Testimonials

Wedding couples

Grace & Dan

SylviePopePhotography-D&G-Bride&GroomPortraits-4 (1).jpg

Photo credits: Sylvie Pope Photography

What made you choose Little Dower House?

We felt something special about Little Dower House almost immediately. It is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been, but it was more than that. It felt intimate, unique and full of character, somewhere we could make the wedding completely our own, rather than fitting into somebody else’s idea of what a wedding should be.

From the beginning, it felt less like choosing a wedding venue and more like being welcomed into somewhere very special.

What felt different or special about LDH?

LDH doesn’t just give you a venue for a day, you get to make this incredible place your own for an entire weekend.

Some of our favourite memories came either side of the wedding itself. On Friday, we had dinner with our closest family and friends in the rose garden, looking out towards Windsor Castle. We stayed in the Hideaway and, after three days of celebrations, eventually found ourselves winding down in the shepherd’s hut hot tub after everyone else had left.

The whole place is also full of beautiful details. LDH has an incredible store of props and pieces that you can use to bring your ideas to life. We were able to create the most amazing table settings in the walled garden, and it helped make every part of the weekend feel personal to us.It never felt like we had simply hired a wedding venue. It felt like LDH became ours for a few very special days.

Was there a moment during your wedding when you thought, “This is exactly why we chose Little Dower House”?

Hamish and Susie gave us one piece of advice that we will always remember: at some point during the day, disappear together for a few minutes, just the two of you, and take it all in. Stop and observe the magic. While everyone was partying in the marquee, we slipped away and sat together on the swing by the pond and daisy field.

We could see and hear all of our favourite people having the most incredible time, but for those few minutes it was just the two of us, sitting there and watching it all happen. We will never forget that moment. It was probably when we both thought, this exactly why we chose Little Dower House.

Did Hamish, Susie or the LDH team do anything that made you feel particularly looked after or at ease?

From the very beginning, Hamish, Susie, Ollie and Sylvie were brilliant. No idea was inconvenient and no request felt unachievable. It was never simply “no” they would always find a way to make something work, and somehow always with a smile on their faces.

Hamish was invaluable in helping us find the brilliant people who brought the whole weekend together, from Claire our caterer to the marquee and the other suppliers. We never felt like we were trying to figure everything out on our own. Ollie was fantastic throughout the weekend too. The lighting he created completely transformed the spaces as the evenings went on and gave everything such an amazing atmosphere. He was also constantly on hand helping our guests, sorting out the little things and making sure everyone was looked after. So much of what he did happened quietly in the background, but it made a huge difference to us and to the whole weekend.

And then there was Sylvie. Her photography was incredible, but what impressed us most was the way she captured the weekend. She seemed to know instinctively when to be there and when to disappear into the crowd. She knew every corner of LDH, where the light would be, where to take us and where the most memorable photographs could be captured. Nothing ever felt forced or like we had been pulled away from our own wedding for a photoshoot. Instead, she became part of the weekend and somehow managed to capture it exactly as it felt to us.

Between the four of them, there was this constant feeling that somebody was looking out for us. By the time the weekend arrived, we trusted them completely. That meant we could switch off, be present and actually enjoy our wedding rather than worrying about what was happening behind the scenes.

Weddings are never completely without things going wrong - was there anything that didn’t go to plan but, looking back, didn’t stop the day from feeling perfect?

Of course there were little things that changed along the way there always are with a wedding, but genuinely none of them mattered. We never felt like we were dealing with problems on our wedding day. Things were quietly adapted, fixed or worked around, and we were simply left to enjoy ourselves. Looking back, that was one of the things we appreciated most. Nothing needed to be absolutely perfect for the weekend to feel perfect. The LDH team were there helping the entire time.

If you were describing Little Dower House to another couple, what would you tell them?

We would tell them that Little Dower House is far more than an incredible wedding venue. You are being welcomed into a very special place by a family who genuinely care about making it yours.

It is beautiful without feeling formal, intimate without feeling small, and completely unique. You aren't just creating a wedding day there you are creating a whole weekend of memories with the people you love. From dinner in the rose garden and tables in the walled garden, to dancing in the marquee, sitting together by the pond and finally relaxing in the hot tub when everyone has gone home, the whole place becomes part of your story. Hamish, Susie, Ollie and Sylvie have one of the most beautiful places we have ever been, but it is the way they make you feel while you are there that makes Little Dower House so special. It felt intimate, unique and surrounded by love.

