Paul Brewer - Weymouth Rugby Club

Weymouth Rugby Club Wedding Venue Guide

Wedding Photography at Weymouth Rugby Club, Dorset

If you’re looking for a relaxed wedding venue in Weymouth with plenty of outdoor space, countryside views and the flexibility to create a day that feels completely your own, Weymouth Rugby Club is well worth considering.

I photographed Kirsty and Ryan’s entire wedding day here in June, from their outdoor ceremony through to their marquee reception and evening celebrations, and it showed just how versatile the venue can be.

Situated on the edge of Weymouth, the club combines a large open site with views towards the countryside around Lorton and Lodmoor Nature Reserves, while still being only a short distance from Weymouth town centre.

That makes it particularly appealing for couples who want the space and relaxed atmosphere of a countryside wedding without being miles away from accommodation and local facilities.

An Outdoor Wedding Ceremony with a View

One of the standout features of Weymouth Rugby Club is the outdoor ceremony area.

Kirsty and Ryan were married outside with their guests seated on the lawn and the rolling Dorset countryside behind them. It creates a wonderfully open backdrop for a ceremony and, photographically, gives you something very different from the traditional hotel or function-room setting.

The surrounding landscape also makes a beautiful background for couple portraits after the ceremony without needing to leave the venue.

For a photographer, having this amount of space is a real advantage. There is room to photograph the ceremony from different angles without being intrusive, while the countryside beyond gives photographs a strong sense of place.

A Spacious Marquee Reception

The venue provides a large marquee for the wedding reception.

It offers plenty of room for dining, speeches, a top table and dancing, while still feeling bright and open. The neutral interior also gives couples lots of freedom when it comes to decorations and colour schemes.

For Kirsty and Ryan’s wedding, soft lilac details, flowers and white table settings worked beautifully against the light marquee interior.

There is also space around the marquee for guests to move between the reception and the outdoor areas throughout the day.

Loads of Outdoor Space

This is probably one of the biggest advantages of holding a wedding at a rugby club.

There is a huge amount of outdoor space.

At Kirsty and Ryan’s wedding there were lawn games, a children’s inflatable and even a bucking bronco. It created a relaxed summer-festival feeling where guests could wander around, chat and enjoy themselves rather than spending the entire day inside one room.

That space also works particularly well for families with children.

From a wedding photography point of view, this is exactly the sort of environment where candid photographs happen naturally.

Food and Catering

A venue like Weymouth Rugby Club also gives couples flexibility with catering.

Kirsty and Ryan chose Mobile BBQ & Catering, with food served outside beside the marquee. It fitted the informal atmosphere of the day perfectly.

That ability to bring in the style of catering you want can make the wedding feel much more personal than a traditional fixed hotel package.

Clubhouse Bar and Facilities

The main clubhouse sits alongside the wedding area and provides the practical facilities needed during the day, including the bar and toilets.

The clubhouse bar also becomes another useful space later in the day and creates a completely different atmosphere for photographs.

Some of the funniest pictures from Kirsty and Ryan's wedding came from guests enjoying themselves around the bar.

The Caddy Shack

Another little bonus is The Caddy Shack, which is located on site.

For couples, family members or guests arriving early, it is a very handy option for breakfast or something to eat before the wedding gets underway.

And yes — the breakfasts are very good!

Accommodation in Weymouth

Although the venue has a spacious, almost countryside feel, it is conveniently close to Weymouth town centre.

That means guests have a huge range of accommodation available nearby, including:

Hotels and guest houses

Premier Inn and other larger hotel chains

B&Bs

Campsites

Holiday parks and caravan accommodation

The rugby club also operates a caravan site during the summer, which could be particularly useful for guests wanting to stay close to the venue.

Being near a major seaside town is a real advantage if you have friends and family travelling from different parts of the country.

Wedding Photography at Weymouth Rugby Club

Weymouth Rugby Club lends itself particularly well to the relaxed, natural style of wedding photography I enjoy.

There are opportunities for:

Outdoor ceremony photographs

Natural guest photographs

Family and group pictures

Countryside couple portraits

Marquee details

Speeches and reception photographs

Evening celebrations

Fun candid photographs around the grounds

Because everything can happen in one location, you also avoid losing photography time travelling between the ceremony and reception.

Kirsty and Ryan's wedding was a great example of what can be created here — a relaxed outdoor ceremony, plenty of entertainment, good food, a large marquee and lots of space for everyone to enjoy the day.

Is Weymouth Rugby Club a Good Wedding Venue?

For couples looking for something relaxed, spacious and flexible, I think it can be an excellent option.

It won't necessarily suit someone looking for a traditional country-house or luxury-hotel wedding, but that's really part of its appeal.

You have a large blank canvas that you can turn into your own wedding.

Add in the Dorset countryside views, proximity to Weymouth, plentiful accommodation and lots of room for entertainment, and it can work particularly well for a relaxed summer wedding.

Looking for a Weymouth Rugby Club Wedding Photographer?

I'm a Dorset wedding photographer based in Weymouth and have been photographing weddings across Dorset and the South West for more than a decade.

If you're planning your wedding at Weymouth Rugby Club and would like relaxed, natural photography covering anything from a short ceremony through to the whole day, I'd love to hear about your plans.

Wedding photography packages are available from £325.