Wondering what it’s like to get married at Pelham House in Lewes?

If you’re looking to get married in Sussex, you absolutely should take a look at this elegant and exclusive wedding venue in the heart of Lewes with on-site accommodation and a secret private garden overlooking the South Downs. On this blog post you’ll find all the info about Pelham House weddings, from the logistics to wedding photography tips.

Hi, I’m Manon – a documentary wedding photographer in Sussex.

I create intimate wedding photographs filled with emotion for couples who follow their hearts. I’m here to share my knowledge and expertise about wedding planning with you because I believe every couple deserves to have the wedding of their dreams.

About the Venue – 

Pelham House is a luxurious 16th-century Georgian townhouse recently transformed into a magical wedding venue. It combines original features with art deco style which is the perfect setting for a modern, elegant wedding in Lewes. Such a short drive away from Brighton!

Since Pelham House also offers accommodation, you can create an immersive Sussex wedding experience for you and your guests. This is a great idea if you’d like to spend more quality time with your guests and make your wedding extra memorable for everyone.

There will be no shortage of stunning backdrops for your wedding photos whether it’s at the townhouse, in the beautiful private garden or walking around the surrounding lanes!

Everything you need to know about Pelham House Weddings –

Email: weddings@pelhamhouse.co.uk

Phone Number: 01273 030203

Address:  St Andrew’s Ln, Lewes BN7 1UW

How to get there: Pelham House is located right in the centre of Lewes so it’s really easy to get there by car, train or bus. Only a 30-minute drive from Brighton and from the Lewes Train Station it’s a short 5 minute walk!

Quick facts and pros of Pelham House weddings –

• Exclusive use
• Sanctioned for civil ceremonies
• On-site accommodation
• Central location so easily accessible
• Countless photo opportunities
• Private garden
• On-site catering team

Pelham House weddings: prices and capacity –

Prices vary depending on what your priorities are for the day and the number of guests you’re having so I recommend getting in touch directly with Pelham House to discuss this. To get you started, here’s a list of the spaces available and their capacity. 

The Goring Room and The Gazeebo are both sanctioned for civil ceremonies which means you can choose between an outdoor or indoor ceremony.

• The Goring Room – A beautiful room with plenty of daylight that can host a big wedding party or a more intimate gathering for your ceremony. It has a capacity of up to 125 seated guests.

• The Blencowe Room – Wood panelling and art dec lighting are the perfect combination for your wedding reception and to party the night away. It can host up to 150 seated guests for your wedding breakfast and up to 200 for the evening reception.

• The Garden Room – Is a beautiful, sun-drenched room with a feature bar. Perfect for receptions drinks!

• The Gazeebo – Sanctioned for civil ceremonies, the gazebo is set in Pelham House’s private garden. This is a great choice for a relaxed and peaceful outdoor ceremony with an intimate feel.

• The Pelham Suite – Gorgeous and comfy, not only is this the perfect room for your wedding night but it’s also a great room to get ready in. It has plenty of natural daylight and quite a bit of space for you and your wedding squad.

• The Dressing Room – If you’ve decided to sleep away form the venue the night before your wedding, this room is perfect for last minute touch ups when you arrive on site before your wedding ceremony.

How to get married at Pelham House –

To avoid disappointment, start by getting in touch with the wedding venue to book a viewing and check their availability.

My personal recommendation would be to make it a weekend event and also book to stay the night. This allows you to create an immersive experience where you get to spend quality time with everyone and create more wonderful memories. 

Since Pelham House is right in the centre of Town you could plan to explore the area together either the day before or the day after the wedding. 

Don’t forget that for your ceremony to be legal you will need to get in touch with the East Sussex Registry office to book your registrar.

Pelham House weddings: ceremonies – 

You will need to contact the Registry Office in Lewes directly to inform them of your choice of wedding venue and book a registrar for your wedding date. Unless of course, you do the legal ceremony on a different day and choose to have a symbolic ceremony at Pelham House instead. 

The rest is up to you! Walk in together, separately, with a wedding squad or choose to walk in with someone special. Your wedding ceremony is the most important part of the day so make sure you personalise it as much as you can so that it feels special and uniquely you.

Best wedding photography spots at Pelham House – 

The townhouse itself is beautifully decorated and offers many wedding photo opportunities but you also have the private garden and the surrounding streets of Lewes. The beautiful doorway and steps of Pelham House are also a great backdrop for a sparkler exit wedding photo!

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. 

How to get the best wedding photos – 

Here are my top tips for great wedding photos:

• The most important thing to consider is the light. Depending on the time of day the light will be completely different which will, in turn, give your wedding photos a completely different vibe. For example, I always ask my couples to set aside 15 to 20 minutes around golden hour so that we can create beautiful, intimate couple portraits. You can check daylight hours and golden hour by doing a quick search on Google or using an app. If you’re getting married in the height of summer, consider having the ceremony a bit later for example. This will give your photos a softer light and it will also prevent your guests from getting heatstroke.
• The second thing to consider is… you’ve guessed, the weather! Prepare for rain, anything else is a bonus. If you’re able to embrace whatever the weather throws at you, you’ll have the time of your life regardless and that will show in the photos. Clear plastic umbrellas are a great way of doing photos outside if a light rain is falling because they let the light through so your faces won’t be too dark while keeping you dry.
• Don’t create a shot list. Trying to recreate inspiration images from Pinterest can hinder your photographer’s creativity but most importantly, those are someone else’s memories. Your wedding day is uniquely yours so you should focus on creating your own memories rather than recreating someone else’s.

It’s always a good idea to talk about these things with your photographer beforehand as they will be the best person to advise you!