Moore Place is an 18th-century Georgian manor house in the middle of Aspley Guise, one of those Bedfordshire villages that has somehow kept its looks despite being a short hop from Milton Keynes. The house presents itself well: a white columned porch over the front door, a grand sweeping staircase inside that was clearly designed by someone who understood a dramatic entrance, and a real open fireplace for the months when you want one. Around it are gardens with a courtyard and a cascading waterfall, which does more for photographs than any amount of styling.
It has been carefully modernised without losing the period bones, and the practical side is unusually strong for a house of this age. Four function rooms are licensed for civil ceremonies, taking anything from 8 guests to 70, so the whole day — vows, wedding breakfast, evening — can happen under one roof without anyone getting in a car. There are 63 bedrooms, which is a lot by country-house standards and means your guest list can simply stay put; the couple’s suite comes with the wedding package.
The thing that sets it apart locally is exclusive use. It is one of very few venues in this corner of the county where you can take the entire hotel, which changes the feel of the day completely — no other guests wandering through the lobby in walking boots, no sharing the bar. Packages are built around ceremony room hire, a drinks reception, a three-course dinner and an evening buffet, with the venue making a point of transparent pricing, and a wedding coordinator sees it through from first viewing to the last dance.
Where the band plays
These are handsome Georgian proportions rather than barn-like ones, and that suits live music better than people sometimes expect. Rooms of this size and shape are warm and close, and a three, four or five-piece will fill one easily and sound excellent doing it. With a maximum of around 70 for the ceremony, this is an intimate crowd — the band is right there among the guests rather than at the far end of a hangar, which is a rather lovely way to spend an evening. A very large line-up would need the stage footprint and power checked beforehand.
Ceremony, drinks and the gardens
Any of the four licensed rooms suits a small acoustic act for the ceremony: a guitarist, a harpist, a string duo. Nothing needs amplifying. Afterwards the courtyard, the gardens and that waterfall are where everybody heads with a glass, and a roaming acoustic player or a jazz duo moving between the terrace and the house keeps a scattered group feeling like one party.
How the evening runs
With the hotel to yourselves and bedrooms upstairs, the evening tends to unwind gently rather than end with a dash for taxis. Plan the first dance shortly after dinner so the band gets two full sets while everybody is still in the room, and confirm your finish time and any sound restrictions at the point of booking — a village setting usually means a sensible, rather than a late, finish.
Bands available in Bedfordshire and perfectly at home in a venue like this.
More live music in Bedfordshire.
- Bedfordshire Wedding Bands
- Bedfordshire Events Bands
- Tribute Acts in Bedfordshire
- Wedding DJs in Bedfordshire
- Corporate Entertainment in Bedfordshire
Worth reading before you book: Sound Limiters Explained. More questions answered on our England & Wales FAQs.