Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel Appoints New Wedding Planner

Lauren Hill has been appointed to boost the hotel’s event planning services and create bespoke wedding packages for couples from Oxfordshire and beyond. She brings with her extensive experience planning weddings and marriage celebrations of all kinds. Before taking on the position at Hawkwell House, Lauren developed her passion for wedding planning at venues including Heythrop Park Resort, Cosener’s House and Clock Barn in Hampshire.

Lauren will assist couples at every stage of wedding planning, from initial discussions right through to event coordination on the day to ensure things run smoothly. With more than 12 years of industry experience and a creative flair, Lauren is able to design tailored packages to suit all guest preferences.

“For a long time Hawkwell House Hotel has been one of Oxford’s best-kept secrets,” said Lauren. “It’s now time to put the hotel on the map as one of the premiere destinations to host bespoke weddings and events and I am excited to be part of that journey.

“What sets us apart from other venues is our ability to tailor events to meet the needs and wants of our guests to help them host their dream wedding. From the food and drinks to the theme and flowers, we always find a way to deliver for our guests.

“Once I saw the hotel’s stunning refurbishment, I was confident it would attract couples from all over Oxfordshire and beyond so was eager to take on the role.

“I’m looking forward to helping couple’s plan and enjoy their big day at Hawkwell House. Our venue and the expertise within our team means we can create beautiful spaces where everyone feels welcome, looked after and can make extraordinary life-long memories.”

In 2021 Hawkwell House joined the Mercure hotel group and underwent a £3.5 million refurbishment and rebrand to transform the venue into a stunning 77-bed boutique hotel equipped with all amenities for guest comfort. 

The hotel now sits within three acres of landscaped gardens and features a stylish restaurant, lounge bar and elegant heated terrace. The interior design incorporates an Oxford theme throughout with hints of vintage Oxford fashion like Oxford brogues and Oxford shirts. 

With three versatile event spaces, the hotel has the capacity to cater to wedding celebrations of all kinds. It hosts all types of weddings, from religious weddings to civil ceremonies and same-sex ceremonies to renewal of vows.

Lauren explained: “The Thames Suite, which is the biggest of our event spaces, is perfect for larger parties looking for a traditional wedding experience. Meanwhile, the Cherwell Suite is ideal for smaller, more intimate celebrations. 

“As one of the only venues in Oxford with the capacity to host outdoor ceremonies, we can offer a truly unique wedding experience. Our peaceful gardens make a stunning backdrop for large or small weddings or the perfect spot to enjoy drinks before the wedding breakfast.

“Our wedding and event spaces are completely self-contained with their own bar, terrace and bathrooms so couples can enjoy their special day away from the day-to-day activity of the hotel.

“Next to the main hotel is Elm House, a self-contained 15-bed house which is perfect for wedding parties who want to experience an intimate, private stay within the hotel grounds. For couples that desire it, we can even offer exclusive use of the entire hotel.”

To encourage couples to host their wedding at Hawkwell House, Lauren has created a special, discounted wedding package for Fridays and Sundays. 

The all-inclusive package caters to up to 100 guests and includes ceremony and reception room hire, a three-course wedding breakfast, access to the bridal suite and a DJ for the reception for just £5,950. The package can be fully adapted and personalised to design a unique celebration.

General Manager Nick Jefford added: “We wanted to take our wedding and event planning services to the next level so we knew we needed a dedicated wedding planner to help us achieve this.

“Lauren’s combined years of experience and brilliant contacts in the industry made her a standout candidate for the job and will really help us elevate the guest experience.”

More information on weddings and events at Hawkwell House Hotel can be found through the website: https://mercureoxfordhawkwellhouse.com/