Italian wedding dreams? Why Butley Priory is the UK’s answer
Welcome to Butley Priory, Suffolk’s incredibly convincing answer to Tuscany, where charm, history and pure style collide to form one of the best Italian-style wedding venues in the UK.
You’ve probably always dreamed of an Italian wedding, who hasn’t?
Olive trees, candlelit courtyards, warm summer nights and al fresco dining under the stars; it all sounds pretty magical.
Luckily for you though, you don’t need a passport, three weeks off work and a family without any life commitments to experience some Mediterranean magic.
Welcome to Butley Priory, Suffolk’s more than suitable and incredibly convincing answer to Tuscany, where charm, history and pure style collide to form one of the best Italian style wedding venues in the UK.
So, now you’re on board with the idea of having an Italian themed wedding in the UK, it’s time to learn more about the magic of this stunning venue.
Let’s take a look.
A Slice of Italy in Suffolk
Forget your passports, forget trying to persuade family members that it is worth the flight and the hassle. Instead, keep the romance alive from when you popped the question and enjoy your dream wedding venue, Italian style.
Since you already found the perfect engagement ring, you’ll need to find a venue to match, thus ensuring you have the perfect day; so we turn to Suffolk.
Tucked away near the coast, nestled in ancient woodland, lies the simply gorgeous Butley Priory; a 700 year old former gatehouse that radiates impossible amounts of romance.
With its vaulted arches, whitewashed stone walls and dreamy bucolic setting, you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere more beautiful, even if you were actually in Tuscany.
This venue offers the warm, lived in elegance of a countryside villa you might expect to find in Florence or Siena, and the surrounding countryside does a wonderful job of mimicking Tuscan hills.
Couples planning an Italian themed wedding don’t really need to look much further than their back garden, as the serenity of Suffolk offers beautiful architecture, glorious atmosphere and the slow-living spirit that embodies Italian culture.
Why Butley Priory Is Perfect for Your Italian-Inspired Celebration
We should probably all make our weddings Italian themed; as a nation, they have a relaxed charm, they prioritise being outdoors, and they hold delicious food and wine dearly above all else. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a wedding, right?
Here are a few reasons that Butley Priory is the only choice when it comes to enjoying the perfect Italian wedding:
Exclusive-use weekend hire
You’ll have the option for a three day celebration with full use of all four properties on the Estate, meaning you can enjoy your very own Italian festa with only the most special people in your lives.
Space for up to 200 guests
Whilst the Priory is quaint and the accommodations are cosy, you can opt to host your celebrations in a gorgeous marquee that can comfortably hold 200 guests.
Stunning interiors
Think candlelit rooms, vaulted ceiling, banquet tables, and ambience by the bucket-load; there can surely be no better place to enjoy great company and delicious Chianti.
Outdoor magic
The outdoor element is the most evocative part of any Italian wedding, and Butley Priory delivers in a big way. Beautiful gardens, rose bushes, pristine lawns, stone walls, sunset dinners and even a bluebell wood; you really won’t find better.
Close to the coast
The Priory is located a stone’s throw from the coast on the stunning Suffolk shores, so you’ll have the fresh sea air and quick access to endless beaches and seaside towns.
Food, Friends and La Dolce Vita
The true theme of any Italian wedding day is built upon a foundation of family, joy and incredible food.
If you focus on the joy and the family, the rest will be taken care of.
Butley Priory is specifically designed for the enjoyment of long meals, big conversations and quality time spent over food.
For anyone even considering an Italian themed wedding, it’s probably safe to assume that you have a vested interest in food. You’ll know the importance of quality eats, how flavour brings people together, and how joy can come from simply tasting the divine; just like the Italians do.
Wanting to bring this to a wedding should be the most natural thing in the world, and here at the Priory, it is.
Imagine tables under softly lit architectural features, prosecco in the South Garden, and wood fired pizza trucks to satiate those hungry late night guests.
You can also work with the in-house catering team to curate the perfect Mediterranean menu, whilst making the most of fresh local foods, seasonal produce and speciality alcohols, of which there are many; Adnam’s being one of particular note.
Let the Aperol and Tiramisu flow freely whilst your guests enjoy impeccable vibes, great food and warm summer evenings.
From Ceremony to Celebration
Weddings in Italy are famously long, with some family celebrations taking place over the course of a couple of months. Obviously, we don’t do things like that, but that’s not to say you can’t capture some of that joyful sedentary pace on your special day.