Do you have a standout, funny or favourite memory from your wedding here?

There are so many, but one of our favourites actually came when it was all over and we were packing everything away.

Hamish and Susie came over to us and said, “Wow, that was one hell of a party. We don’t think anyone has ever partied non-stop for three days like that.” After an incredible weekend that started with Friday night in the rose garden and seemingly didn’t stop from there, it felt like the perfect review of our wedding from the people who had seen it all. We are now very proud to have set the bar as LDH’s biggest party animals and we sincerely hope nobody tops us.

Holly and Maciej

Photo credits: Mark Sisley

Susie & Hamish,

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for allowing us to get married at your beautiful home. We had the best weekend of our lives and we're so grateful for everything you did to make it happen! We did it! <3 We can't wait to come back and stay and re-live the memories. With love and thanks, Holly & Maciej (Mr and Mrs Tays!)

Xxx

Julia & Tim

Photo credits: Juliet Mckee Photography

When we started the search for a wedding venue, we were looking for a place that felt as special as our love. We searched across the US and UK, and nothing felt right until we saw the pictures of LDH. We knew we had to see it. We first made the trip to see the venue in person on a dreary October day, and even in those conditions, the space felt truly magical. The intimate walled garden and spacious field with a view of Windsor Castle really set this place apart. Hamish and Susie pour so much love into the gardens, and were so willing to help with any recommendations we needed as we were planning our wedding from so far away.

When our wedding weekend came at the end of June, everything was more beautiful than we could have imagined. The gardens were in bloom, and we had use of the grounds for the whole weekend, so loads of time to enjoy them with our friends and family who had travelled to celebrate with us. The added bonus of being able to stay on the property in the adorable shepherds hut and little hideaway rounded out the whole experience, as we got to have a party, but also really take in the serenity of Little Dower House in the quiet mornings before and after the wedding. It was such a joy to work with the family at LDH, and we wish we could relive that weekend again and again!

Louise & Barry

Photo credits: Graham Keutenius

We arranged a visit with Hamish and immediately from just driving up the driveway, we were hooked - we had to get this venue! The place is just completely magical and Hamish and Susie are the warmest and loveliest people we've ever had the pleasure to meet. Nothing was too much for them and we got the most amazing recommendations of a caterer, marquee and toilet hire.

The day itself was everything we wanted and more. Hamish and Susie didn't stop and everything was just so beautiful. I mean how can you improve a backdrop of Windsor castle?! We loved the day so much, we'd love to return for a big anniversary - even just to catch up with the family. If you're tempted to book, you won't regret it. Little Dower House is a special, special place

Pip & Scott

Photo credits: Sophie Duckworth

As I was looking for wedding venues - very convinced that we wanted a small wedding - we stumbled across Little Dower House. My husband and I wanted something very informal and relaxed but also quite outdoorsy, as his is originally from South Africa. We arranged a visit with Hamish and immediately from just driving up the driveway, we were hooked - we had to get this venue!
The place is just completely magical and Hamish and Susie are the warmest and loveliest people we've ever had the pleasure to meet. Nothing was too much for them and we got the most amazing recommendations of a caterer, marquee and toilet hire.
The day itself was everything we wanted and more. Hamish and Susie didn't stop and everything was just so beautiful. I mean how can you improve a backdrop of Windsor castle?!
We loved the day so much, we'd love to return for a big anniversary - even just to catch up with the family.
If you're tempted to book, you won't regret it. Little Dower House is a special, special place

Charlotte & Ed

Photo credits: Sylvie Pope Photography

Little Dower House was our dream wedding venue - from the moment we first turned up the winding gravel driveway, even during the middle of Winter, we knew it was the one. There’s a magical aura about the place that you just can’t put your finger on - no doubt thanks to the years of love and attention Hamish, Susie and the gang have put into it. And there’s no doubt they put exactly the same level of love and attention to each and every wedding they host there! From the off we felt as if we’d gained new friends in them all, helping us to craft the most perfect and ‘us’ wedding weekend we could’ve dreamed of! From helpful suggestions, to coordinating everything, to fixing any minor (or major!!) detail along the way, we will always be grateful for the whole family’s efforts. If you want to find somewhere to host the most personal, relaxed and happy wedding - this place is for you!

Maddie & Antony

Photo credits:

We couldn’t have been happier with our choice to get married at Little Dower House. From the moment we arrived, we both knew it was undeniably special.

