country houses for wedding

[911newbie]

Me and my finace are thinking of finally getting married. Gulp.

We want to find a nice country house in Devon or Cornwall which we can rent out for a week or so in the summer (next year), and invite all of our family and mates to visit, coming and going as they please. We're hoping friends and family would help out with catering (at least some of it) and entertainment (100% of it). About 150-200 guests for the main wedding and celebration.

Any ideas for possible locations ? Any ideas of websites for hire of country mansions ?
Tried English Heritage and Nation Trust and nothing suitable.

We realise this is going to be expensive but it's probably just as and no more so than a traditional wedding with church hire, reception do, formal clothes etc.

Cheers !

[jacobyte]

I'm hiring a country house in Hampshire for my wedding in June 2005. It's costing over £10,000 for 24 hours so for a week prepare to fork out! Hope you enjoy it as much as I hope to enjoy mine!

[mybrainhurts]

Doomed.....you're all doomed

[ATG]

Are you having a civil ceremony? If so, and you want the ceremony to be held at the house, you could see if the local authority (registrar of birth, marriages and deaths) has a list of places licensed to host civil ceremonies. That is the starting point bird and I are using. For example, Kent registration services list 150 licensed venues along with some useful info (number of guests venue can handle) and some useless info (whether or not they have a gazebo).