Hold your ceremony in the South Garden, or within the stone walls of the Priory, let guests wander at their own leisure from garden to firepit, prosecco in hand. Bring in live music, and maybe a gelato cart and watch the magic happen.
Your wedding at Butley can be fluid and informal, with no stress, no timelines, just good company and great food and wine. The space is all about celebration, so celebrating should be the priority.
Styled Shoots and Provenance
If you’ve splashed out on a wedding photographer (great move!) and are looking for some striking, dramatic and beautiful wedding day snaps, then one quick glance at the Priory’s Gallery will tell you everything you need to know.
It is a location that has been featured in some of the UK’s most stylish bridal shoots thanks to its golden lighting, textured walls and atmospheric spaces; not to mention the completely stunning grounds.
It’s a venue that offers the perfect aesthetic for those looking for an Italian style, and guarantees that the final shots of the big day will bring a tear of joy to your eye for the rest of your life.
A Dreamy Alternative to a Destination Wedding
So many couples fall in love with the idea of an Italian wedding, only to be overwhelmed by the reality of destination logistics. There are contracts in two languages, the navigation of foreign suppliers who don’t speak your language, and the fact that you'll likely have a very small guest list due to the complications of travelling in a large group.
But the alternative does not have to be anything short of magical; you just have to allow the Italian wedding theme to flow and Butley Priory will do the rest.
You can pull off the dream wedding, with all your favourite people in tow; you’ll get the romance, the backdrop, the beauty and the food, without ever having to pack a suitcase.
Matrimonio Italiano
If you’ve been searching for your perfect slice of Tuscany within the confines of the UK, then look no further.
Butley Priory is your perfect match.
It contains the romance of Italy, the spirit of Tuscany and the soul of Italian celebration; it can bring the romance of Italy to your doorstep with charm, history and stunningly impeccable vibes.
Skip the flights, leave your passport at home and keep the flavour of Italy.
Say “I do” in a setting that is as unforgettable as your own love story.
If you’d like to view Butley Priory for your Italian style wedding, we’d love to show you around!
Written by Kate Sheppard
Workcations: mixing business and pleasure
Escape to Butley Abbey Farmhouse for a glorious week of co-working with your business besties
Unless you were self-employed or a freelancer, working from home (WFH) was always a luxury only afforded to those with special circumstances but, since the advent of Covid-19, remote or hybrid working is now so commonplace jobseekers expect flexible working to be part of their terms.
In recent studies, over 90% of homeworkers said they enjoyed working from home, whilst flexible work environments is one of the top three reasons why people look for new jobs. If you’ve done it you’ll understand the perks: no morning commute, comfortable surroundings and decent coffee on tap.
London residents reported the highest levels of hybrid working across Great Britain, with 4 in 10 workers both working from home and travelling to work. Source: Characteristics of homeworkers, Office for National Statistics
But, the grass isn’t always greener in your own back yard. Homeworkers report feelings of isolation and loneliness without regular face-to-face contact with colleagues. Motivation, creativity and focus can all take a hit and that creeping feeling that you’re ‘always on’ affects our mental health, often leading to burn-out. The boundary between home and office disappears and you find yourself eating, sleeping and working in the same few square feet, 24/7.
So what to do? Can we have our proverbial homemade cake and eat it?
At Butley Priory we’ve created the perfect solution and yes, if cake is a requirement, we can provide it. Our luxurious Suffolk holiday home is available to a gathering of hybrid workers to re-group, relax, reset and rejuvenate for as long as they need.
Butley Abbey Farmhouse is just one of four charming properties on the Butley Priory estate; a Georgian farmhouse which overlooks a large garden, tennis court and croquet lawn, with fields and woodlands beyond. Notable for its peaceful surroundings and spacious, country house interiors, Butley Abbey Farmhouse provides super-fast broadband, private desk space and all the comforts of home, so you can keep business ticking over whilst your batteries recharge.
Stays can be from a few days midweek to a fortnight or more. Suitable for groups of 12 to 24 people, how does co-working with your business besties from Monday to Friday sound? Brings a whole new meaning to ‘out-of-office’ doesn’t it?
Whether it’s you and a few WFH friends, colleagues from your network or a more structured corporate teambuilding event, we can design a workcation to suit.
And did we mention Suffolk’s excellent reputation for food? Fast becoming known as the foodie county, Butley Abbey Farmhouse sits in the heart of a Suffolk foodie paradise, with artisan bakeries, cheesemakers, fresh seafood, hand-crafted gin and award- winning ales. Head over to this blog post and check out the artisan producers on your doorstep.
