FIRLE PLACE WEDDINGS

Apr 12, 2021WEDDING PLANNING

Why get married at Firle Place?

Are you looking for a beautiful, exclusive wedding venue in Sussex? Maybe you’re wondering what Firle Place weddings are like? Wedding planning can be really exciting and a little overwhelming. Here’s why you should absolutely consider getting married at Firle Place – from the logistics of wedding planning to the best wedding photography tips.

About the Venue – 

Imagine saying your vows in a room infused with heritage and history followed by reception drinks in the sunshine to then celebrate the night away in the Georgian Riding School.

Firle Place is a unique wedding venue only half and hour drive from Brighton. It’s set in this gorgeous privately owned Manor House nestled in the heart of the South Downs National Park which mixes a Georgian exterior and Tudor interior. It boasts beautiful secret gardens and a majestic Riding School, you’ll be spoiled for backdrops for your wedding photos.

The house and grounds have been the setting for many TV shows and films such as Jonathan Creek and Emma.

Hi, I’m Manon – Sussex wedding photographer.

I create intimate wedding photographs filled with emotion for couples who follow their hearts and I’d love to share my knowledge with you so that you can plan the magical wedding you deserve.

Everything you need to know about Firle Place Weddings – 

Address: Firle Place, Firle, Lewes BN8 6NS 

The main entrance to Firle Place is on the left as you come into the village from the A27, situated between Wick Street and Firle Bostal. Since this is a private estate, you’ll need to get in touch to book a viewing.

Contact: to book, call 07788 446621 or email weddings@firle.com.

Quick facts and pros of a Firle Place wedding –

• Historic wedding venue


• Sanctioned for civil ceremonies

• Choice of different outdoor and indoor spaces for your wedding

• Creative and styling freedom for a truly bespoke wedding

• Countless photo opportunities

• Sanctioned for civil ceremonies


Couple romantically holding each other during their wedding

Firle Place wedding prices and capacity –

Prices vary depending on what your priorities are for the day, which spaces you would like to use and the number of guests you’re having so the best thing is to enquire straight with Firle Place and book a viewing. However, here’s a quick list of the spaces that are available and their capacity. 

The Courtyard, The Great Hall, Little Hall, The Old Billiard Room and The Georgian Riding School at Firle Place are all sanctioned for civil ceremonies.

• The Courtyard – In a beautiful atrium-style, this is a gorgeous and unique setting for your ceremony and can host up to 150 seated guests. 

• The Great Hall – For the first time in history you can now say your vows in this beautiful room with original Tudor features surrounded by up to 120 guests.

• The Old Billiard Room – Ideal for smaller wedding parties, this beautiful room features Edwardian wallpaper and has a capacity of 50 people.

• Little Hall – With a capacity for 30 people this is the perfect setting for an intimate wedding ceremony with your loved ones.

• The Georgian Riding School & Croquet Lawns – This is a beautiful rustic-chic backdrop for your civil ceremony, your wedding reception or both! It can host up to 250 guests.

• St Peter’s Church – Although weddings are reserved for village residents and Church attendees, you can hold a blessing ceremony here as long as you book well in advance. Make sure you ask the venue manager at Firle Place if this is something you’d like to do.

• The South Lawn & Dell Gardens – Stunning grounds in front of the historic house for a beautiful Sussex country wedding. These can host up to 200 guests.

• Herb Garden & Orchard – This is the perfect choice for a more relaxed and intimate vibe of up to 100 people, especially if you’d like to have your symbolic ceremony outside.

How to get married at Firle Place –

The first step is to get in touch with the venue and check their availability. You can then book a viewing and discuss options and prices in detail as well as get a feel for the place.

You’ll need to decide if you’d like the legal ceremony to take place at Firle Place, whether you’d like to do a symbolic ceremony or just hold the wedding reception there. Either way, planning your wedding at Firle Place is bound to add the “wow” factor.

Now the fun part begins: start putting the different design elements together to style your wedding in a way that feels authentic and true to yourselves. I always recommend booking a stylist or wedding planner for this as I truly believe it will save you a lot of stress and it’s a way of making your budget stretch further but there are also plenty of resources online to help you style your own wedding. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like me to point you in the right direction.

Wedding coordinator Bryony tells me that on average, couples who want to get married at Firle Place tend to book 18 to 24 months in advance so don’t snooze!

Firle Place wedding ceremonies – 

The registrars can walk you through the legalities and specific details of your wedding ceremony but I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you to customise this part of the day as much as possible. After all, this is the most important bit!

Making a playlist, including meaningful readings and writing your own vows are all great ways of personalising your wedding ceremony. If either of you has different backgrounds or roots you could think about including some of those traditions too. The ancient tradition of warming the rings or handfasting ceremony are also great ideas of making your wedding unique and memorable.

Q&A with Bryony, wedding coordinator at Firle Place – 

Can you tell me a little about a couple’s journey once they choose to have their wedding at Firle Place?

“Firle place has different options available for couples for both their civil ceremonies and wedding receptions and so the first step is to decide where on the Estate you’d like to hold your wedding.

