About Abbotsbury
About Abbotsbury Weddings
The beauty of the Subtropical Gardens – a perfect wedding venue.
We have an amazing setting for you to celebrate with family and friends. 30-acre of subtropical garden to yourself and your guests from 5pm. The “gardens” offer amazing backgrounds for gorgeous photographs and videos.
Hold your ceremony in an exclusive area accessed via a private gateway. As your guests look on, take your vows in our charming Wedding Gazebo, licensed for civil ceremonies.
The Wedding Marquee nestles amid exotic planting on the stunning West Lawn. Seating up to 120 people, this light and airy space with clear panelled walls and wide entrances allows guests to feel they are truly a part of the gardens.
We would be delighted to welcome you to view the gardens so you can see this unique and magical wedding venue.
To find out more about weddings at Abbotsbury, please select from the following options:
About Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens
The gardens offer a unique and stunning setting for your special day with a spectacular backdrop for photographs.
Our Subtropical Gardens was established in 1765 by the first countess of Ilchester as a kitchen garden for her nearby castle. The gardens cover 30 acres and are filled with exotic and spectacular plants from all over the world.
The garden has achieved many accolades. Alan Titchmarsh said we are “one of the finest gardens I have ever visited” and HAA/Christie’s voted us garden of the year in 2012.
In 2015 we celebrated our 250th anniversary.
In 2017, we opened our brand new Wedding Marquee, a light, airy enclosed space within the West Lawn of the Gardens, capable of accommodating a wedding party of up to 120 guests.
From a small and intimate ceremony only, to a large ceremony and reception – the Subtropical Gardens is a wedding venue that suits both.
If you wish to stay in the area for longer, Luxury Dorset Cottages have five beautiful 5 star cottages, four within a stone’s throw of the Subtropical Gardens.
Situated on the south coast approximately 8 miles from the coastal towns of Weymouth and Bridport, our Subtropical Gardens is situated in the quaint historic village of Abbotsbury. With its charming homes to guest houses and village shops it also boasts the Swannery for a wildlife adventure with over 600 swans and Abbey Farm – a new hub for artisan creative businesses.
To find out more about the gardens at Abbotsbury, please visit:
About Abbotsbury Village
The village of Abbotsbury is idyllic, nestled in a valley between Bridport and Weymouth, alongside the expanse of Chesil Beach.
Your heart will skip a beat as you descend the coast road down into Abbotsbury. Before you is the iconic St Catherine’s Chapel, perched upon the hill overlooking Abbotsbury itself. Beyond, Chesil Beach snakes ever-eastwards towards Weymouth and Portland.
If you carry on along the coast road, passing the turning to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, you are greeted by charming thatched cottages on either side.
The village is sheltered by surrounding ridgeway hills, which affords it a warm microclimate, which is one of the reasons why exotic plants can survive and thrive at the Subtropical Gardens. Other attractions in the village include the Swannery, whose history goes back to the 11th Century, and Children’s Farm situated in a former tithe barn.