If you feel the need to cook, there’s a fully equipped farmhouse kitchen and dining table to seat all 24 of you. We can recommend private chefs and caterers for the ultimate in-house dining experience, but with some of Suffolk’s best pubs and restaurants close by, it’s a great reason to go exploring.
With a range of activities, spa treatments or endless hours of blissful nothing on offer, the advantages of a workcation are undeniable. After all, nobody ever said working from home had to be YOUR home, did they?
To enquire about Workcations or Corporate Away-Days at Butley Abbey Farmhouse, contact the Events Team on 01394 450046 or send an enquiry
How to create a Wedding Day Timeline
How to create a relaxed Wedding Day timeline, paced to perfection…
Tips on pacing your big day to perfection…
Everyone says it, your wedding day will pass by in a flash. But with careful planning and a well-advised timeline, you can make time to ‘be in the moment’ and soak it all in, without worrying about what’s happening next.
Relaxed brides and grooms are a top priority for the team at Suffolk wedding venue, Butley Priory. That’s why our first planning meeting is spent establishing that all-important timeline - and here’s where you’ll tell us all your ideas.
We’ve helped couples bring all kinds of ideas to fruition. From ring-bearing pups to exchanging vows over Baby Guinness shots.
Every wedding is unique and each couple has different priorities, but most follow a similar format with four distinct parts:
1. Pre-ceremony
2. Ceremony
3. Drinks & dinner
4. Evening
Here’s how to plan your wedding day timeline
Set a time for your wedding ceremony
Let’s start things off with your ceremony time. From here, you can work backwards and then forwards to create a timeline for the rest of the day. When thinking about a time for your wedding ceremony you should consider things like good daylight for photos, restrictions within the venue, having enough time for the wedding party to get ready etc.
Allocate minutes to each part of the day
To do this, we need to be clear on how long each part of the wedding day takes. Creating a minute-by-minute schedule isn’t going to be helpful, but you’ll want to know approximately how long each part takes. The below timings give an idea, based on our experience.
3. For a church wedding, plan how to get from the ceremony to the reception venue
However long you think it will take, double it. Moving guests from A to B always takes longer than planned!
Talk to your photographer about allocating time for some formal photos at the church before setting off for the venue.
Let’s put it into practice, here is a sample timeline:
Let’s put it into practice, here is a sample timeline:
1:00pm - ceremony
1:30pm - confetti line
1:45pm - service of drinks & canapes
3:30pm - call for dinner
(Here, we include 15 mins for guests to move from A to B)
3:45pm - service of wedding breakfast
5:45pm - speeches
6:15pm - socialising
7:00pm - cutting the cake followed by the first dance
4. Plan your evening reception
For the evening reception, you’ll be pleased to know there aren’t too many timings to think about. This is part of the wedding day where you can truly let your hair down!
6:15pm - Socialising and cocktails
6:45pm - DJ/Band plays background music
7:00pm - Evening guests arrive
7:30pm - Cake cutting, straight into first dance & band plays first set
9:00pm - Evening food
10:00pm - Band second set
11:45pm - Sparkler exit
Midnight - Carriages
5. Tell everybody else the plan…
Now that you have your timings organised from the ceremony through to the end of the night, let other key members of your wedding party and suppliers know what’s happening and when. This will save endless questions on the day itself and it will help others to feel prepared and ready to celebrate your day!
Butley Priory is an enchanting wedding venue set in the Suffolk countryside, just two hours from London, UK. Hosting a varied style of wedding, from romantic elopements, to intimate weddings and lavish marquee weddings, our team will ensure your wedding day is fabulous from start to finish!
To find out more about hosting your wedding at Butley Priory, contact the team!
With thanks, Photography Credits:
Joasis Photography, Laura Williams Photography, McGivern Photography, Irene Yap Weddings, Images by Anna, Emily & Steve
February News: Charity Bridge, History talks and our first wedding of 2023
Surprisingly, February has been a bit of a whirlwind month, busily preparing the venue and gardens for our first few weddings of 2023 and we’re making use of this relatively quieter time to make sure all the larger-scale jobs are completed.
The daffodils and crocus have been slowly making an appearance over the last couple of weeks, finally a little bit of colour to say that Spring is definitely on its way. We’ve had the most spectacular display of snowdrops over in the woods to the East of the Priory, it really is something to behold and so pretty in the sunshine.
There’s plenty of ongoing work in the gardens, both at the Priory and Farmhouse where Baz, Gordon and Nigel have been mulching, scarifying and tidying. The nearby woods have been given a blast of daylight, with some much-needed tree felling.
