With its easy access to London on the M4 and M25, Oxford and the Midlands on the M40 and the rest of the world via Heathrow, the Thames Valley is one of the best-connected places in the country while also retaining the air of being in the countryside.
Frederick’s is a four-star hotel in the riverside town of Maidenhead available for both exclusive hire or with several rooms that are licensed for civil ceremonies, whether your wedding party is an intimate affair for under 10 people or more than 100 guests.
The main wedding suite can seat up to 100 banqueting style and 120 on long tables in neutrally decorated, art deco-style surrounds with access to the hotel’s private grounds. There is also the Garden Suite, Windsor Suite and, in summer, a gazebo in the gardens for outdoor weddings.
Even if you have your ceremony inside in summer, you can still take advantage of the hotel’s terrace for drinks, plus games on the lawn.
The three-course wedding breakfast has a line-up of British and modern European classics which balance the need to please different palates without serving the same old, same old. Start with ham and parsley terrine with piccalilli and sour dough, slow-cooked trout with dill, cucumber and yoghurt or ballotine of duck with pickled plum puree and gingerbread crumb.
Main courses are just as appealing. Think: roasted loin of pork with truffled savoy cabbage, roast potatoes and apple compote, or herb-crusted fillet of cod with saffron and parmesan risotto, spinach and herb crème fraiche.
Vegetarian options take in the likes of goats’ cheese mousse or wild mushroom Scotch egg to start followed by a Mediterranean vegetable gateau with smoked tomato coulis, wilted spinach and mozzarella.
Desserts are contemporary spins on British comfort food classics. Expect the likes of glazed lemon tart with raspberry gel and sorbet, Eton mess with strawberry gel and lavender ice cream, or egg custard tart with cinnamon ice cream and creme anglaise.
There are 37 bedroom and suites on site if you or your guests need to stay overnight, and also a spa to unwind in before or after your big day.
Wedding packages start from £2,999 for 50 guests and, for exclusive hire, £8,999 for 60 guests.