South Lodge – West Sussex Wedding Venue

A South Lodge wedding is a luxurious way to celebrate your big day. The hotel is a 5-star wedding venue nestled in the heart of West Sussex, offering breathtaking views of the rolling South Downs. Surrounded by 93 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, this countryside retreat provides a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos, no matter the season. In spring, the gardens burst with vibrant flowers, while summer is great for outdoor ceremonies at the picturesque Pavilion or the lawn. Autumn brings a warm, rustic charm, and winter ceremonies are made cozy with roaring log fires and candlelight. It is one of my favourite West Sussex Wedding Venues, and one I hope I get to visit again soon!

Accommodation is a key highlight, with 88 elegant rooms available for your guests, including a luxurious honeymoon suite. The venue also boasts a state-of-the-art spa, where you and your guests can relax before or after the big day. When it comes to dining, South Lodge offers a range of exquisite options crafted by award-winning chefs, from seated wedding breakfasts to more casual buffets, all featuring seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. With multiple ceremony and reception spaces to suit celebrations from intimate gatherings to grand affairs, South Lodge’s dedicated wedding team ensures every detail is tailored to your vision, creating an unforgettable day for you and your loved ones​.

Stephen & Giovana’s Wedding Day

Stephen and Giovana had their wedding day on a fairly chilly September morning, but luckily with no rain! Giovana and her bridal party got ready in one of the suites at South Lodge, which was a super nice room with tonnes of natural light. The wedding ceremony was held out on the lawn, under a flower arch – very simple and elegant! The ceremony was lead by a family member, and conducted in both English and Portuguese at certain points which was a nice touch (Giovana’s family are brazilian). The drinks reception was held outside too, with some great canapes to accompany this. After a short while we headed inside for the wedding breakfast, and the room was decorated really beautifully! Lots of flowers, and personal touches on the table too. The cake table was one of the best that I’ve seen, with lots of traditional Portuguese desserts alongside the traditional cake. Once the wedding breakfast was over, Stephen, Giovana and I headed out for a short photoshoot session in the grounds of South Lodge, which resulted in some gorgeous photos!

The evening got started very promptly after this, with the newly married couple kicking things off by cutting the cake, and doing their first dance which was great! Everyone then danced the night away to the music from the wonderful band that played until middnight. All in all, this wedding day was fantastic and a contender for one of my favourites of 2024! This is a fantastic and photogenic West Sussex Wedding Venue, and one I hope I will be the photographer at again soon! If you’re looking for West Sussex Wedding Venues, a Sussex Wedding Photographer, or are specifically looking for a South Lodge Wedding Photographer, get in touch with me here! Below are 74 of the 700+ photos I delivered to this wonderful couple – and annoyingly the order is all over the place and so I apologise about that!