As a result of the felling, it has created an aesthetically-pleasing display of stacked logs, much to the various wedding photographers’ delight – perfect, rustic background material for our newly-weds!
Early February saw the exciting launch of our new website, which we’re very pleased with. Enquiring couples can now easily book a viewing with us at the click of a button. There’s lots more information available about the different services we offer, from formal dinners to marquee weddings, holiday stays and….Seasonal Suppers
…which leads me nicely into telling you that it’s only one week to go until our first Seasonal Supper takes place on Saturday 11th March. There are just a handful of tickets left, so if you like the idea of dining somewhere ‘a little different’ and enjoying a delicious supper of locally sourced produce, then this is the ideal Saturday night for you!
Over to our first wedding of 2023, this was for the lovely Suzannah and Gary who gathered 23 of their closest family and friends for a small, intimate wedding here at Butley Priory. The day began with a civil ceremony in the Great Hall, followed by drinks and delicious canapes in the Drawing room – all while we discreetly transformed the hall for their wedding breakfast.
Suzannah and Gary chose a fabulous display of twigs, foliage and fairy lights for the main mantelpiece, with sage green runners for the tables, creating a very natural, countryside-inspired theme.
After the wedding breakfast, guests enjoyed drinks from the Pilgrims bar, while listening to sounds from My Big Fat Wedding Disco.
Later in the month, it was followed with a much gentler affair, this being our annual charity Bridge fundraiser for Home-Start in Suffolk raising an incredible £1,670. Around 55 guests joined us for an afternoon of bridge with delicious tea & cake. Our housekeeper Kimmy did a fine job of keeping everyone replenished and took on the task of selling out the raffle tickets. Some fabulous prizes to be had, kindly donated by Hilton Macarons, Snape Maltings, Pinney’s of Orford, Orford General Store and The Crown & Castle Hotel. We thank them for their kindness and generosity.
As we head into March, there will be a series of talks from local historians and archaeologists in support of Orford Museum. These take place from 16-19 March at Butley Priory starting with Jack Cooke, who talks about his latest book The End of the Road – a journey around Britain in a dilapidated hearse to unearth some of the quirkiest graves, tombs and burial sites that Britain has to offer.
Suffolk county Archaeologist, Edward Martin, leads a talk on the Bronze Age in Suffolk, Angela Care Evans explores the historical significance of the discovery of Sutton Hoo and Professor Mark Bailey discusses the impact of the Black Death in Suffolk in the 1330’s…plus many more interesting talks on offer. Tickets are from £12 and you can find out more info here.
Suffolk Sandlands welcomes its first cohort of guests in March for some metal detecting & treasure-hunting. There are five tours taking place across this year, which are all filling up rather nicely. As before, our guests will enjoy relaxing at Butley Abbey Farmhouse following a day spent in the field. Hosts Andy and John are raring to go again, and we await to see what will be unearthed!
Excitingly, there are a few photography shoots taking place. First up, we’re looking forward to welcoming back Lacuna Child for their children’s-wear photo shoot. The Priory will then be transformed as it becomes the chosen venue for a styled wedding shoot which we can’t wait to see…and finally, the team will be front of camera for some new portraits for the website. You’ll finally be able to put a face to a name. Lights, camera….action!
See you in March!
January News; Christmas wreaths, Making Plans & our last Winter wedding
A very happy new year to you.
January is always a great incentive to make plans for the year ahead, to set goals and create wish lists. Have you got anything special planned for 2023?
Here at our stunning Suffolk wedding venue, Butley Priory, we’re using the next few weeks to get our ducks in a row for another busy year ahead before our first wedding of the year takes place in February.
Before we look ahead, we’d just like to transport you back to December to highlight what a fabulous day we had for our very first wreath making course. Hosted by Lucy from Hall Lane Flowers, our guests were treated to coffee on arrival, before they got busy creating some wonderfully unique wreaths. Whilst they were all using the same materials, we were treated to an array of different styles.
Our last wedding of 2022 for Hannah & Joel was an absolute cracker. Possibly one of the coldest and foggiest days of the year, we saw night-time temperatures of -6. With a tipi involved, we had concerns…but I’m pleased to say that with the correct heating and a lovely fire pit, it was very warm and toasty inside.
Hannah & Joel opted for a church wedding, followed by drinks & mulled cider in the Tipi. Dinner was hosted in the Great Hall with candlelight, with cake-cutting & speeches back inside the Tipi. Their final destination was to return to the Great Hall for drinks & dancing. A wonderful day enjoyed by all!
