From the Jurassic Coast to countryside barns, here's why Dorset might be the perfect place for your wedding.

There are plenty of beautiful places to get married in the UK. But I'm going to be a little biased here and say that Dorset is pretty hard to beat. And I'm not just saying that because I live and work here.

Dorset has something I think couples are increasingly looking for when it comes to their wedding day: choice. You can have a huge celebration in a historic house, a relaxed weekend in the countryside, an intimate ceremony overlooking the sea, a completely DIY wedding in a blank-canvas venue, or something that doesn't really fit into any traditional wedding category at all.

And I love that. Because your wedding shouldn't have to look like everyone else's.

You can get married by the sea, in the countryside — or both

One of the best things about Dorset is just how much variety you get in a relatively small area. You've got the Jurassic Coast, rolling countryside, woodland, beaches, historic villages, country houses, barns and some seriously beautiful gardens.

And then there are the venues that are a little bit different. Dorset Council's current wedding venue directory lists 118 venues, ranging from barns and farms to castles, historic buildings, hotels, gardens and exclusive-use properties. (Dorset Council)

That means whether you've always imagined walking down the aisle in a grand country house or you're thinking, "Actually, I just want a field, some good food and everyone I love in one place," there's a very good chance Dorset can give you exactly that. And that's one of the things I love most about working here.

Your wedding doesn't have to fit a mould.

The Jurassic Coast is a pretty spectacular backdrop

Let's talk about the obvious one. The Jurassic Coast.

Stretching for around 95 miles from East Devon through Dorset, the coastline is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and exposes around 185 million years of geological history. (Jurassic Coast)

But you don't need to be a geology enthusiast to appreciate what that means for a wedding. It means cliffs. Beaches. Sea views. Sunsets. Little coastal towns. Dramatic landscapes. And photographs that don't need a huge amount of decoration because the view is already doing a lot of the work.

You could exchange vows with the sea behind you, disappear for ten minutes with your photographer after the ceremony, or take your guests down to the beach the morning after. There are so many ways to make the coast part of your wedding without your entire wedding having to be a "beach wedding".

And that's the Dorset thing I keep coming back to. It gives you options.

Your wedding can feel like a whole weekend

This is something I think Dorset does particularly well. Why make everyone travel all the way here for one day and then disappear the next morning?

You could turn your wedding into a whole weekend with the people you love. Friday night could be drinks at the pub or a relaxed dinner. Saturday is the wedding. Sunday is brunch, a walk along the coast, a trip to the beach or simply sitting around somewhere beautiful drinking coffee and reliving the night before.

There are hotels, holiday cottages, B&Bs, glamping sites and plenty of other accommodation options across the county. Visit Dorset also highlights everything from luxury hotels and cottages to glamping and holiday accommodation. (Visit Dorset)

And if you're bringing people from different parts of the country together, I think there's something really special about giving them a reason to stay a little longer. They're not just coming to your wedding. They're getting a Dorset weekend too.

It's perfect if you don't want a traditional wedding

Maybe you don't want a church. Maybe you don't want a three-course wedding breakfast. Maybe you don't want matching bridesmaid dresses. Maybe you want a food truck. Maybe you want a band in a field. Maybe you want to get married outside. Maybe you want 30 people rather than 130. Maybe you want to bring your dog. Maybe you want to spend four days at your venue rather than turn up for six hours.

Or maybe you have absolutely no idea what your wedding is supposed to look like — you just know you don't want something that feels like everyone else's. That's okay.

Dorset has plenty of options for couples who want something less traditional, from barn, woodland and marquee weddings to historic and unusual venues. Visit Dorset specifically highlights the county's mix of castles, country houses, barns, woodland and marquee venues. (Visit Dorset)

There are even venues where couples can create something much more personal from a blank canvas. For example, Dorset Council's listings include venues offering exclusive use and space for couples to bring their own marquee, choose their own suppliers and build the celebration around themselves. (Dorset Council)

And honestly? Those are some of my favourite weddings to work on.

But here's the bit nobody tells you about Dorset weddings...

The beautiful, relaxed, personal weddings are often the ones with a lot happening behind the scenes. And this is where I think Dorset couples sometimes underestimate what is involved.

A blank-canvas venue sounds amazing. Until you realise someone needs to organise: the furniture, the lighting, the power, the catering, the bar, the toilets, the deliveries, the flowers, the decorations, the suppliers, the timings, the setup, the pack-down, the weather plan, the transport, the guests — and everything in between.

