Weddings & Events at
Little Dower House
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Little Dower House is a private, 12 acre, quintessentially English house and gardens set in the Berkshire countryside. We sit right beside Windsor Great Park and Sir Elton John's Woodside estate. The grounds date back to the Renaissance period, and were once owned by King Henry VIII.
Our story
Written about a place we adore and people we love ~
by Susie and Hamish's son and his girlfriend.
Welcome to Little Dower House, where time seems to stand still and the beauty of nature takes centre stage. Owned by Susie and Hamish Macmillan for over 50 years, this enchanting property holds a captivating history. Purchased for a mere fraction by Susie's father, the estate became a labour of love for their family. Despite facing adversity, including the sudden loss of Susie's father when she was 16, Susie and her mother Iris defied societal expectations and held onto the property against all odds.
Two amazing women who fought for what they cared for.
Susie followed in Iris' footsteps by training as a Cordon Bleu cook, and together they set up their own catering company which quickly became very successful. Anyone who has had the pleasure of tasting Susie's food will know how good it feels to eat a delicious home-cooked meal ~ especially from someone whose mission and true delight in life is to make others happy! Susie should also be known as mother nature. As a gardener all her life, plants she touches grow into the most beautiful blooms, and wildlife is never far away.
Animals always seem to instinctively know to trust her.
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Hamish grew up in Yorkshire and went on to live and work all over the world, quickly realising that you can achieve extraordinary things in life and business when all that you do comes from a place of truth and integrity.
We often joke he should have been an international diplomat because there's no person he can't build a relationship with. He could make even the grumpiest of world leaders laugh. If you visit us here you'll see straight away what we mean,
and you'll certainly never forget the smile he put on your face.
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Hamish learned many great lessons from his father, Richard, who chose to spend time as a novice monk in his younger days. Just like his father, life for Hamish is not about prioritising profit, but always about serving others and spreading joy into the world. It's no wonder then that when Susie and Hamish met they fell head over heels in love and soon were married.
Just two matching souls with unbounded amounts of love to give.
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Hamish visited Little Dower House from Paris one weekend and never left. Together they had a (very, very handsome) son, Ollie, and filled his little life with lots of furry best friends, from dogs and rabbits to rescue horses.
Sharing the same entrepreneurial spirit, Susie and Hamish went on to start up another small business ~ Going to Pot ~ selling beautiful silk flower arrangements to high-end clients all over the UK. They became one of the most established and trusted suppliers in the sector and traded for many years.
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The question of what to do next was simple. Susie and Hamish wanted to start sharing their home with others, celebrating the beautiful gardens they work tirelessly to cultivate, whilst giving people a magical and unforgettable experience. They put everything they had into setting up the Victorian Lodge as a beautiful rental property and have since built two others from the ground up ~ the romantic Little Hideaway and the brand new Shepherd's Hut. Susie and Hamish genuinely pour their hearts into every single changeover, going above and beyond to give every person who stays here the outstanding break away they deserve. They are so deserving of the incredible reviews they receive, which say it all. Just recently, someone told us that this was their favourite stay out of all countries they'd visited on a round-the-world trip!
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The epitome of giving people magical experiences, that are all about love, is weddings. Susie and Hamish dreamed of one day being able to make this happen, and we're so proud of them that they have. Seven years ago they started hosting unforgettable events for amazing couples and people wanting to party in a place of beauty.
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To this day, everything Susie and Hamish make is reinvested back into bringing people's dreams to life.
Whether an event, engagement, holiday away, photoshoot or something else just as magical.
Just as we are proud of them, we know they are deeply thankful for everyone who has been part of our story at LDH.
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Please, come and visit us here, and maybe your life will change.
There's no place, and no people, quite like Little Dower House.
What you can expect to find here
Come through the gates at Little Dower House and you'll soon find a feeling of peace and healing. Whatever the reason for your visit, we want you to feel like LDH is your home away from home.
​Pass by The Victorian Lodge, taking in magnificent views of the thousand year old Windsor Castle over the horizon. We're widely informed (not least by our beloved postman) that it's the best view of Windsor Castle anywhere to be found outside of Windsor Great Park and the Long Walk itself.
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In Spring and Summer, the views of Windsor Castle will be framed by the beautiful sight and sweet smell of white wisteria and roses trailed throughout the Lodge gardens.
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​Continue past colourful Rhododendrons and the sun-filled marquee meadow, up the tree-lined driveway to Little Dower House, where its beautiful gardens await you.
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Take a stroll over the gothic white bridge over the pond and stream, tucked away in our little woodland and filled with daffodils, snowdrops, daisies and wildlife.
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Or head into the secret Walled Garden, greeted by beautiful castellations, nature-covered archways and our herb garden. Sit peacefully in the sun, admiring the Indian Catalpa tree that sits proudly in the centre of the garden showing off its heart shaped leaves.
Finally, take a wander through the Summer House gardens and catch a glimpse of the original Drawing Room, dating back to the Victorian era.
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Walk past the Little Dower House, and nestled among the owls and the oaks lies The Little Hideaway, your honeymoon home away from home.
And head a little further down through the gardens to find the romantic Shepherd's Hut. Tucked away in its own private meadow with stunning views over the valley including Windsor Castle,
this idyllic spot is a nature lover's paradise.​​
Windsor Great Park
Little Dower House sits right by a lesser-known entrance a magnificent 5000 acres of beautiful parkland, owned by the Crown Estate.
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There's so much to see and do in Windsor Great Park, from hundreds of Red Deer, to the famous Long Walk, giant lakes, forests, cycle paths, Guards Polo, horse riding and more.
