoor spaces at Pauntley Court, we especially loved The Hornbeam Arches where we had our meal.
The Elinor Fettiplace Wing was perfect. It was more than big enough without being too big. It was full of character with beautiful views and we loved the beam in the bedroom!!
The outdoor space absolutely sold the venue to us. Inside was gorgeous but we spend so much time outdoors in general life that the outdoor space had to be special.
Finally, Mel, our wedding co-ordinator was amazing. We couldn’t fault her in any way. She was super friendly and helpful...along with everyone else we came across for our wedding.

Image of couple pending*

Image used Max Vickery Photography

Pauntley Court is absolutely a hidden gem. Throughout our wedding preparation from venue viewing to our big day, Pauntley Court (in particular, Melissa, Rachel and Holly) provided consistent support and guidance. On our big day, Pauntley Court provided amazing indoor and outdoor locations for us to have ceremony, reception, wedding breakfast and first dance. We have received a lot of compliments from our families and guests about Pauntley Court. Everyone was very delighted to this country house wedding venue and the warmness from the Pauntley Court team. In particular, we had our big day in the beginning of summer - Pauntley Court perfectly matched to the summer vibe. After the wedding, we have already been thinking about when we visit Pauntley again for our anniversary!

Image by Luke Cummins Photography

I cannot praise Melissa, her team and Pauntley Court (PC) enough.
We were looking for venues for a whole year before we came across Pauntley Court and my gosh it was so unique.
From the very first video call with Melissa, PC just stood out. For one it is the most unique and magical place we've visited but also how wonderful Melissa was. On the initial call we were so taken with how bubbly Melissa was but also how nothing seemed too much trouble. This definitely continued throughout the entire wedding planning and on the weekend itself. Melissa would make herself available for any question we had (measuring the stretch tent, finding us an outdoor tap) - nothing seemed to phase her and she was open to anything - exactly what we were looking for in a wedding venue.
Now onto PC itself - I don't really think words can do it justice. The venue is simply stunning, every corner you turn there is something else to grab at your heart and pull you to the venue.
We also adored how you had use of the venue from 12pm on the Friday until 4pm on the Sunday. It meant we could have a rehearsal on the Friday, steam all the clothing, unpack and join our wedding party for drinks and a BBQ in the lavender garden on the Friday night. While Sunday enabled us to have a leisurely start while also reliving all the memories from the last night over breakfast with our friends.
Particular loves go to:
- the grounds - mentioned in reviews time and time again but they are just gorgeous
- the ability to have your legal ceremony in multiple locations and for a non-legal wedding you have access to the whole site
- Rebecca - the best co-ordinator ever - having access to Rebecca for the day (and calls leading up to the day) really helped with the last minute panics / helped the day run smoothly
- Rachel - the most wonderful housekeeper - keeping the food flowing on the Friday and for breakfasts. She ran a very tight ship and it enabled us to just relax knowing everything was handled.
- the beautiful ballroom - this was such a fantastic place to get ready with my bridesmaids but also hold an unforgettable ceilidh
- the cupid club - a new addition but great to keep the party going
- the lake house - makes a wonderful first look location or photo setting and with the water is such a calming space
I could honestly keep singing PC's praises and hope I can visit again in some form!

Image by Red Maple Photography

Having recently visited Pauntley for our first wedding anniversary, I was reminded just how magical a place it is.

James and I celebrated our marriage with our closest family and friends over three days in August 2024. Spending both the night before and day after our wedding with our nearest and dearest only enhanced our celebrations; Pauntley’s beautiful bedrooms and cosy communal areas greatly facilitate being able to have all of those you love in one place for an extended period. Waking up in the bridal suite greatly reduced the stress on the wedding morning; the Elinor Fettiplace was the perfect setting for bridal preparations.

We knew it was the venue for us when we walked into the ballroom on our first viewing and I burst out crying (happy tears); those tears were present again when I walked down the aisle (ironically outside) the following Summer.

Everything about Pauntley makes it the picture perfect venue - from the indoor furnishings to the beautiful gardens outside. A special touch are the beautiful flowers that Melissa's mother (the flower fairy!) collects from the gardens and arranges in the communal areas and bedrooms; she even treated our guests to a tour of the grounds on the Sunday.