So, now onto January, and it has already proved to be a productive one. We’ve arranged to have the ground floor of the Great Hall and Drawing Room at Butley Priory sanded and re-painted, ready for the wedding season to begin. It’s already looking amazing, and we can’t wait to show you the results once it’s all finished.
To round off the year, we treated our Events team to a Christmas party night at Wherstead Park. We had such a great night, with lots of laughter – so lovely to be on the receiving end of good hospitality and a great opportunity to let our hair down after a busy year!
Christmas and New Year saw an abundance of excited, newly engaged couples. It’s the most popular time for engagements with around 40% of engagements in any one year, happening between Christmas Eve and Valentines Day. Our inbox has been overflowing with wedding enquiries and we’ve got a busy few weekends ahead filling up with viewings. On Saturday 21 January, we’ll be hosting a special Viewing Day, where the full events team will be on hand to discuss wedding plans and to show couples around the Priory, Cottage and Farmhouse.
We’d love to know what you have planned for 2023!
December News; Wedding Planners, Birthday celebrations and a November Wedding
Typically, November is a quieter month in at our Suffolk wedding venue, however it’s felt anything but quiet these last few weeks and as we charge ahead into December with all its festive celebrations, it looks like the team will be run off their feet right to the end!
First, let us take you back to our Wedding Planner Retreat that took place last month. We invited a group of 12 wedding planners from East Anglia, London & the Home Counties to experience lunch, dinner and an overnight stay at Butley Priory.
The weather wasn’t kind at all, but only served to make the Priory feel even more cosy with the fires crackling away and the warm candlelight glow.
We started with an informal canape lunch, (because who doesn’t love canapes?) followed by a tour of the Priory, cottage and farmhouse, where we made ourselves cosy in front of the sitting room fire for tea and pretty, pastel macarons from Hilton Macarons.
To keep everyone amused, we then got busy with a cocktail making masterclass from the fabulous guys at The Bar District. Cosmopolitans, Gin Gardens and Amaretto Sours were the order of the day, with some competitive challenges thrown in for good measure!
After a little turnaround, the Great Hall was transformed for dinner with a long banqueting table complete with beautiful florals from Tudor Rose and divine tableware from Party Squared. Naturally, Peter Harrison was put in charge of catering and created an exquisite four course tasting menu using the finest local produce.
And so to bed with an early start the next morning for a Pilates class with Kelly Steventon. A gentle stretch and deep breaths to ease us all into the day and to set us up for a healthy breakfast back at the Farmhouse, before saying our goodbyes.
Late November saw the first of our festive holiday stays at Butley Abbey Farmhouse, with the arrival of some lovely guests who stay with us each year to enjoy a Christmas together before the big event in December…equipped with trees, decorations and all the gastronomic delights, the family enjoyed a wonderful stay.
“Thank you so much for letting us use this gorgeous home to create Dec 25th in November. So many lovely memories made this year, excited already to come back next year. Always special to find a house that holds our ever-growing family. Thanks again!!”
Speaking of Christmas, we’re all looking forward to settling down to watch the BBC’s The Detectorists Christmas special starring Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones which we saw them filming, in and around Framlingham over the Summer. Look out for Nigel Richardson’s (author of The Accidental Detectorist) feature in the Telegraph about metal detecting, which includes our Suffolk Sandlands tours.
Onto other celebrations and this time, it was for our very own Nigel & Daniela, who both enjoyed November birthday cake and balloons in the Events Office – Happy Birthday you two!
We hosted a delightful gathering, with mulled wine for around 60 guests for the Friends of Orford Museum talk with Gary Battell. Gary is the Woodland Advisor at Suffolk County Council and did a wonderful talk about the tress and woodlands of Suffolk, which will be followed up with a walk, through Staverton Thicks in the new year.
Lastly, we take a look back at Gigi & Tom’s gorgeous November wedding. Much to everyone’s surprise we had the mildest November day which meant guests were able to enjoy the garden late into the evening, with use of a ‘chill-out’ marquee filled with comfy chairs and a Football table!
As we fast track towards the end of the year, we’re looking forward to our final wedding of the year, our team Christmas party in the Great Hall and to welcoming two more lovely families who have chosen to spend their Christmas in Butley Abbey Farmhouse and Butley Priory. We’re looking forward to hosting many more beautiful celebrations at our weekend wedding venue in 2023 and beyond.
We’d like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a bright and beautiful 2023!
