The Wedding Venue Trend Nobody's Told You About Yet

Ten Directory venues built around a different idea of a wedding day: London addresses, wild coastline, a vineyard, a tented blank canvas and three destination settings.

Claudia August 14, 2026 3 Min Read

The country house is still the easy answer when a Bride asks where to get married: gravel drive, walled garden, marquee on the lawn at golden hour. Several of our Directory partners do it brilliantly, and it isn't going anywhere. But look at what's actually been filling up on The Directory by Gigi & Olive this year, and a different shape starts to show: London addresses, wild coastline, a vineyard, a tented blank canvas, three genuinely different kinds of destination wedding. Ten venues, and not a country house among them.

The Wedding Venue Trend Nobody's Told You About Yet

In the City

One Marylebone

One Marylebone is a Grade I listed building designed by Sir John Soane, with three licensed ceremony spaces inside, including the striking Soane Hall, and landscaped gardens in the middle of the city. Historic architecture, in Zone 1, without leaving London. From £12,000.

The Broadcaster

Set in White City with views across West London and the old Television Centre, The Broadcaster is built for wedding receptions of every size, from a seated dinner through to dancing until late. From £3,000.

The Italian Greyhound

A stylish neighbourhood Italian, The Italian Greyhound pairs modern Italian food with warm service and interiors built for a long lunch that turns into an evening celebration without anyone having to change rooms. From £1,000.

Wild and Open

Elmley Nature Reserve

Elmley sits inside 3,300 acres of wilderness on the North Kent coast and is the only National Nature Reserve in England licensed for weddings. Exclusive use, on site accommodation, and total privacy under an open sky. From £8,500 for a 2 night hire.

Among the Vines

Minerva Vines

Minerva Vines, in the South West, is built around food, wine and setting in equal measure rather than a single grand room. A working vineyard shaped into a genuinely bespoke wedding, not a marquee with a nice view. From £25,000.

The Blank Canvas

Sail & Peg

Sail & Peg does not have one address. They design and build tented structures for weddings at private homes and other venues across the UK and beyond, with an architectural, design led eye that turns an open field or a garden into something considered rather than simply covered. Pricing is bespoke to each build.

Further Afield

Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido

On the Venice Lido, Hotel Excelsior offers 14 event spaces and fully tailored planning for a wedding that is genuinely Venetian, not Venice-themed.

Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club

On the Marbella coast, Gran Marbella Resort & Beach Club combines Andalusian architecture, arches, stonework and courtyard water features with a relaxed, coastal pace.

Palm House, Palm Beach

Palm House sits in the middle of Palm Beach, with light pink Murano chandeliers and pastel interiors built for boutique weddings, welcome parties and post-wedding brunches rather than one big day format.

All of our venues are live on The Directory, alongside our full range of venues, country houses included, for the Brides who do want the gravel drive and the walled garden.

Claudia, Editor