Deciding where to get married is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make regarding your big day. It’s somewhere you’ll remember forever and you want to get it right. When choosing my own wedding venue, I knew before looking around that I wanted it to be Tewkesbury Park Hotel in Gloucester. Having stayed there a couple of years previously I had just fallen in love with it as a hotel, so when I discovered they did a winter package, it was an effortless choice. But what did I love about it, and what tips do I have for anyone looking to book a wedding at Tewkesbury Park? Keep reading to find out.
I got married back in 2021 after getting engaged in November of 2019. I always had the idea of a two year engagement, wanting to relish in being a fiancee before tying the knot, and having plenty of time to plan. It turned out to be lucky as we managed to skip any Covid restrictions and had the wedding I had always dreamt of! I’d also always planned a winter wedding – I figured the weather in the UK is unpredictable throughout the year, so I’d prefer to plan for the cold and rain and make it as magical as possible, as opposed to having my fingers crossed for sunshine and being disappointed if it did decide to pour down on an August afternoon.
Tewkesbury Park Winter Wedding Package – What it Includes
The winter wedding package currently costs from £7,250 which includes a two-course wedding breakfast, half a bottle of wine per guest, prosecco for the toast, a ‘Night at the Fair’ style evening menu or hog roast and an Opulent Suite for the night, among other lovely touches which the hotel puts on for you. They also have a fantastic wedding planner to hand who helps you coordinate everything in the run up to the day, as well as on your wedding day itself.
The Cotswolds Suite
We got married in the Cotswolds Suite which also gives you access to the private Berkeley Bar and Terrace. With floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking rolling fields and beautiful countryside, it’s the ideal spot to tie the knot. The bar itself is beautifully decorated, with stylish furnishings and friendly staff on hand.
The Rooms at Tewkesbury Park
One of the best things I found about getting married at Tewkesbury Park was that although they have endless weddings booked (with good reason) I never felt like “just another bride.” Instead, they made us feel so special and listened to every step of the way. We booked a package so our guests could choose to stay up at the hotel the night before as well as the night of the wedding if they wished and this included a set menu to make it easy. We had a large area of the dining room booked out for the night before and it was so wonderful being able to catch up with all of our loved ones ahead of the big day. My husband then stayed in one of their touch of class rooms, while my Maid of Honour and I took over the bridal suite in anticipation of an early morning of beauty prep!
As the bride and groom, you get to stay in their luxurious Bridal suite as part of your package and it really is the cherry on top of the (wedding!) cake. The most beautiful room, called King Richard III it’s stylish, peaceful and elegant, with views across the Gloucestershire countryside. As well as a large kind size bed, it has a seating area with sofa and chairs, a TV, coffee machine, large wardrobes and the most stunning bathroom complete with a roll top bath and separate double shower. Other rooms in the hotel are also beautiful, with the option of rooms with a terrace and dog-friendly ones too.
The Wedding Day at Tewkesbury Park
The morning of the wedding was an eye-wateringly early one as I had six bridesmaids, as well as myself and my Mum to get ready. The hotel kindly dropped off a picnic basket packed with breakfast goodies, as well as juices and an abundance of coffee which was much appreciated by us all!
Our photographer, the amazing Ben from Blooming Photography arrived as we were getting our hair and makeup done, flitting between us, my husband with his groomsmen and also capturing the guests as they filtered in downstairs. Ben has shot at Tewkesbury Park Hotel many times and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him as your Tewkesbury Park Wedding photographer. For flowers, we were lucky enough to have selected the talented Bluebell Wood Florists, who I also wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
The wedding itself went better than I could have ever imagined. We got married in front of all our families and friends with a view of the Cotswolds.
After this, it was time for a winter cocktail and capanes preferred by the hotel as we greeted all of our guests as a newly married couple! There was time here for photos – both posed and candid ones – around the beautiful grounds of Tewkesbury Park and although it was raining, it didn’t dampen the mood. Plus they say rain on your wedding day is good luck! The next step was food and speeches.
The Food with the Tewkesbury Park Winter Wedding Package
We’d had the pleasure of doing a food and wine tasting a few months previously so knew what to expect, but were still blown away by the quality and the fact our guests could choose a specific meal as opposed to having to just select a meat or a vegetarian option without knowing what it would be. While the menus have likely changed since we got married, our choices were:
Starter:
Spiced Devon crab cakes with smoked paprika aioli, kohlrabi & fennel salad
Italian soft burrata with caramelised figs, heritage tomatoes, red pepper coulis & balsamic pearls
Mains:
Pancetta wrapped corn-fed chicken supreme with braised savoy cabbage & madeira sauce
Herefordshire braised shin of beef with honey roasted heritage carrots & wild mushroom sauce
Spinach & ricotta ravioli with wild mushroom medley, mascarpone & truffle paste
Dessert:
Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce, brandy snap & salted caramel ice cream
70% bitter chocolate & white chocolate mousse with toasted hazelnut & mint ice cream
When you speak to Tewkesbury Park about your wedding, they’ll let you know more about the food options that are currently on offer.
Each dish was incredible, especially considering the scale it was being delivered to all at once. I know it’s something they’re used to doing, but I’ve been to so many weddings where the food is either cold, has small portions, or just isn’t reflective of finer dining as you might expect. Tewkesbury Park wedding breakfast ticked all the options!
What to Expect at the Evening Reception
The afternoon slowly melted into evening, drinks flowed, the speeches were given and the room gave way to tears, laughter and then general chatter.
There was a break before the evening started where the Tewkesbury Park team ushered everyone back into the Berkeley Bar for drinks and for those who hadn’t already, to check into their rooms before the DJ arrived. As the groomsmen handed out Tequila shots and the music played, the main room was transformed into a dance floor, with the tables pushed back or put away to make room for everyone to make the most of the evening.
Food-wise for the evening, we opted for their ‘night at the fair’ package which included hot dogs, burgers, doughnuts, a hot chocolate station and more. It was a fantastic choice and guests really loved it!
Another beautiful part of the package was that it included sparklers, so once the rain had stopped, we all went outside into the crisp night and lit sparklers together – it was one of the most magical parts of the day and a really beautiful touch from Tewkesbury Park Hotel’s wedding package.
My Thoughts on My Tewkesbury Park Hotel Wedding
A wedding at Tewkesbury Park is special. The team and the venue goes above and beyond to make your day the most magical one of your life. They’re friendly, welcoming and incredibly efficient in every stage of the process. The packages they have are designed to ensure you get excellent value for money, while everything they do ticks all your boxes and so much more. If I had the ability to go back and change anything about the day, or the experience, I wouldn’t. I couldn’t recommend it any higher.
To find out more about Tewkesbury Park’s wedding packages please click here.
You can book a stay at Tewkesbury Park hotel here or booking.com.