Run by the most gorgeously welcoming and hardworking pair, Hamish & Susie, Little Dower House has it all: meticulously beautiful grass and gardens, an unbeatable view of Windsor castle, a boutique Shepherd’s Hut for a slice of calm after the big day, a selection of walled gardens, a small stream down to the main field and a marquee you can take over to make truly your own. We chose to host our wedding under the hanging Catalpa tree which was simply the most amazing setting - you have to see it to believe it!

However what made Little Dower House so special was the attention to detail that both Hamish & Susie took to make our day perfect. From tending to the lawns with almost obsessive care so that every inch of the venue is simply the most beautiful backdrop, managing all the vendors and flow of the day behind the scenes with such subtlety to not distract from the day, to offering suggestions and advice for weeks and months in the lead up, it truly felt like no question was too small, no ask too big. We felt lucky to have managed to fit into their calendar, with only a handful of weddings there each summer.

For us, with some friends travelling from afar, it was important that we could make a weekend of it, so the 4+ day hire made all the difference. We loved that we could take over the properties on site too, with a hideaway to get the bride and bridesmaids ready before hand, a separate lodge for the family to stay to extend the festivities and a charming Shepherds Hut, complete with hot tub where we enjoyed a moment of bliss looking out and reflecting on the fond memories made the days prior.

One of our favourite memories of the day was looking across the lawn after dinner as all our friends and family were either playing lawn games with particular vigour, toasting a drink amongst the golden hour light or taking a moment to take in the stunning view - it was just how we had imagined it! We are just so thankful to Hamish, Susie & the entire family for opening their home to us for the weekend.

Sophie and Victor

Photo credits: Sophie Duckworth Photography

Dear Hamish & Susie,

We cannot thank you enough for being the most welcoming, kind, enthusiastic hosts for our wedding. You welcomed us into your property so openly and made us feel very comfortable - which was perhaps the most important thing on what has potential to be a stressful day. And we have made new friends! Even more special. Thank you!!

Lydia and Mark

Photo credits: Megan Daisy Photography

When searching for the perfect wedding venue, we only visited Little Dower House. It is just as stunning in real life as in the photos. With the most beautifully kept gardens throughout, we were speechless seeing each area it has to offer from the main field to the walled gardens. We knew it was perfect for our wedding day.

The hideaway made it extra special being able to spend the night before and the morning of the wedding getting ready there, with my best friend, it was just lovely. My family staying in their stunning house at the venue entrance and so close-by, it felt comforting.

Hamish and Susie were just fabulous!! They made us feel so welcome, being able make the day completely about us, having every detail we wanted come to life and never questioning our requests. It was the best thing for a bride-to-be to be made to feel so relaxed with the help prior to the day as well as being on hand to help on the day too!

Little Dower House will forever hold a special place in our hearts for letting us celebrate our love with all our friends and family on our wedding day!

Clodagh and Elliot

Photo credits:

When looking for a wedding venue, we really wanted somewhere that felt personal to us, we wanted flexibility, we wanted it to be beautiful but practical. Little Dower House was actually the first place we saw not long after getting engaged and it felt so right, we saw no other venues - at all!

Hamish and Suzie came to feel like part of our family. Through all the planning, introducing us to suppliers that would meet our needs and budget, entertaining the most outlandish ideas we put forward but most of all, being genuine people who prioritised us (and not profit!) when the pandemic meant we had to move our date from 2020 to 2021.

We had such a positive experience that we're still occasionally in touch; letting them know when our daughter was born in 2022 and acting as a reference for other couples who were curious to learn about our experience. They may seem too good to be true but let me assure you they will work tirelessly to make sure you are happy, that the gardens are looking their absolute best and that you'll have a day you'll never forget for all the best reasons.

Thank you LDH, Hamish and Susie ~ Clodagh and Elliot, married/partied 'till the small hours

Chris and Helen

Photo credits: Laura Eddolls Photography

We loved the idea of having our wedding venue close to our home of Windsor and happened to come across Little Dower House, which was ideal and has the most glorious setting of Windsor castle in the backdrop.

Upon meeting Hamish and Susie, we knew it was the perfect place to have our special day. We received such a warm welcome from the pair, they couldn't do enough for us, from recommending suppliers, to helping with the setup and on the day. Having to plan a wedding during covid times was filled with uncertainty but both Hamish and Susie were reassuring, caring, and flexible when needed.

