Get in touchFor couples seeking a wedding venue that embodies timeless elegance, historic grandeur, and picture-perfect surroundings, Stowe House in Buckinghamshire offers an experience unlike any other. Nestled within 880 acres of landscaped gardens, this iconic 18th-century mansion has been the backdrop for countless love stories, including that of Nisha and Nikesh, whose multicultural wedding celebration was nothing short of magical. But is Stowe House truly the perfect place to say “I do”?
What sets Stowe House apart from other wedding venues is not just its stunning architecture and opulent interiors, but the emotional resonance that echoes through every hall and staircase. Couples are drawn to its blend of classical beauty and exclusive charm. The State Rooms offer the ideal setting for both intimate vows and grand receptions. With space for up to 180 guests and flexible options for ceremonies and evening celebrations, this is a venue that gracefully accommodates every vision, from traditional to contemporary and everything in between.
When Nisha and Nikesh envisioned their big day, they sought a location that could honour their heritage while delivering a refined, unforgettable experience for their guests. Stowe House exceeded every expectation. From a serene ceremony within the Marble Saloon to vibrant cultural traditions woven into the reception, their wedding was a celebration of love, unity, and elegance. The couple praised not only the beauty of the venue but also the impeccable service that made them feel supported every step of the way.
Nisha sent me a photo on Instagram of an Indian wedding that took place at Stowe House, with a message reading “we HAVE to get married here!”
Since the venue was unlike anything we’d seen before, we initially thought it was in Greece! Pleased to find out it was much closer to home in the UK, the uniqueness and grandeur of the venue made it our No. 1 place in which we wanted to get married. When we came for the venue tour, as soon as we walked into the Music Room, it took our breath away and we could visualise our big day unfolding in each of the rooms. As was ever the case, it was the first venue that we saw and the one which we ended up going with!
Initially we were unsure about having a sit-down meal in one room and the party element of our reception in another room, but it worked seamlessly, and we had nothing to worry about. We’re so glad we took the leap to do things differently!
Where do we begin?! The organisation of the team was superb, and no details were missed in the planning of our wedding day. The team organised site visits directly with our suppliers and were on hand to answer all our questions – and we had a lot of them since we started planning our wedding 18 months in advance! The Stowe team went above and beyond, not only catering for us but also being on hand to assist our friends and families on the day. They always remained positive and adaptable – welcoming every updated schedule we shared and even accommodating and recommending the use of one of the rooms for an on the day small creche 2 weeks before our wedding day!
I think this best summarises how well the planning and preparation from the team was: 2 hours into our day, before the main part of the ceremony had even begun, we were told we were running AHEAD of schedule (something that is a rarity in Indian weddings!)
One moment was before our entrance for the reception. We had some time to absorb the fact that we just got married, be with each other without needing to move onto the next part of our schedule and seize the moment. This was particularly special because we got to appreciate all the hard work we had put into planning the wedding and appreciate each other for the first time as husband and wife. I remember us both being in disbelief of how fast the day was going and that it was ACTUALLY happening! But also, so proud that we pulled it all off and that we were having the best day of our lives!
This was one of the highlights of the day. Both sets of families brought so much energy, and it was the perfect way to kick off the wedding! I knew I wanted to go with a classic car to match the historic vibe of the venue and grounds, which I had already seen in a previous wedding at Stowe so I knew it would be perfect. The only caveat was that my brother and I needed to learn how to drive this car in less than 10 minutes, on the morning of the wedding! It was the quickest driving test ever! Everything else seemed to come together so seamlessly and everyone seemed to have a genuine buzz even before the entrance had begun! As soon as the Dhol players started, everyone was cheering, and this took my nerves away and only brought excitement about the day to come. An extra special shoutout to my groomsmen who came through with multicoloured flares which added to the vibrancy and excitement of the entrance – and made for great photos!
As a bride, my wedding outfits were something I had dreamed about for a long time. I couldn’t wait to go shopping and try on lots of different styles! I was lucky enough to find my Indian ceremony outfit on my first shopping trip with my family and knew it was the one when I walked out of the changing rooms and everyone welled up! Even now when I look back on the photos and videos, I fall in love with it all over again.
Nikesh’s approach to his reception outfit was to order the same suit, but in 12 different configurations of sizes! Who knew men had so many options of length and fit!
Both of our wedding ceremony outfits were from Monga’s in Southall, Nisha’s reception outfit was a Seema Gujral design from Estie Couture and Nikesh’s reception outfit was from Moss Bros.
With the wow factor of the Marble Hall, we knew we wanted to keep our décor minimal to be complementary rather than overpowering. We chose a classic style with white and green foliage and opted to add segments of pastel pinks to add some colour to our day. This also matched Nisha’s outfit perfectly and those of our families as well as complimenting the light pink of the room.
We took inspiration from the Instagram page of our décor company (Bandhan Events) and the weddings they had worked so hard to bring to life in previous years. Based on these photos and videos, we were able to select the mandap we wanted.
Wedding planning was a mix of everything, excitement, stress and anticipation. We were fortunate that we had attended a few friend’s weddings which gave us a good idea about the flow of the day we wanted and helped in finding some suppliers we wanted to use. As we didn’t have a wedding planner, Instagram was our source of inspiration and became our supplier directory where we reached out to those we felt we’d be comfortable working with.
All of the suppliers were great and we were so happy we were able to work with them to deliver the wedding that we envisaged! Roti & Co. were the best catering company we could have gone with, they were able to accommodate every request we threw at them – they even made Nisha a special pizza (her favourite food) on the day! They made sure that as the Bride & Groom, we got to experience all the food, even bringing us the Canapes to try whilst having our evening pre-shoot!
Our décor company Bandhan events were also great at delivering our wedding. Bhav was on hand literally 24/7 to answer any questions we had and was also helpful in offering advice on how to best set-up the décor for the venue. It was the first time Bandhan had worked at Stowe but we always knew they could deliver, and they did! It’s so nice to now see them as a recommended supplier at Stowe 🙂
Our guests were blown away by the stunning venue. One guest described the wedding ceremony as if we were getting married in the Pantheon in Italy! Our guests were also impressed with how everything ran on time or was in fact ahead of schedule – unheard of with Indian weddings!
As much as you want everything to run on time, make sure you take the extra 10 or 15 minutes with your partner to soak up the day and be present in the moment. The wedding day flies by and you can quickly get pulled into what’s next on the schedule or mingling with your guests but spending that time together as a couple and taking a moment is priceless.
A venue walkthrough with close family and friends (those in your wedding party) is something we’d highly recommend. It puts everyone at ease, especially if it’s a venue that they haven’t been to before and helps you visualise the flow of the day much better than on paper. It also helps to add even more excitement about your special day!
Stowe House is more than just a venue. It is a destination where history, elegance, and romance come together to create an extraordinary wedding experience. Set within expansive landscaped gardens in the heart of Buckinghamshire, this grand stately home offers a truly timeless setting for your special day.
From the moment you arrive, you are welcomed into a world of classical architecture, breathtaking views, and meticulously preserved interiors. Whether you envision an intimate ceremony or a lavish celebration, Stowe House offers versatile event spaces such as the stunning Marble Hall and the enchanting State Dining Room. Each is full of character and charm.
Couples enjoy exclusive access to the venue, ensuring privacy and the freedom to make the space uniquely theirs. The experienced events team at Stowe House is dedicated to making your vision a reality. They provide tailored support and seamless coordination every step of the way.
If you are searching for a wedding venue that balances rich heritage with impeccable service, Stowe House promises a day that is as meaningful as it is magnificent. Let your love story begin in a place as timeless as your vows.
