There is no doubt about it, The Holford Estate is a breathtaking Cheshire wedding venue. Sequestered within 130 acres of countryside, they specialise in exclusive weekend weddings. The wedding party and guests are given private access to the estate for the duration of the 3-day hire. The all-female team of wedding professionals will work with you to bring your dream wedding into reality – they pride themselves on making each wedding distinctive, extraordinary, and memorable.
Photo: Ideal Insight
The venue is located near the market town of Knutsford and it’s easily accessible from Manchester, Chester, and Liverpool. Set within a nature reserve, the site benefits from an ever-changing landscape which is ideal for capturing romantic photos. It’s also perfect for spending private moments with your beloved during your celebration. In addition, it boasts moated formal gardens and its own river. There’s even a tree-lined outdoor ceremony space which means that you have the option to say ‘I do’ either outside or indoors in the stunning brick barn. You will have the freedom to put your stamp on the day through the food, styling, and entertainment to create a perfect wedding.
One aspect of the wedding that the team at The Holford Estate are really passionate about is the food. They offer farm-to-fork menus celebrating seasonal, local produce. Food and drink is supplied by catering partners who have plenty of experience working with the venue. Choose to wed at The Holford Estate and you can create a wedding menu that suits your personal preferences and cuisine style. The food served at the venue celebrates cultural differences all while supporting British farming.
Photo: Melissa Beattie
The Ceremony
The barn and moated formal gardens are licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 120 seated guests.
Local churches include St. Oswalds in Lower Peover, Toft Church in Knutsford, and Great Budworth church.
The Rooms
The moated formal gardens are perfect for outdoor ceremonies and drinks receptions. They can accommodate 120 people.
The marquee dining room is available for formal dining. There’s also access to breakout spaces for garden games.
The barn, which is fully heated and adjacent to the bar, is available for the reception and has capacity for 150 people.
There is also a bridal room and a chill room located upstairs.
Catering
Bespoke farm-to-fork menus celebrating seasonal, local produce.
On-site, fully stocked bar
Bedrooms
Holford Mill House is set within its own 4 acres, overlooking the mill pond and its waterfall.
The entire house provides 5 en-suite bedrooms.
Green Credentials
This Cheshire wedding venue cares about both its historical past and the future of the planet. As well as working with local suppliers who themselves have good green credentials, The Holford Estate also harvests their rainwater and uses green energy. They ensure that they follow the best recycling practices. In addition, they also utilise LED lighting and operate as close to paperless as possible.
The Gardens
It isn’t an overstatement to describe the formal gardens here as spectacular. They will take your guests’ breath away. A manicured lawn, lined with trees is the perfect location for an outdoor ceremony. As they are fully licensed for weddings of up to 120 people in this space there is no need to do the official bit elsewhere. There are several areas within the gardens that feature topiary, decorative flowers, and ornamental hedges. Bordering the moated formal gardens, which are perfect for a sophisticated drinks reception and the perfect backdrop for sensational wedding photos, you have the wilder area of the grounds which offers privacy in a natural setting.
Photo: James Tracey
The Marquee Dining Room
When it is time to eat you and your guests move into the marquee dining room. This area is a blank canvas for you to decorate. There are twinkling lights and the marquee covering is transparent. This means that even in inclement weather you will still get a sense of the beautiful grounds as you dine amongst your friends and family in luxurious surroundings. When the weather allows, the sides of the marquee are opened and you can access yet more of The Holford Estate’s vast outside space. Here you can set up garden games so that there is entertainment on offer alongside a magnificent dining experience.
Photo: The Wedding Fairy
The Barn
Another stunning area at this venue is the barn which is fully heated and able to accommodate 150 guests. This space can be transformed in myriad creative ways. The team at The Holford Estate really cares about bringing your dreams into existence. This brick space is effortlessly stylish as it is but with the support of the venue staff, it can be transformed into a magical and celebratory space, unique for your wedding. The fully stocked bar is at one end of the barn and serves choice cocktails as well as a late-night munchie menu.
A bonus is that you will also have use of the chill room and bridal room which are located upstairs in the barn building. These rooms are ideal spaces for getting ready separately from your partner and they’re also close to the location of the ceremony, meal, and reception so it’s super easy to get to the ceremony without putting a hair out of place and to take a moment to refresh your look throughout the day. The chill room is a perfect spot to set up kids’ activities. Or, why not create a quieter space for any guests preferring to take some time out while the party is in full swing?
Photo: Petal and Blush Artistry
Accommodation
There are 5 en suite rooms available for accommodation throughout your 3-day wedding. These are all located in Holford Mill House which has its own garden and overlooks an enchanting waterfall.
All of the event spaces at this Cheshire wedding venue are accessible. Please note that Holford Mill House does not have ground floor accommodation.
Catering
The Holford Estate works with trusted catering partners to provide bespoke food options for weddings taking place there. Reflect your culture and personality in the food that is served at your wedding and celebrate the cuisine that you love. There’s an emphasis on local, seasonal produce and the food and drink are served in the marquee dining room which can be styled and dressed in accordance with your wishes.
Photo: Rosie Harding Weddings
Prices and availability
Prices for 3-day weddings start at £6500 including VAT
There is still midweek availability for this Cheshire wedding venue in 2024 and their website has an interactive calendar, please check to see exactly which dates are still available.
If you would like to visit The Holford Estate then why not join us at The ECO Wedding Show – Cheshire which takes place on March 17th, 2024. There will be a whole host of eco-friendly suppliers to meet who are experienced at working with this incredible venue. BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE.
