The Kings Arms provides the perfect backdrop for weddings

The Kings Arms couple
Credit: Nicola Streader Photography

Nestled next to the River Avon with Christchurch Castle as a backdrop, The Kings Arms offers a blank canvas setting that makes a beautiful backdrop for year-round weddings.

The idyllic Dorset wedding venue comprises The Kings Pavilion, The Bowling Green and the split-level Kings Priory Suite, decorated in a New England style. All locations boast classic untouched elegance while matching any colour scheme or theme.

Ceremonies and receptions can occur in the Kings Pavilion with 96 people. The beautiful restored pavilion opens onto a tranquil bowling green with highly maintained landscapes – perfect for garden games and entertainment. The space offers an outside airstream bar and an inside bar for drink receptions. While guests enjoy the grounds, Christchurch Quay and The Norman House are just a short stroll away, which makes for stunning and unique wedding photographs. The Pavilion and Bowling Green are available until 8 pm for barbecues or outdoor dining rather than traditional wedding breakfasts.

Alternatively, the Upper Priory Suite is located in the upstairs suite of the Kings Priory, with the River Avon and the bowling green as a backdrop through the vast windows as pairs exchange vows. Continue the celebrations in the Kings Priory Suite with 120. The split-level space offers a downstairs bar and dancefloor for drink receptions and evening celebrations, while upstairs can seat up to 96 guests for wedding breakfasts.

Set in the main house, The Private Dining Room is the perfect space for more intimate ceremonies with 48 nearest and dearests. With glass doors over the main hotel entrance, dried floral bouquets on the ceiling, unique art pieces and colourful soft furnishings – it’s also ideal for small receptions with 36 loved ones.

Check out: www.harbourhotels.co.uk/kings-arms

You may also be interested in

New app launches to simplify one of marriage’s biggest admin headaches

New app launches to simplify one of marriage’s biggest admin headaches

Changing your name after marriage can mean updating details with countless organisations, from banks and subscriptions to official documents and employers. New app Name Change Navigator aims to make the process easier, guiding newlyweds through each step from one platform. Founded by Rebecca Dainton, Head of Product at Flutter UK & Ireland, the app was created to reduce the stress and mental load associated with name changes. It supports a range of naming journeys, including traditional surname changes, double-barrelling, blended surnames and other choices following marriage, civil partnership, divorce or personal identity changes. The launch comes as younger generations increasingly rethink traditional naming conventions, with technology offering a more streamlined approach to this often-overlooked part of newlywed life.

READ ARTICLE

Brits are swapping the 'big day' for the 'right day' as searches for intimate wedding venues soar

Brits are swapping the 'big day' for the 'right day' as searches for intimate wedding venues soar

Couples are increasingly choosing quality time over large guest lists, with new search data revealing a growing demand for intimate weddings and stylish registry office ceremonies. According to Google search data analysed by Suit Direct, searches for "small intimate wedding venues near me" have increased by 86% year-on-year, while interest in "micro wedding packages" has risen 23% over the past three months, suggesting more couples are opting for meaningful celebrations that prioritise the experience over extravagance. For many, the legal ceremony is no longer just the paperwork before the "real" wedding. Instead, couples are dressing for the occasion, hiring photographers and celebrating afterwards with an intimate meal or party, proving you don't need a 200-person guest list to make the day feel special.

READ ARTICLE

Countdown to County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse

Countdown to County Wedding Events' Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse

We live and breathe weddings at CWM towers, so we can't wait for our Signature Wedding Show at Ascot Racecourse on Sunday 20th September ! It's one of four Signature Wedding Show of 2026's Autumn wedding show season; and a must-visit for all those that got engaged over the summer months. The event brings couples in touch with local professionals who are on hand to help plan the wedding day. From photographers to cake makers, musicians to florists you're sure to tick a lot off of your to-do list by attending one of our County Wedding Events.

READ ARTICLE

Expert at Cake Box, shares 2026 wedding trends

Expert at Cake Box, shares 2026 wedding trends

Weddings may be rooted in tradition, but 2026 is seeing couples put their own spin on the big day. From reimagined wedding cakes to more personal, less conventional celebrations, today's couples are increasingly choosing what feels meaningful to them rather than simply following the rules. To explore how wedding traditions are evolving, Okay Rahman, Head of Product and in-house cake expert at Cake Box, shares their insight into the biggest wedding trends of 2026 — and how couples are putting a fresh, modern twist on some of the most-loved elements of the day. He said... "We're seeing that wedding cakes are becoming much more personal in 2026. The traditional tiered cake certainly hasn't disappeared, but couples are feeling less tied to the idea that a wedding cake has to look or taste a certain way. These days, it's being treated as another part of the styling of the day, so the design reflects the couple, the venue and the overall feel of the wedding.

READ ARTICLE

Submit your wedding to be featured in Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding Magazine

VISIT SITE

Subscribe to Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding Magazine for free

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding Magazine on Instagram

VISIT SITE

Follow Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding Magazine on Facebook

VISIT SITE