Five Sussex wedding venues

Five Sussex wedding venues…that I’d recommend.

Sussex wedding venues. I’ve lived in Sussex for almost 24 years, photographing weddings in the county all that time. I even shot many before, when I lived in London. I’ve seen and worked at many wedding venues in that time. It has been rather a mixed bunch, to be honest. There are a couple I avoid now – no names – and sadly a few good ones that have now closed down. There are also some I’ve only shot at once and it would be good to shoot at again. The Cherry Barn and The Secret Barn for example. But for this post, I wanted to highlight five Sussex wedding venues that I have shot at multiple times over the years and I think work well both as venues and as locations to take photographs at. For different reasons. No wedding venue is perfect, just as no wedding photographer is perfect. There are pluses and minuses to every wedding venue. Space, lighting, character, atmosphere, and how they are run and cope with weather, etc. So I am trying to be honest about the following venues, from the perspective of a wedding photographer who has captured 1000+ weddings.

So, in no particular order…

Cissbury Barns

Two old sheep barns on the South Downs, just north of Worthing. This is a favourite for me. It’s not massive, but it is all contained within flint walls. The ceremony barn for an intimate ceremony and the other barn for the meal and dancing later, as this barn is attached to the bar. A paved courtyard and a large area of lawn for the confetti run and drinks reception. Even a boules court for guests to play on and plenty of parking space. They now have a small outdoor ceremony space in amongst the surrounding trees. I’ve seen this wedding venue when it has rained all day and when the sun has set beautifully over the South Downs.

Slindon House

Slindon House is a school in Slindon on the edge of the South Downs and with a great view of the coast. That expansive terrace with that view is ideal for the drinks reception with plenty of space for wedding games and for guests to have a stroll around the fourteen-acre grounds. You can also hold an outdoor wedding ceremony on the lawns. Inside there is the Great Hall, a large space for both the wedding ceremony and the wedding meal/eveing dancing. There is also a large Orangery for drinks should any rain disrupt time on the terrace.

Buxted Park Hotel

Part of the Handpicked hotel chain, Buxted Park is a luxury country hotel not far from Uckfield, East Sussex. A Grade II listed Palladian mansion, set in acres of parkland, it has a really nice outdoor wedding ceremony spot, although it is a long walk for the bride to navigate at the start of the ceremony – that makes the picture. I’ve never seen a wedding here badly run. I’m not a massive fan of many hotel wedding venues to be honest. It often seems that the venue is just running through their set of way of doing things but not here.

Southend Barns

Southend Barns is just near Chichester and not in Essex as the name might suggest! Old barns set around a lawned courtyard, open countryside all around. The land is low here so the chance of a sunset picture in the evening is pretty good at the right time of the year. Indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces. The whole wedding, including getting ready, can take place in this one spot. I’ve shot a rounders match at sunset here, so scope to add a personal touch to a wedding day here. Another added bonus, a decent sized car park too.

Slaugham Place

The grounds of a ruined Elizabethan manor house. A ceremony outside under the arches that remain of this big old house. The moat is still there. If you want space for your wedding look no further! You’ll need good weather, or at least no rain, but a great space for guests to spread out and enjoy the location during the drinks reception. For the meal and dancing there is a very large marquee. No need to move the tables ahead of the dancing.

Five Sussex wedding venues – two barn venues, one luxury hotel, a school and a ruined manor house. I would recommend any of these venues for your Sussex wedding.