Gloucestershire &amp; Worcestershire

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I’ve attended weddings on beaches, fields, stately homes, the local pub  – hell, my own was in a Welsh castle! – and everyone’s idea of the perfect ‘I do’ is very personal. But if you’re looking for an intimate, homely, gorgeously luxe place in which to attach your ball and chain, <a href="https://weddingweekends.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Copse</a> wedding venue just outside Henley should be right up there.
It’s hard to test out a wedding venue when you’re already married, and as Rufus Sewell is still refusing to be my second husband (no need for the restraining order though Rufus, that was a disappointing development), I did the next best thing – grabbed my Muddy editors across the counties for a bloody great big shindig…
THE LOWDOWN
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The Copse is idyllically situated down a long, narrow, country road, close to Reading and Henley (ideal for those who like to talk about the convenience of the M4 and A33 – it really is!). It’s been a family home to Penny and Tim Holley for over 20 years – but having held both her children’s weddings here, it became clear that The Copse was a stonking venue and potential business in its own right, as it can cater up for up to 120 guests and can marry couples on site. With the children gone, Penny and Tim moved to a smaller house on the grounds and now rent out The Copse full time – families can rent it out from Thursday through til Sunday (basically from wedding set up to hangover) or even for the week.
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The house, as you can see, is luxurious, but also homely and inviting with Aga, slouchy sofas, and lots of separate areas so that you don’t tumble over each other.
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There are 9 double bedrooms (be aware: the 2 bedroom above the barn will be for the party animals in the group!), including a lovely bridal suite with large bridal ‘get ready’ space, so it’s the kind of place that is absolutely perfect for weddings that involve guests coming from afar who want to stay for the weekend.
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Outside there’s an undercover Ceremony Courtyard for 120, a large terraced area with jacussi (below)…
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… and a lower level under awning for the wedding breakfast (we had our editor’s meeting under here and it was lovely to look out over the garden).
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Look, we actually work!
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At the back of the property there are further gardens, with a snuggly Arctic Cabin with BBQ facilities for roasting marshmallows (below)
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and for the party itself there’s a newly converted dedicated barn with bar AND NO CORKAGE PEOPLE!
WOW MOMENTS
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Well, the 14-seater velvet seated cinema isn’t too shabby! You can stream the TV through it too. And I would have loved to try out the terrace jacussi, only it was one of the many searingly hot days in summer and I couldn’t bear to get even hotter.
The food was also exceptional – we had canapés and dinner catered for by Oxfordshire-based private chef R<a href="https://www.rebeccabarrettcooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ebecca Barrett</a> and I’d recommend her in a flash, she’s a real talent whether you’re thinking weddings, dinner parties or nibbles on the lawn.
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Rebecca, on the right, focusing hard
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Unflappable, exacting with her food, and impressive all the way to dessert and back, even the canapés were getting oohs and ahhs (big up in particular to the honey roasted mini chorizos with confit garlic and mayo, below!)
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Dinner itself was served inside – I think this shot was taken in the early evening while we were still relatively sensible and well behaved (it didn’t last long).
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The Muddy team
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We started with a Trio of Beetroot Salad – Golden, Candied and Roasted Purple Beetroot with Radish Tops,  Homemade Yoghurt Curd Cream, Candied Walnuts, Honey Dressing and Dill Powder, beautifully presented.
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Mains notched it up even higher, a Sous Vide Cannon of Lamb with a Lamb Neck Bonbon, Carrot Puree, Roasted Asparagus, Steamed Baby Carrots, Buttered Jersey Royals and a Roasted Red Wine and Lamb Jus.
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And dessert knocked it out of the ballpark with a Lemon and Blueberry Meringue Pie- Set Lemon Posset, with a Blueberry Compote, Vanilla Shortbread topped with Swiss Meringue, Raspberries,  Blueberries and Freeze Dried Raspberries.
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THE USP
What makes The Copse different to other rural wedding venues? Well, you have the run of the place – all 20 acres of it. Plus – a massive advantage in my opinion – you get the freedom to use your own caterers, bring your own booze and decorate the house as you would like (there’s a treasure trove stable of gorgeous stuff that you can borrow for free if you want to utilise candles, table settings, flower trugs etc).
Also, it’s fun that you can easily walk en masse across the Mapledurham Estate to the well-regarded local pub <a href="https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/packhorse/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Packhorse</a> in 10 minutes, or you’re a stretch-of-the-legs 3 miles away from the brilliant <a href="http://www.thecrookedbillet.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Crooked Billet</a> in Stoke Row or a 10 minute drive from Henley if you want to show off one of the prettiest towns in England.
THE COST
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£3,000 for a weekend stay (between 18 of you that’s a steal), and £18,000 for top end wedding weekends. The website is showing no availability until 2020 BUT couples/families can reserve dates for 4 weeks (for free!) while they’re deciding if they want to go ahead with a booking, so it’s very possible that dates showing as booked will become available. There are, for example, some free dates currently remaining in 2019, so the best thing is to get in touch about availability.
THE MUDDY VERDICT
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GOOD FOR: ‘Good’ doesn’t quite cover this one. How about, ‘Awesome for’… Relaxed groups who want to socialise for a weekend rather than a rushed night. Anyone wanting to mix home comforts and luxury. Being able to stay for the 3 nights and 4 days with 18 all together (from Thursday or Friday so you can set up the venue as you want) is a lovely idea. Also a more relaxing way for kids to join in. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome.
NOT FOR: A bride and groom looking for decadent, rampant ‘privacy’ might not have as much of it as they’d like with so many others around! All music and dancing is confined to the barn which might not suit wilder partiers.
<a href="https://weddingweekends.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Copse</a>, Mill Lane, Kidmore End, Oxon, RG4 9HA. Tel: 01189 722772.

Who wants to get married at The Copse?

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