Ettington Park

The team at Ettington Park Hotel make the day feel calm and well organised, which is a real help when you’re photographing a wedding. Things flow smoothly, so couples and guests can relax and you can catch natural moments without making anyone feel rushed or posed. The food is another highlight, from the wedding breakfast to the evening food, with lovely presentation and service that guests remember. There are beautiful places to shoot in every kind of weather, indoors and out, whether it’s drinks, portraits or sunset photos. The hotel suits both smaller weddings and grand celebrations, with gorgeous gardens, sweeping stairs, grand windows and dramatic architecture. When you arrive at this Gothic mansion in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, it has the feel of stepping into a period drama. It’s a romantic, slightly magical setting, and I’d be very happy to photograph here again. Dawn & Carl x

Our wedding day in autumn 2025 was wonderful, and the whole process had been just as good, from viewing the venue and planning right through to the day itself. The staff were polite, knew their stuff and made service a priority. Our guests loved staying at the hotel and keep saying it was the best wedding. We’re already looking forward to coming back for our 1 year anniversary, and maybe anniversary parties too. Sam, Olivia, Ricardo, Ellie, Rory, Ollie, Tracey and Lewis all went far beyond their roles to make the ceremony and reception unforgettable. There are too many lovely people to name. The photo isn’t from the wedding itself, it’s from one of our viewings and tasting sessions.

Chloe was a brilliant wedding coordinator. She kept in touch for months, answered every question and never made anything feel like too much trouble. On the day, Sam and Lilly helped everything run smoothly, while the staff set up and decorated indoors and outside exactly as I wanted. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. We fell in love with Ettington Park as a venue, and choosing it was the best decision we made. Our guests loved the place and said how lovely the staff were. The wedding breakfast was lovely too, and the chefs catered to our preferences. One bartender even decorated the glasses for our reception drinks, such a thoughtful touch. Thank you to everyone at EPH for making it the best day ever. We’re looking forward to coming back for our anniversary! X

Dinner was a bright spot. The food was well cooked and enjoyable, and our server was attentive, pleasant and professional. Still, noisy children affected the restaurant atmosphere, including some crawling under their table. Another guest wore spa flip-flops to dinner, which seemed out of place in a high-end setting. There were also unsupervised, noisy children in other public areas, which took away from the calm you’d expect at this level. The suite itself was excellent, very spacious and comfortable, just what I’d expect for the price. The Christmas tree was a nice touch. But the bath had a visible scummy ring and needed a proper clean, so we didn’t use it. The building and grounds are spectacular. The welcome, unfortunately, wasn’t on the same level. No one met us at the front door, so we carried our own luggage in, and the receptionist seemed flustered and didn’t make us feel welcome. I’d booked by phone and included champagne afternoon tea, but when we mentioned it, she said she’d have to check if they were ready for us. Her colleague then had to explain that they were expecting us, making for an awkward, disorganised start. The hotel is impressive and the grounds are wonderful, but service and attention to detail were inconsistent and didn’t always seem to match the high prices.