Even at a more traditional venue, there can be a huge number of moving parts. And if your venue is somewhere rural or remote, those logistics become even more important. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have the wedding you want. It just means someone needs to be thinking about all of those things.

That's exactly what wedding coordination is for — and it's often the difference between a wedding that looks effortless and one that actually feels effortless to be at.

Dorset weddings are about making it yours

This is probably the biggest reason I love working here. I don't think a wedding needs to be extravagant to be incredible. I've seen how much more meaningful a wedding becomes when couples stop worrying about what they're supposed to do and start thinking about what actually feels like them.

Maybe that's a huge party. Maybe it's dinner around one long table. Maybe it's a ceremony outside. Maybe it's getting everyone together for a whole weekend. Maybe it's a ridiculously good cake. Maybe it's a late-night snack at midnight. Maybe it's dancing until your feet hurt. There isn't a right answer. There is only your answer. And Dorset gives you plenty of space to find it.

And then there's the food...

I couldn't write a Dorset wedding blog without mentioning food. Dorset has a brilliant food scene, from local produce and seafood to pubs, restaurants, farm shops and independent suppliers.

Visit Dorset describes the county as a food destination with everything from fresh seafood and artisan cheeses to beachside food and fine dining. (Visit Dorset)

And I think food is one of those things that can completely change the atmosphere of a wedding. You don't necessarily need a formal wedding breakfast. You could have sharing platters, pizza, fish and chips, a BBQ, street food, a Dorset cheeseboard, a late-night snack — or something completely different. Your wedding breakfast doesn't have to be another box you tick. It can be part of the experience.

Your guests will actually want to come

This sounds obvious. But it's worth thinking about. When you choose a wedding destination, you're also choosing where your guests are going to spend their time. And Dorset gives them plenty to do before and after the wedding.

Beach days. Coastal walks. Pubs. Pretty villages. Boat trips. Castles. Gardens. Good food. And if they fancy doing absolutely nothing, there's always the option of finding somewhere beautiful and sitting there.

Visit Dorset describes the county as offering everything from beaches and countryside to historic towns, villages, outdoor activities and food and drink. (Visit Dorset)

So if you're bringing your favourite people together from all over the country, Dorset can turn the wedding into something they remember too.

But what about the weather?

Ah. The British wedding question. What happens if it rains?

The answer is: you have a plan. Because as beautiful as Dorset is, I can't control the weather. And neither can you. That's why when I'm working with couples, I want to know what happens if the weather changes. Where does the ceremony go? What happens to the chairs? When do we make the decision? Who tells the suppliers? Who tells the guests? What happens if it's ridiculously hot? What happens if it's windy? What happens if it's unexpectedly freezing?

The point isn't to spend your engagement worrying about the weather. It's to have a plan before you need one. Then you can get on with enjoying your wedding.

So, is Dorset the right place for your wedding?

Maybe I'm biased. But I think if you want a wedding that feels personal, relaxed, beautiful and completely yours, Dorset is one of the best places you could choose.

You can have the coastline. You can have the countryside. You can have the grand house. You can have the little barn. You can have 20 guests. You can have 200. You can have one day. Or you can make a whole weekend of it. You can make it traditional. You can throw the rulebook out completely. You can make it yours.

And that's what I love about Dorset weddings.

And that's where I come in

I'm Harriet, the person behind Dorset Wedding Co. I work with couples who want their wedding to feel like them — not like a copy of somebody else's. And I don't just want to be the person who turns up on the morning of your wedding with a clipboard.

I want to be the person who knows what needs to happen, who is talking to your suppliers, who knows where everything is, who notices the little things and who is completely happy getting stuck in when something needs doing.

Because I've learnt that wedding coordination isn't just about keeping an eye on a timeline. Sometimes it's coordinating the ceremony music. Sometimes it's reassuring a nervous groom. Sometimes it's fixing a bride's dress five minutes before she walks down the aisle. Sometimes it's answering a supplier's phone call. Sometimes it's making sure the couple have eaten. And sometimes... it's washing the dishes.

And honestly? I love all of it.

My couples shouldn't have to know what's happening behind the scenes. That's my job. You should be getting married.

Planning a Dorset wedding?

If you're looking for a wedding planner or coordinator who will get stuck in, take care of the logistics and make sure you can actually enjoy the wedding you've spent so long planning, I'd love to hear what you're planning.

Enquire about your wedding

Why Dorset is one of the best places to get married in the UK