Set in the heart of the countryside and just 45 minutes outside the bustling capital sits the wonderful Hedsor House. We have long loved this exclusive venue and recently visited again as a refresher of their magnificent spaces. As we have been in the past, we were enchanted and captured by how magical the House and grounds are. We are always excited to find venues for events and Hedsor House works especially well for private celebrations, family gatherings and special occasions.
Venue Spotlight - Hedsor House
The Perfect Private Celebration Space
Beyond weddings, the times when families get together to celebrate can feel few and far between. Hence why we always find these events so special and personal and feel honoured to be asked to plan and manage them. As we all know, gathering the entire family can be a stressful task! We only need to think about Christmas and memories of the logistics of keeping everyone fed, watered, happy and in the right place come flooding in. You can truly see the value we add as event planners when we are invited to plan a family celebration. We relieve the stress and plan everything, leaving the family to enjoy the run up and the day itself without any worries.
We like to have the best venues up our sleeves when it comes to planning. We work closely with the best in the industry, those spaces we truly know and trust. The service, style and quality are all key when it comes to delivering a successful event. That’s why we’re sharing this special space with you, a wonderful venue that we absolutely love and regularly refer to.
The Location
While we adore the capital, sometimes a space just outside the buzz is what is needed. Hedsor House is a 45 minute drive from central London or a 22 minute train journey from Marylebone followed by a short taxi ride.
You’ll find that your shoulders start to relax and your head becomes light with excitement as you drive up the private kilometre long driveway to the house. It takes our breath away every time with its panoramic views of the impeccably kept Hedsor Park, the sweeping fields of bluebells, and the famous Hedsor Highland cattle peacefully grazing along the way.
On Arrival
As you walk through the grand doors to Hedsor House, you see through the Reception area into the Centre Hall, with its Italian style domed roof light. This is the ideal setting for a wedding ceremony or glass of champagne on arrival.
The Ballroom
Hedsor House boasts a newly refurbished Ballroom, with oak panels and sparkling hand-cut crystal chandeliers, perfect for dinners and wedding celebrations. The room can hold up to 150 guests for a sit down dinner or the house can hold up to 250 guests for a standing reception.
An Intimate Space
For smaller numbers, or if you would like your guests to spread out around the House, you can also use The Willingdon Bar, Drawing Room and Boudoir . These light-filled spaces have a quiet opulence with their muted tones and elegant furnishings. The views over the country estate are sensational and impossible not to be captivated by.
Exclusive Hire
Another reason Hedsor House works so well for private parties is that you can completely take over the House. You can pretend it is your own home, for a day at least! Hiring for a 24-hour period means you have access to all of the bedrooms on site. Sleeping a total of 26 across 10 bedrooms and 3 suites, this is often described as the ‘cherry on top’ with this venue. Imagine a dinner with your loved ones in this perfect setting before heading up the grand staircase to retire to your magnificent bedroom. The Hedsor Master Suite is one of the grandest we’ve seen. The bathroom alone is incredible and big enough for its own party! It clearly works so well as a bridal suite. Equally, if you’re celebrating a special birthday then this is the perfect room for your guest of honour.
With the option of dry hire, the House is truly yours for the whole time and your guests can stay over. Our little black book of suppliers then comes into play and we call upon those who we know will do the best job. Incredible caterers cook delicious canapés and seated feasts, wonderful entertainers delight your guests and talented technicians light the space perfectly. We love to plan events of this nature in such incredible settings.
The Cost
The cost for this high-end venue is very reasonable, especially in the low season (January, February, March, November) where dry hire, including 11 bedrooms, starts from £5,950 + VAT (2019).
The History
When walking across the perfectly manicured gardens and through the carefully designed rooms at Hedsor House, it is impossible not to think about the events that took place in the past and the people that walked the same routes. It is true to say that the House has seen some incredible guests. Over the years many members of royalty have been invited to the House, most notably Queen Victoria who regularly attended for tea.
The House was designed by Sir William Chambers, the architect who designed Somerset House, working alongside King Charles III and Queen Charlotte.
It then saw a varied range of occupants including the United States Air Force who used the house as a secret communications centre. In 2008 the family turned the house into a venue for events and filming, and it has since starred as the London home of Nicole Kidman’s character in The Golden Compass and the location for Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut Quartet.
Hedsor House is now owned by Alexander and Janey Shephard along with their three sons, Nick, Mark and Hamish. One of our favourite facts is that Alexander’s grandfather bought the House as a wedding gift for his son Philip and daughter in law Florence in 1934.
Plan Your Event
We love thinking about celebrations at Hedsor House. An intimate gathering of close friends and families, an exclusive summer wedding celebration spilling out into the garden, a Christmas party when the grounds are frosty and the roaring fires inside keep the House cosy for the guests. Our minds are already racing with ideas! For more information or a full quote please do please do get in touch with Rachel or Sophie.