Gants Mill

History

Husband-and-wife team and business proprietors Greg and Elaine have enjoyed a longtime connection with this beautiful venue.

Elaine herself grew up at Gants Mill, so it was appropriate that she and Greg actually hosted their own wedding reception here. Greg readily plays the role of chief wedding coordinator at Gants Mill, and being a one-time bridegroom at the venue, he certainly knows how to make the most of this 18th-century, Grade II*-listed building.

Gants Mill was originally constructed in 1290, and was first owned by John le Gaunt, whose name is still celebrated in the mill's title today. Throughout its working life, this watermill's primary purpose was initially as a fulling mill, performing a vital part in the creation of high-quality cloth and meanwhile boosting the local wool industry. In more recent centuries, it has been used to mill various types of grain into flour and animal feeds, and at one stage functioned briefly as a silk mill.

The mechanisms of the mill are still completely working, and Gants Mill frequently sets them in motion in order to demonstrate how this ancient building springs to life once again. They have a modern, water-powered turbine able to power 10 homes!

Facilities

There are two choices of venue to conduct civil wedding ceremonies at Gants Mill:-

The Gazebo

The Gazebo sits proudly within the alluring gardens, and enables couples who wish to host their wedding celebrations at this fabulous venue the opportunity to become legally married out-of-doors.

The Garden Rooms

This partially-outdoor facility is ideal for unique civil wedding ceremonies as it also holds the appropriate licence. Invite your guests to witness you and your partner getting married under the shelter of this lovely wisteria-adorned space.

After exchanging your vows and rings and signing the register, you can stroll through the glorious gardens and have your photographs taken, while your guests enjoy an informal drinks and canapés reception.

Receptions

Formal receptions at Gants Mill take place within a marquee which is set up on-site for most of the year, and comes fully equipped with professional flooring, carpets, heating, furniture, a bar, luxury toilets, a PA system other facilities. Your use of the marquee comes at no extra cost, included in the standard overall venue hire-price.

The Gardens

Get poetically lost in the nearly-endless acres of colourful flowers, ponds, streams, clematis and rose arches and other such delights. These gardens make Gants Mill absolutely ideal for summer festivities, particularly outdoor weddings. From marquee receptions to relaxed picnics and barbecues out on the rolling lawns, many couples who have married here in recent years have also put on outdoor entertainment such as informal sports, bouncy castles, giant board games and sundry other diversions.

Catering and Accommodation

Greg and Elaine have often worked in partnership with their preferred caterers, The Dorset Chef and Creative Catering, but you are more than welcome to provide or source your own choice of independent catering company, as in the end, this gives you much more control and may even allow you to save money, especially compared to certain other venues who insist you use their in-house caterers. There is no additional fee for importing your own caterers, nor is there any corkage fee for providing any amounts of alcohol.

Bridal Suite

Gants Mill also boasts a luxurious and spacious bridal suite, in which you and your newlywed partner are entitled to stay for two nights - inclusively. Elaine will also cook you a delicious breakfast in the morning!