Have you fallen in love with our Georgian Riding School for your reception or is a marquee on the private South Lawns more your vibe? Do you want a church wedding at the beautiful St Peters Church in Firle village, or are you more interested in a civil ceremony at Firle Place itself?”

What five words best describe the spirit of Firle Place?

“Spectacular, Historic, Elegant, Rural, Bespoke”

What is your favorite feature of Firle Place? 

“It’s just stunningly beautiful and so unspoilt. So much so that it was chosen as the set for the recent film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma. It was very exciting to have the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy and Bill Nighy at Firle!”

What tip would you give couples looking for their dream wedding venue?

“Make a list of prerequisites before you start looking for your venue. Research is everything and the power of google makes this incredibly easy!

They should ask themselves what kind of wedding style they are looking for and also they should be realistic about their budget. Ask lots of questions before even booking a viewing as this will save all parties lots of time.”

Do couples getting married at Firle Place have full creative reign?

“Absolutely, the beauty of a wedding at Firle Place is that each and every one can be totally unique.”

What would you like to educate couples and suppliers about when it comes to the behind-the-scenes of your work?

“Firle Place is unique in that it is still a private country house and estate and so couples and suppliers should understand that the family at Firle are sharing this unique environment with them. Rather than a hotel-style venue which prescribes many aspects of the wedding, we are offering couples the chance to be very different. No set menus, no predetermined decoration but a stunning backdrop to make their own.”

What’s your favourite part of a wedding?

I love watching everyone arrive and enjoy their first few drinks in our stunning grounds. When guests arrive at Firle Place, they drive up a sweeping 1km private driveway, and when the House comes into view they are absolutely blown away by its beauty. I never tire of watching that reaction!

What are your favourite sources of inspiration for your work?

“I like to follow trendsetters, and also interesting suppliers in all areas of wedding production, on various social media platforms. I think Instagram and Pinterest are still excellent ways to connect with trends and great suppliers. From photographers,  florists and stylists through to caterers, musicians and cake makers, there is so much creativity out there, and so following their ideas and projects is very inspirational.”

Do you have any projects on the horizon you’d like to tell us about?

“We are planning some great new developments at Firle for weddings but it’s all top secret whilst in the planning stages!” Keep your eyes open!

Is there on-site accommodation at Firle Place?

No, but there is a range of lovely accommodation close by. Both The Ram Inn and the Blue Door Barns are fantastic choices.

Do you provide a planning and styling service?

Yes, we can provide a full planning and styling service, and everything else in between, through our amazing partners Blue Door Weddings.

Natural, intimate and romantic wedding photos

How to get the best wedding photos at Firle Place or any other venue – 

Time passes faster than you think and your wedding day goes by in a blur. I believe that you deserve photos that capture who you are, the emotions and your love story in a truthful, effortless way so that you never forget your wedding or the way you felt.

Weddings are a collection of moments that represent your life together and all the days that have led you here. They’re a celebration of love, friendship and all the values that are important to you. Your love is unique and I believe that you deserve meaningful wedding photos that honour your story and capture who you are.

The Answer Is Simple: to get beautiful, natural wedding photos you need a photographer who cares and who will take the time to get to know you BEFORE your wedding. It’s my job to create a space where you feel comfortable and you can be yourselves, unapologetically. This is why I exclusively photograph 20 weddings per year. Due to my limited availability, I recommend you get in touch early to avoid disappointment. 

There are countless photo opportunities in this exclusive wedding venue, both outside and inside. As a wedding photographer, I would always recommend working on your timeline carefully with your photographer to ensure that you’re taking the light into account when it comes to the ceremony, family photos and couple portraits.

Are you after a relaxed and creative wedding photographer who will capture who you are and the moments that matter most in a natural, effortless way?

Here are my top wedding photography tips:

  1. Choose a wedding photographer you trust and whose work you love.

As a wedding photographer, I truly believe everyone can look great in photos as long as they’re comfortable and having a good time. Your wedding photographer will be with you all day and your wedding photos will forever be attached to the way you felt so it’s important you choose someone whose personality you like. Have a chat with your photographer before booking, whether it’s in person or via video call. This will give you a good idea of whether you’re a good fit or not.

  1. Consider the light.

The light sets the mood. If you’ve booked a great wedding photographer, I’m sure they will have already thought of this and perhaps even mentioned it to you. When planning your wedding timeline take into account the sunrise and sunset time as well as when the sun will be at its highest as this will vary depending on the location and time of year. 

  1. Golden hour.

I always ask my couples to set aside ten to fifteen minutes for couple portraits around one hour before sunset on their wedding day. I do this not only because this is the best light for photos but also because usually by this point you’ll be more relaxed. It’s also a great time to sneak away from everyone and spend some time together to reconnect. Trust me, you won’t regret it.

  1. Consider the weather.

In England, it’s always a good idea to prepare for rain but you might also want to make sure you’re prepared for a really hot summer’s day. Clear plastic umbrellas are great for taking snuggly couple portraits outside if there’s a light rain as they will let the light through so your faces won’t be too dark. If it’s a really hot sunny day it’s a good idea to use big trees or buildings for shade rather than have everyone standing in the blazing sun.

manon x

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Hi, I'm Manon - documentary wedding photographer capturing love stories in Brighton, London and destination weddings worldwide.

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