American Dream Weddings: How Netflix is Fuelling a Cotswolds Wedding Boom
A wave of American couples are trading in their home-grown nuptials for the idyllic charm of the English countryside, with the picturesque Cotswolds emerging as a top destination for “picture perfect” weddings. This burgeoning trend is heavily influenced by the romanticised portrayals of British heritage and aristocratic life seen in popular Netflix dramas like Bridgerton and The Crown.
Wedding planners are reporting a significant surge in enquiries from the United States, with many American brides specifically seeking the quintessential British wedding experience. The allure of grand manor houses, sweeping castle staircases, and immaculately landscaped gardens, as depicted in these hit costume dramas, has created a powerful draw for those across the Atlantic. So pronounced is this demand that some wedding planners have shifted their focus to cater almost exclusively to American clients.
“I think many Americans see Bridgerton and want that quintessentially English experience,” explains Lauren Goodman of Bluebird Creative Events, an exclusive wedding planner. She notes that a staggering 90 per cent of her clientele are now American, with a common scenario being an American bride and a British groom.
Ms Goodman has orchestrated weddings at esteemed Cotswolds venues such as the Euridge Estate in Wiltshire and Chavenage House, a historic Elizabethan manor near Tetbury. Beyond the Cotswolds, other highly sought-after locations on American couples’ wish lists include:
- Blenheim Palace
- Estelle Manor
- Oxford University
- The Savoy in London
“It’s either a really iconic London wedding with a heritage building or a quintessentially British country garden wedding,” Ms Goodman elaborates. “Americans are realising that England is actually a destination to get married in, and that it doesn’t have to be Italy or France.”
In London, Ms Goodman has also managed American weddings at prestigious venues like Claridge’s and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Further north, Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, a venue featured in The Crown, has also experienced a notable increase in American couples choosing it for their special day. The castle boasts a ballroom and dining room capable of hosting up to 250 guests, along with its own chapel. Harvey Proctor, former Tory MP and now private secretary to the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle, observes, “Americans see the castle on TV, think it’s magical, and then they inquire about using it.”
From Connecticut to the Cotswolds: Real-Life Fairytale Weddings
Morgan Schondelmeier, a 31-year-old from Connecticut, is one such American who opted for a lavish celebration in the UK over a US ceremony. She married her British partner at the magnificent Chiswick House, an 18th-century architectural gem in west London. For this occasion, she flew in 50 guests from the United States.
“I think Downton Abbey had a huge impact on people wanting that kind of experience. It made them want that old English style for their wedding. And then Bridgerton, as well,” Schondelmeier shared, highlighting the influential role of period dramas.
She also pointed to a practical advantage: English weddings can often be “easily 20 per cent cheaper” than their American counterparts.
Lavinia Stewart-Brown, another wedding planner, observes that this trend has seen a significant surge since the pandemic. Couples, looking to celebrate delayed nuptials, are aiming for bigger, bolder, and more memorable events. Britain, she notes, offers a unique blend of romance and practicality, from historic universities like Oxford and Cambridge to the rolling countryside and magnificent stately homes. “The heritage of Oxford and Cambridge and the romance of the Cotswolds,” she adds, are key attractions.
Grand Budgets and the Unpredictable English Weather
Ms Goodman further revealed that American weddings are typically anything but small affairs, with budgets starting at £50,000 and often soaring into the hundreds of thousands.
However, amidst all the glamour and meticulous planning, there’s one element that even the wealthiest clients cannot control: the English weather. Ms Goodman advises her clients to “always have a plan B” if they are hoping for an outdoor ceremony or reception.
This trend has even attracted high-profile individuals. Last summer, Eve Jobs, daughter of Apple founder Steve Jobs, married British Olympic showjumper Harry Charles in a lavish four-day wedding in the Cotswolds, reportedly costing around £5 million. The festivities took place at the stunning Estelle Manor country hotel, located at Eynsham Hall, where rooms begin at £795 per night. The Manor is renowned for hosting large-scale weddings, with its extensive grounds accommodating hundreds of guests. Some guests were also believed to be staying at the nearby celebrity hotspot, Soho Farmhouse.
Soho Farmhouse, a chic private members’ club favoured by A-list celebrities – and famously the venue for Meghan Markle’s hen do in 2018 – is considered the ultimate destination for private events for the social elite, all set against the backdrop of Britain’s beautiful countryside.
