How to make the most of your wedding weekend in East Sussex

Longer weddings mean more time to celebrate!

Your wedding day will be one of – if not the – most exciting day of your life. And every newlywed will tell you that with how busy the day is, it’s all over in the blink of an eye! Our best advice is to enjoy every second, to live in the moment and to really take it all in as best you can.

With many engaged couples spending years planning their special day, naturally, they want it to last forever. That’s why more and more couples are extending their wedding day into a full weekend of activities. Choosing to celebrate with their nearest and dearest over two days or more and seeking a wedding venue with ample accommodation and other local attractions.

If your guests have stayed overnight at your venue, why not reconvene in the morning and enjoy breakfast together? Here at Pelham House, we serve breakfast in the Paneled Room as part of your overnight package. You can reminisce about the magical moments from the previous day and bask in newly-wedded bliss. Sharing the first morning as a married couple with your nearest and dearest. And plan to spend the day together, extending your East Sussex Wedding. Head out together for the day. You could pre-plan activities and make bookings or you could leave information packs in your guests’ rooms for them to explore the area of their own accord.

Top ten things to do the day after your East Sussex wedding

A historic tour of The Royal Pavilion & Garden

After celebrating your wedding day in a centuries-old property, steeped in history and adorned with original features, swap your historic East Sussex wedding setting for another historic building and visit the Royal Pavilion & Garden. Enjoy breakfast with your guests before heading to the Royal Pavilion & Garden. Once there, embark on a group tour of the exotic palace. Originally the seaside home of King George IV, the palace boasts opulent decor, Regency gardens and plenty of splendour.

Spend the day at Brighton Beach

One of the UK’s more famous beaches, Brighton Beach is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Wander along the shore, play beach games with your wedding party or enjoy a ride along the beachfront on a Victorian, electric railway. You can even sightsee from Brighton i360. The big wheel offers views over Brighton beach from 450 feet high. In the summer, enjoy fish and chips on the beach for an early-evening dinner before you all go your separate ways and head home.

Climb to the top of Lewes Castle

A stone’s throw away from your East Sussex wedding venue, Pelham house, you’ll find Lewes Castle. Get your heart racing with a steep climb to the top of Lewes Castle. The Norman castle was built after the Battle of Hastings and offers views across Sussex and down to the medieval streets below. The adjoining Barbican House Museum explores the archaeological history of Sussex.

Complete your East Sussex wedding weekend with a boat trip to Beachy Head

Board a boat with your friends and family at Eastbourne’s Sovereign Harbour. Sailing past the bay in Eastbourne and along the famous ledge at Beachy Head, you’ll arrive at the lighthouse. At 33 metres tall the lighthouse stands proud in the English Channel below the highest chalk cliffs in the UK.

Hit the shops at The Lanes

Explore The Lanes, a famous area of Brighton & Hove. A pretty tangle of streets boasting quirky and independent stores, The Lanes are a joy to wander, with some of the streets dating back to the late 16th Century. Pause for a coffee in an inviting cafe and search out homewares and souvenirs to mark your wedding weekend in pretty boutiques.

Walk along Devil’s Dyke

A popular National Trust trail running from Winchester to Eastbourne, Devil’s Dyke is the longest, deepest and widest ‘dry valley’ in Britain. Take in the stunning countryside landscape on a group walk after a hearty breakfast at Pelham House.

Visit the iconic Brighton Palace Pier

If the weather is kind, head to the iconic Brighton Palace Pier for a few hours of fun and thrills. Look out over the sea from the carousel. Have a thrilling start to married life as you twist and turn on rollercoasters. And be taken to dizzying new heights on ‘The 1220’ ride, spinning you around as it takes you straight up to the sky. Savour a hot sugared doughnut or, in fun-fair tradition, share a bag of candy floss before you leave the pier.

Wander around Hastings Old Town

A local seaside town, Hastings Old Town is a quirky place with a muddle of bohemian shops, quaint pubs and cafes that lead to a shingle beach. Stade Beach is home to a fishing fleet and along the beachfront, you’ll find stalls selling freshly caught fish.

Explore Seven Sisters South Downs National park

Seven Sisters South Downs National park is made up of chalk cliffs, woodlands, a river valley, open pastures and coastline. The area lies on South Downs Way and can be explored by Kayak, paddle board, bicycle or on foot. Fronted by the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs, it’s a lovely area to spend the day after your East Sussex wedding. Look out for local wildlife and fossils as you explore the area.

Sheffield park and Garden

Meander acres of landscaped gardens and tranquil lakes at Sheffield Park and Garden. A horticultural work of art, boasting iconic bridges and the Pulham Falls cascade, take your nearest and dearest to visit this National Trust site. Beautiful-year round, but famed for its natural autumnal colour show, Sheffield Park and Garden is a must-visit if your East Sussex Wedding is between late September and December.

Find out more

Pelham House is a hidden gem in the heart of Lewes. The elegant Grade II listed Georgian property is a private wedding townhouse. The wedding venue has overnight accommodation for up to 60 adults, plus children. This allows Pelham House’s couples to extend their celebrations and enjoy an East Sussex wedding weekend.

To find out more about Pelham House, why not come and visit for yourself? We’d love to meet you!