Bennetts Water Gardens

Bennetts Water Gardens is a visitor attraction in Dorset. Set over 8 acres the garden holds National and International Collections of Water Lilies with a Monet style Japanese Bridge, Tropical House, Woodland Walks and Museum. The gardens offer a unique wedding venue for Civil Ceremonies, Receptions, Functions and Corporate Events. Our new restaurant, Café Monet, serves coffees, home-made lunches, cakes and cream teas. Browse the shop for unusual gifts or plants for your garden. For those that can't visit then you can order online.

Civil Ceremony & Reception Wedding Venue

Marriage ceremonies can be held in a Gazebo which stands within the heart of these beautiful gardens. From here you and your guests can enjoy your ceremony with a backdrop of the Monet style Japanese Bridge and water lily ponds. This is the closest you can get to an outdoor wedding within the UK under current laws. Civil wedding ceremonies can also take place indoors within The Tropical House or The Conservatory.

Available for exclusive hire, wedding receptions for upto 250 guests can be accommodated in a lavish marquee on the Green overlooking one of the water lily ponds, or you may prefer to simply have drinks and canapés in Café Monet with superb views across the lakes and wedding gazebo.

Civil Wedding Ceremonies

We have three locations which are licensed for civil ceremonies to take place in; The Tropical House, The Conservatory or outdoors in The Imperial Gazebo.

Marriage ceremonies can be held in a Gazebo which stands within the heart of these beautiful gardens. From here you and your guests can enjoy your wedding ceremony with a backdrop of the Monet style Japanese Bridge and water lily ponds. This is the closest you can get to saying your marriage vows in an outdoor wedding ceremony within current UK laws.

Wedding Receptions

Available for exclusive hire, receptions for upto 250 guests can be accommodated in a lavish marquee on the Green overlooking one of the water lily ponds. Or for a small informal gathering after your ceremony you may choose drinks and canapés in Café Monet which has views over the gardens to the wedding gazebo.

Café Monet

We offer a choice of drinks packages and canapés, including the options of a ‘champagne strawberry cream tea’.

This light and airy room has a superb view over the lake to the Imperial Gazebo. Guests can also enjoy this view from the adjoining outdoor terrace.

Marquee Wedding Receptions

Marquee receptions for up to 250 guests can be catered for on The Green which overlooks one of the water lily ponds adjacent to the Japanese Bridge and Imperial Gazebo.

Marquees can be created to suit the exact requirements for your wedding. With beautiful linings, colour options, a choice of banqueting tables, chairs and linen, you can design your own interior for the wedding marquee.

Whether you choose a sit down banquet or a buffet-style menu, it can be tailor-made to suit your personal taste, and our resident toastmaster is available to ensure things run smoothly. Here you can continue celebrations into the evening with live music or a disco and an evening buffet or hog roast can be served if required. A cash bar is also provided.

Floodlights are used in the evening and the gazebo lights reflect in the water creating a wonderful atmosphere at night.

Venue hire includes use of Imperial Gazebo and gardens for ceremony and photographs, car park, modern toilet facilities, The Green (for erection of a marquee), electricity & water supplies. We also provide a cash bar.