A Venue For All Seasons: A Year of Celebrations at Alfriston Gardens

If there’s one thing we Brits like to talk about, it’s the weather! Its unpredictability means it’s a big factor in wedding or event preparation, and you need to have planned for every eventuality.

The good news is that whatever the season, we can guarantee you’ll have an amazing wedding or event at Alfriston Gardens. With gorgeous space both inside and outside, there are beautiful backdrops to enjoy no matter what the weather decides to do.

Our gardens are an obvious highlight of the venue, and play a starring role in the aesthetic of your wedding or event. We’ve designed and planted them to look beautiful throughout the unfolding year, with each season having its own particular highlights.

The garden is starting to come to glorious life in spring. Daffodils, forget-me-nots and grape hyacinths provide a splash of colour in the flowerbeds, while new leaves gently unfurl on the trees in delicate shades of green. You’ll also see a profusion of tulips in shades of dazzling white, creamy yellow, soft coral and rich purple.

“My favourite time of year here is late spring,” enthuses our Manager Janie. “Our beautiful white tulips are so elegant and are by design wedding-ready. They are so regal and bold – a real statement flower. Then their little sisters pop up in our main gardens, providing a rainbow of colours for those spring days that whisper summer vibes.”

There are also some beautiful cherry and apple trees around the site, which burst out in a froth of pink and white blossom at this time of year – they make ideal backdrops for your photos.

If the weather gods are on your side for your spring wedding, your guests can take reception drinks out into the garden. If April showers do strike, however, the huge windows and airy space in the Woodland and Century barns will still bathe your celebrations with plenty of springtime light, while keeping guests warm and dry.

The outdoor space at Alfriston Gardens is perfect for al fresco wedding receptions as well as summer parties. In the garden the lavender, roses and verbena are all in glorious bloom, while the wildflower meadow is alive with bees and butterflies. It’s at this time of year that staying in our shepherd’s huts means waking up in a haven of pretty red poppies, dancing daisies set in wild grasses and beautiful meadow flowers.

Being outside gives you some great options for entertainment. Events Manager India loves it when couples have garden games at their weddings, as both children and adults always enjoy them, and the large lawn outside the barns is the ideal space for this. From lawn games such as croquet and bowls to giant Jenga and even a coconut shy, there are plenty of inventive and fun ways you can use the outdoor space to keep your guests entertained.

The gardens are also a wonderful setting for a festival-style wedding, such as Sarah and Alex’s gorgeous celebration this year. “They had a mini festival complete with a tepee and cushions, an outside bar and live band, all decorated with fairy lights,” says Janie. “They were still going strong in the early hours!”

Summer is when the beautiful bifold doors in the Woodland Barn really come into their own. Set in the far wall, these open completely onto the patio and gardens, expanding the reception space and letting guests move seamlessly between inside and outside. This is great during the post-ceremony drinks reception, as well as later in the evening when guests need to cool off from the dancefloor! The good news is that if the mercury really soars, the contemporary Woodland Barn also has air conditioning to help you cool down.

Once the days start to shorten, the trees around Alfriston Garden put on a stunning show for autumn, turning into shades of russet brown, vivid yellow and rich red. Some flowers in the garden are still blooming into September and October, so you can enjoy a splash of colour in the borders alongside the vibrant foliage of the trees.

“Autumn is my favourite season,” shares Marketing Manager Harriet. “I love the bright, crisp days and smell of wood smoke, and I adore the rich autumnal hues and florals that transform the season, as these can be used so beautifully for weddings. One of my favourite weddings has been Lucy and Adam’s November celebration, which featured stunning seasonal decor. They used a lot of dried flowers, which beautifully complemented the raw oak beams in the barns.”

Our beautiful indoor spaces have everything you need for events at this time of year, from magical Christmas parties to wonderful winter weddings.

There are so many ways to style the Woodland and Century barns to give them a beautiful winter touch. Flickering candles on the tables and enclosed floor-standing lanterns will cast your guests in a romantic light. Choose seasonal florals such as ivy, fir, berries and pinecones for your decor – and don’t forget the mistletoe for those sneaky kisses! The high ceilings of the barns mean we always put up a spectacular Christmas tree over the festive period, adding instant seasonal cheer.

Our on-site accommodation is also cosy and warm. The shepherd’s huts are all insulated with clever vintage radiators, so there’s no need to worry about guests being cold, while the Vine Lodge has underfloor heating, making it a snug place to stay no matter how chilly it is outside.

The garden is naturally more dormant at this time of year, but the sculptural shapes created by our shrubs and seed heads still provide interest. Outdoor lighting has been placed throughout the gardens to add a magical festive sparkle, while being sensitive to our unique situation on the borders of the National Park – on a clear night you can look up and see a host of constellations in the night sky. If you’re lucky enough to have a white wedding, the gardens and surrounding countryside will give you a simply stunning backdrop for snowy photos!