We took full use of all of the spaces - firstly by hosting a grazing table, English sparkling wine and real ale welcome supper in The Flower Room on the Friday, complete with “s’mores” for our flower girls and page boys on Pauntley’s fire pit. On the day itself we had welcome drinks under the stretch tent; said “I do” alongside a string quartet amongst the quince trees; enjoyed canapés, fizz and acoustic music in the sunken garden; had our cake cutting, wedding breakfast and speeches under the hornbeam arches (complete with Melissa’s chandeliers!); took photos down by the boathouse; poured our champagne tower in front of the beautiful staircase and danced the night away with our band in the ballroom before collapsing in front of the fire in the main sitting room after our “light stick” exit in the courtyard. The morning after the night before was spent preparing for our send off BBQ on the terrace.
The stunning setting is only complimented by Pauntley’s true highlight: its team. Melissa could not have been more friendly and helpful from the first time we met her until our wedding weekend itself (and beyond!). The list of recommended suppliers provided was especially helpful given I had no knowledge of local hairdressers, make-up artists, florists, caterers, etc; all of the vendors that we chose were wonderful. Our wedding coordinator, Mel, put this type A bride to shame with her efficiency and organisational skills, all delivered with a smile and a wealth of industry knowledge. A special mention to Pauntley’s head housekeeper Rachel who took excellent care of us and our guests throughout with delicious breakfasts and a yummy BBQ on the Sunday. The whole team are warm, welcoming and ensure that you never feel like just another couple; they are all truly invested in making your wedding day the best it possibly can be.

As we are London based, we chose to stay on the Thursday and Sunday nights and I would highly recommend that option to future couples. Being there the night before - just the two of us - allowed us to sort various Waitrose / butcher / crockery deliveries and get ready before our friends and family descended for our welcome supper the following day. Equally, we enjoyed strolling around the gardens as husband and wife on the Sunday after everyone had left; an opportunity to reminisce on the best weekend of our lives in truly beautiful surroundings. We struggled to leave on the Monday morning!

We couldn’t recommend Pauntley enough and can’t wait to visit again on our second anniversary next year.
Thank you Melissa, Mel and Rachel for everything.

Image by Siobhan Beales Photography

Using the venue for the whole weekend and everything you could have needed was available. It was also nice that we were trusted to host our guests on the Friday and Sunday without staff being present but were available if and when required.
All of the rooms and bathrooms were of a very high standard and in keeping with the style of the house. The robes/slippers and fresh flowers in each bedroom were also a nice touch. The outside spaces were very well kept and there was a lot of outdoor spaces to choose from for each aspect of the day. Thankfully, with it being a beautiful weekend of weather, we got to appreciate the beautiful gardens and the guests commented on how stunning these were. We feel that Holly made our day run so smoothly and she was very attentive. She continually supported us from the start of our planning, right up until the last dance. She took so much pressure off of us by ensuring everything was set up and arranged for us all. We were blown away by how it looked and we couldn't have done it without her. Rachel was absolutely amazing. Her help across the whole weekend was fantastic. The moment she greeted us on Friday, she was so welcoming and made us aware of her services and availability. All of our guests were amazed at all the work Rachel helped us with and it allowed us to all relax and enjoy our weekend, stress free! The breakfasts she prepared for us were delicious and full of compliments. She made a huge impact on our stay at Pauntley and we're so grateful for all of her help over the weekend.

Image by PS Visuals 

‘We hoped for a beautiful intimate Christmas wedding and Pauntley Court far surpassed our expectations. The venue and grounds are beyond stunning and Melissa, Rachel and Holly supported throughout the planning stages and on the day to make it a truly magical day. The love given to Pauntley by its owners and staff is clear and it 100% reflected into our special day!’

Image by Luke Cummins Photography

"Our wedding weekend at Pauntley Court was perfect in every way. We chose Pauntley as the house itself is beautiful, the interior has been restored and decorated to the highest standard and still feels super homely and comfortable. On top of this the surrounding grounds are stunning, with multiple areas filled with trees, flowers and neatly trimmed hedges to explore, it made the perfect backdrop to our wedding ceremony and reception!

Having exclusive use of the venue for 3 days, and hiring the housekeeper Rachel to help throughout, enabled us to truly relax and make the most of the wedding weekend with our friends and family. The staff at Pauntley went above and beyond to help in any way they could, both in preparation and throughout the wedding itself, and the teams warm presence really made the weekend extra special - we can't recommend Pauntley Court enough!" 

Image by Tom Durn