What drew us to this venue was having everything in one place and the ability to stretch the wedding vibes over a few days unlike much other venues. The ability to flow to different settings with our guests throughout the day; from the ceremony under the capalta tree, to canapés by the brook and lovers swing, ending up in the wildflower field for our reception. We loved having intimate gathering the day before with our bridal party at the cottage which soon turned into glam central the following morning. This paired with the attentiveness of Susie and Hamish felt very personal and not your average hotel wedding.

We're so pleased we went for Little Dower as our wedding venue and it still comes up in conversation as one of the favourites of our guests and we have to agree!

Liz and Marcus

Photo credits:

Dear Hamish and Susie,

Thank you so much for making our special day - the best wedding day EVER!! It was everything we could have dreamed of. From your gentle guidance on what we needed and recommendation on the catering and marquee to the spectacular surroundings. For letting us wander and enjoy these beautiful gardens - we felt like it was our own home at times!!

All our guests were completely blown away by everything, so thank you again for making our wedding day the perfect day! We will hopefully be back for our 1st anniversary at the Lodge :)

You really went above and beyond for us. All our love - stay in touch.

Liz and Marcus xxx

Thea and Jamie

Photo credits: Alexis Jaworski

Dear Hamish, Susie and all The Team,

Thank you for making our dreams come true. Getting married here has been perfect - we couldn't have wished for anything more. We will be back soon.

We chose The Little Dower House because we wanted a 'blank canvas' venue where we could do what we wanted and party as late as we wanted. When we saw the beautiful grounds and the approach that Hamish and Susie took it was a no brainer - we were in no doubt it was the venue for us.

We enjoyed everything. It wasn't a great day weather wise, but from the reception in a standalone marquee to the surprisingly epic firework display organised by Hamish, it was a thrill from start to finish.

Hamish and Susie were incredibly accommodating and a true pleasure to work with. They were flexible on everything we wanted to achieve and the work they put into the event, from accepting our suppliers onto the property to making sure the grounds looked their best was excellent. The gardens and grounds are undoubtedly stunning, and a reflection of the work that goes into them. Clearly Hamish and Susie are incredibly passionate about their venue, and it shows.

I think the most obvious standout moment was having a flash mob sing Les Mis when we entered for dinner. We had no idea it was about to happen and took us by complete surprise - a really amazing moment organised by Thea's mum. She had the MC's, the Chef, the Best Men all in on it - quite the operation.

Thea and Jamie

xxx

Zoe and Sam

Photo credits: OneMo Photography

The moment Sam & I walked up the drive at Little Dower House, we could feel the magic and instantly knew we would host our special celebration there. We were looking for something quite specific for our wedding venue and the fact we could use it as a blank canvas and create it as our own was just what we wanted. We loved creating everything ourselves and making lots of personal touches from; Sam making the bars and various other items to decorating the big trees with pictures of our families to celebrate the special bond and love.

We were looking for a magical, whimsical outdoor space and Little Dower House was that and more.

Susie & Hamish are so welcoming, friendly and warm, they went above and beyond to make sure our day was perfect- these are very special people who have a very special place to offer, they make you feel like family and are invested in you having the best day.

The stunning walled garden and theatrical Indian Catalpa tree sold it for us, we envisaged being blessed under the tree in front of all of our guests and that is exactly what we did, it felt like a very intimate experience. We loved being able to have our wedding breakfast and evening celebrations in a beautiful sail top market in the field, (Sam & I met at a festival in a field and have a great love for the outdoors so our day had to be outdoors.) Our families are from Staines, West London and Bracknell, so not only was it an ideal location geographically but the stunning grounds and views of Windsor Castle made it the only choice for us.

Our wedding highlights:

I (Zoe) had always wanted to learn to play the saxophone, so learnt in secret for 9 months before the wedding. I surprised all the guests, including my new husband just after we were pronounced husband and wife with a little flashmob, this really got the party started.
We had my cousin cater our wedding with her amazing food, this made our day even more special to have someone so close to us have such a big part to play and our guests were wowed with her delights especially the vintage step ladder display of desserts- the Eton mess was to die for!
Being able to have our beautiful dog at our day
Our wedding band were incredible; the dance floor was never empty- The Velvet Notes. What a party we had.
Sunset over the castle and partying until the early hours.
We loved our wedding so much we didn't want it to end. The night ended like this for us!! {Zoe sent us a hilarious picture of her asleep on the dance floor!)

This really was the dream wedding and to this day our guests still comment that is was the best most unique celebration they had ever been to, there is something VERY special about Little Dower House. Thank you so much for allowing us to have the wedding of our dreams, we wouldn't have changed one thing, it was everything we wished for and MORE!