A Historic Dorset Wedding Venue
Cerne Abbey is one of the most beautiful and historic places you could marry in the South West. It sits in the Dorset village of Cerne Abbas, beneath the hill with the Cerne Abbas Giant, and has been a much-loved family home for many years.
After a thousand years, we have only just started holding weddings here, and we would be delighted to host your special day.
The Essentials
- Exclusive use
- The grounds and the courtyard are yours for the day.
- Guests
- Up to 150 for dinner and dancing.
- Venue hire
- From £5,000.
- Ceremonies
- Licensed for civil ceremonies, by the Abbot's Porch or in the Monument courtyard; blessings also welcome.
- Church weddings
- St Mary's Church is 150 metres away.
- Catering
- Your own caterers, with free use of our commercial kitchen.
- Drinks
- Bring your own with no corkage, or a bar by arrangement.
- Getting ready
- Exclusive use of the Master en-suite bedroom in the house.
- Parking
- Private parking, with overflow at Kettle Bridge car park.
- Marquee
- Room for a marquee in the courtyard, by arrangement.
Overnight accommodation is not part of the wedding offer.
A Ceremony at Cerne Abbey
Cerne Abbey is licensed for civil ceremonies, so couples can marry in the grounds, on the lawn beside the medieval Abbot's Porch or in the Monument courtyard. The abbey also hosts blessings and symbolic ceremonies for something less formal.
And for a church wedding, St Mary's Church is just 150 metres away, one of the most natural church-and-reception pairings in Dorset, with many couples marrying there before walking back through the village to celebrate in the grounds.
A Grade I Listed Dorset Setting
The heart of the abbey is the old Monument courtyard, with its ancient stone buildings and the lawn between them. There are centuries of history in the walls, and it makes a lovely, peaceful setting for a wedding at any time of year.
Around it lie the lawns and the quiet of the Cerne Valley, with room for drinks, dining and photographs.
Wedding Photography at Cerne Abbey
Few places give a photographer this much to work with: medieval stonework, the courtyard and old walls, the lawns, and long views over the Dorset countryside.
The light and the setting change with the seasons, so the abbey looks lovely whatever the time of year.
What We Offer
Historic Courtyard
The old Monument courtyard at the heart of the abbey.
Wedding Receptions
Room for drinks, dining and celebrating in the grounds.
Photography Locations
Medieval buildings, stonework, lawns and countryside views.
Church Ceremony
St Mary's Church is 150 metres away for a church service.
Getting Ready
Exclusive use of the Master en-suite bedroom to get ready on the day.
Catering Kitchen
An on-site commercial kitchen, free for your own caterers to use.
Bring Your Own Drinks
You are welcome to bring your own drinks, with no corkage charge.
Marquee Potential
Room for a marquee in the Monument courtyard, by arrangement.
What a Wedding Here Includes
The abbey is yours on an exclusive-use basis, so the grounds are yours and your guests' for the day. The wedding party also has exclusive use of the Master en-suite bedroom in the house on the day, a private space to gather and get ready before the ceremony.
You bring your own caterers, who are free to use our on-site commercial kitchen, and you are welcome to bring your own drinks with no corkage charge. It is a flexible, dry-hire-style approach that lets you shape the day your own way, with a bar available by arrangement if you would prefer one.
It suits intimate weddings just as well as larger celebrations, with room for up to 150 guests, whether seated for the wedding breakfast or standing. There is room for a marquee in the Monument courtyard if you would like one, and catering and other suppliers can all be arranged to suit the style of your day. Packages start from £5,000, and we are happy to shape things around the day you have planned. Please do get in touch.
Weddings at Cerne Abbey: FAQs
Can we hold our wedding ceremony at Cerne Abbey?
Yes. Cerne Abbey is licensed for civil ceremonies, which can be held on the lawn beside the Abbot's Porch or in the Monument courtyard. The abbey also hosts blessings and symbolic ceremonies, and St Mary's Church is 150 metres away for a church wedding.
How many guests can Cerne Abbey accommodate for a wedding?
Cerne Abbey can host weddings of up to 150 guests within the historic grounds, courtyards and buildings of the estate. Smaller, intimate weddings are equally welcome, and we are happy to shape the day around your numbers.
Is St Mary's Church nearby for a church ceremony?
Yes, St Mary's Church in Cerne Abbas is about 150 metres from Cerne Abbey, which makes it a natural pairing for couples who wish to have a church ceremony followed by a reception in the abbey grounds.
Will we have the abbey to ourselves on the day?
Yes. For the day, the grounds are yours and your guests' to enjoy, with no rush and no sharing, just the abbey, your family and your friends.
Can the wedding party get ready at the abbey?
Yes. The wedding party has exclusive use of the Master en-suite bedroom in the house on the day, a private space to gather and get ready before the ceremony. This is a daytime getting-ready space included with the wedding; overnight accommodation is not part of the wedding offer.
Can we bring our own caterers and drinks?
Yes. You bring your own caterers, who are free to use our on-site commercial kitchen, and you are welcome to bring your own drinks with no corkage charge.
Is Cerne Abbey a dry-hire wedding venue?
Yes, in spirit. You bring your own caterers, who have free use of our commercial kitchen, and your own drinks with no corkage, so the day is shaped your way. A bar can be arranged if you would prefer one.
Can we have a small or intimate wedding at Cerne Abbey?
Yes. Smaller weddings suit the abbey just as well as larger celebrations, and we are happy to shape the day around your numbers. The estate is historic, with some uneven surfaces and steps, so do ask us about access when you enquire.
How It Works
- 1
Send an enquiry with your date and rough numbers.
- 2
We will reply with our weddings overview and answer anything you want to know.
- 3
Come and see the abbey for yourself, with no obligation at all.
Come and See It
The best way to get a feel for the abbey is to come and look round. Do get in touch and we will arrange a visit.
Arrange a Visit