Weddings
Ickworth Church is a romantic and memorable place to celebrate your wedding blessing or vow renewal ceremony.
Wedding blessings and vow renewals
Ickworth Church, the family and estate church of the Earls and Marquesses of Bristol, has recently been restored to its former magnificence, and can host four wedding celebrations a year. The church is perfect for small, intimate services or larger celebrations, seating up to 100 guests in comfort. Inside, the church is simply laid out, with a central aisle and chancel, splendid stained glass windows, a candlelit ambience, and a harmonium to provide music.
Wedding blessings
We welcome couples for Church of England wedding blessings (known as an Order for Prayer and Dedication) after their legal civil ceremony has been held elsewhere.
Vow renewals
Couples wishing to reaffirm their commitment by renewing their wedding vows can do so in the church with a service of Thanksgiving for Marriage.
The church is also available on special occasions for weddings. Please contact us with your requirements and we will be able to advise you.
Wedding photographs
The historic setting of Ickworth Church makes a spectacular backdrop for your wedding photographs, after your civil marriage ceremony elsewhere. Please contact us about hiring the venue.
Every wedding event is special and distinctive, and we aim to help you achieve the wedding experience of your dreams. Please read our FAQs below for further information, and contact us to discuss your requirements.
Some frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The church is a short walk from the Ickworth Hotel, which is licensed for civil ceremonies and highly recommended as a stylish, exclusive venue for wedding breakfasts and overnight stays for up to 60 guests. The nearby West Wing at Ickworth is available for civil ceremonies and wedding breakfasts for larger parties (over 60 guests). The Register Office in Bury St Edmunds, also available for civil ceremonies, is about three miles away.
The church is open most weekends during daylight hours, and you are welcome to look round at your convenience. If you would like someone to guide you round the church, please let us know.
We hope to facilitate most couples' requests, and our team and rector can discuss your requirements with you in detail.
We can suggest a list of local harmonium players, choirs and flower arrangers. Please contact us with your enquiries and we will put you in touch with them direct.
As there is no electricity, the church has a very unique and romantic atmosphere. We provide wax candles in the chancel, and LED candles in other areas of the church. You are welcome to bring more LED candles as required. There are no toilets at the church, but there are public toilets near the walled garden (200m away), in the car park and in the West Wing.
Yes. If it uses recorded music and you intend to distribute it to family and friends, we recommend obtaining a Limited Manufacture Licence from PRS for Music.
Yes, the rector holding the service will be pleased to discuss this with you.
Guests can park in the National Trust car park, about 600m from the church. The wedding party can be dropped and picked up by car outside the church. A golf buggy service to and from the car park/church may be available during the summer season. There is a drop-off point for disabled visitors outside the church.
Although there is no fee for the service itself, the church is a charity and we respectfully suggest a donation in order to help keep it open and functioning for special days like yours. We will be happy to discuss this with you. The church is kept open, clean and maintained by volunteers, and otherwise relies on donations for its survival. It would be greatly appreciated if you could mention in your Order of Service that a retiring collection plate will be available for those who would like to support the church.
After some wedding ceremonies, the church is left in an untidy state. We normally rely on volunteers to clean the church, but in some cases may need to bring in a professional cleaning team. For that reason, we ask for a returnable deposit cheque for £100 for cleaning fees. If all is well, we will return the cheque, uncashed, to you within 14 days of the service. Many couples ask their ushers to ensure that the church is left clean and tidy, thus avoiding any cleaning costs.
Ickworth Church replies solely on donations for its upkeep. Should you use the venue we request that a suitable donation is made to help towards its upkeep.
We would ask you and your guests not to use confetti in the church, churchyard or surrounding parkland. Thank you for your help and understanding in this matter.