Exploring sea view wedding venues as a Jersey based Celebrant

Over the past few months, I’ve had the absolute pleasure of becoming part of the wedding community here on the island of Jersey as a newly qualified celebrant. It has been such a rewarding time - meeting incredible people across the local wedding industry, learning how each supplier brings something unique to a couple’s special day, and visiting some truly beautiful venues that showcase just how much Jersey has to offer.

There is something really special about seeing a venue not just as a space, but as a setting for memories that will last a lifetime. Over the past few weeks, I’ve explored hotels that do exactly that - spaces where weddings don’t just happen, but where they feel naturally at home.

One of the highlights of this month was meeting Sarah-Lynne, Marketing & Social Media Manager at Dolan Hotels Group. She very kindly took the time to show me around two of their stunning properties that are perfectly suited to wedding ceremonies: Hotel Cristina and The Somerville Hotel.

What to expect from this blog

From the moment I arrived, it was clear that both venues offer something quite different, yet equally beautiful. That contrast is exactly what makes them so exciting for couples looking for the right fit for their wedding day. In this blog, I’ll take a closer look at each venue individually, breaking down what they offer and what kind of wedding experience they naturally lend themselves to.

Both venues are unique in their own right, and I’m excited to explore each of them in more detail.

The Somerville Hotel

Nestled in the picturesque village of St. Aubin, The Somerville Hotel is one of those places that immediately feels special the moment you arrive. St. Aubin is located on the south-west coast of the island and is one of Jersey’s most charming harbour villages. It’s full of winding streets, waterfront views, and a calm, understated elegance that makes it a favourite for both locals and visitors alike.

The Somerville Hotel sits proudly overlooking the bay, with panoramic sea views that set the tone for what is undeniably a romantic and atmospheric venue. There is a sense of timelessness here, where the setting itself does a lot of the talking. It’s easy to imagine a wedding morning beginning with soft light over the water, the gentle hum of the harbour below, and that quiet anticipation that makes the day feel so full of possibility.

**The stunning view from The Somerville Hotel**

From a celebrant’s perspective, venues like this are incredibly inspiring. It’s easy to imagine creating a ceremony here that feels deeply personal and beautifully intimate.

It’s a beautiful mix of country house charm and boutique hotel style, whilst still feeling relaxed and full of character.

The interiors are traditionally refined, with thoughtful design touches that give each space its own personality. There is a softness to the décor that complements the natural surroundings rather than competing with them. It’s the kind of venue where you don’t feel rushed or overwhelmed; instead, everything encourages you to slow down and really be present in the moment. Perfect for the most special day of your life, a day I’ll encourage you to slow down and take everything in as much as you can.

One of the standout features of The Somerville is its wonderful connection to the outdoors. The gardens, pool and terrace areas create beautiful spaces for photographs, relaxed drinks with guests, and those quieter moments together away from the main celebration.

The Garden Suite is fully licensed for civil ceremonies, allowing your ceremony, reception and evening celebrations to take place seamlessly in one stunning venue. While ceremonies themselves take place indoors, the immediate access to the gardens and terrace means couples can step outside to enjoy the sea air, capture gorgeous photographs and take a moment to soak it all in together.

With St. Aubin's Harbour providing a spectacular backdrop, the outdoor spaces feel like a natural extension of the venue and offer endless opportunities for memorable wedding photography.

On a sunny day, the light over the bay is simply beautiful - soft, golden and incredibly flattering for portraits, making it easy to see why so many couples fall in love with the setting.

The restaurant and hospitality offering also play a really important role in what makes The Somerville such a wonderful wedding venue. Couples choosing this hotel aren’t just choosing a ceremony space; they’re choosing a complete experience, all in one place.

The Somerville offers two main options for your wedding breakfast and celebrations - The Garden Suite and High Tide. For larger wedding parties, these spaces can also be combined to create a more generous, flexible setting.

The Garden Suite

Located in the oldest part of the hotel, The Garden Suite enjoys beautiful views over St. Aubin’s Bay. It’s a really lovely space for smaller celebrations, with the option to close it off for a more private dining experience overlooking the sea towards St Helier. It works beautifully for your wedding breakfast, and the added reassurance is that it is also a licensed ceremony space indoors – a helpful back-up option if the weather doesn’t quite behave on the day, which always brings a bit of peace of mind.

Capacity:
Dining - up to 30
Cocktail - up to 50

High Tide

High Tide is set within the hotel’s original Victorian dining room, dating back to 1881, and it really does hold a lovely sense of history and character. It feels refined, but relaxed and welcoming, a beautiful private setting for your wedding breakfast and celebrations which can also be closed off from the main restaurant to give you your own dedicated space.

From a celebrant’s perspective, there’s something quite special about the atmosphere here. By day, sunlight glints on the water, and as the day moves into evening, the room settles into a soft glow - elegant, intimate, and quietly impressive.

Capacity:
Dining – up to 30
Cocktail – up to 60

**Gorgeous décor and stunning harbour views at High Tide Restaurant**

As mentioned, for slightly larger celebrations, High Tide and The Garden Suite can be combined to create a more spacious layout, depending on your guest numbers and style of day.

Sarah-Lynne and her team are also currently working on introducing wedding packages, which will be ideal for couples who would like a bit more guidance and structure. At the same time, there is still flexibility for those who prefer to tailor things a little more personally - Sarah-Lynne is very open to working around individual plans.

What really stands out is that The Somerville allows you and your guests to stay, relax, and celebrate all in one place. That sense of togetherness really adds something special to the day, particularly for more intimate weddings or celebrations that stretch over a long weekend.

Hotel Cristina

In contrast to the classic charm of The Somerville, Hotel Cristina offers something more modern and refreshingly open. Perched high above St. Aubin’s Bay, it’s a hotel that really leans into its surroundings - all about light, space, and those uninterrupted panoramic views that naturally draw your attention out towards the horizon.

Where The Somerville feels intimate and traditional, Hotel Cristina has a more contemporary, easygoing feel. There’s a real sense of calm here. Everything feels relaxed and unforced, which works beautifully for couples who want a ceremony setting that feels visually stunning without being overly formal or styled.

One of the most striking features is the terrace. It’s quite simply breathtaking. With sweeping views across St. Aubin’s Bay, it offers an incredible sense of openness and connection to the coastline. While ceremonies take place in the St. Aubin Suite, the terrace still plays such an important role in the experience of the day - a natural space for guests to gather, pause, and take in the view. On a clear day, the light over the water is just beautiful, and there’s very little need for additional styling. The landscape really does the work for you.

**The Azure terrace - an idyllic setting for unforgettable wedding photographs**

From a celebrant’s perspective, what stands out most is the feeling of space and ease throughout the hotel. Everything is designed to make the most of the view, gently drawing the outside in. Whether it’s those quiet moments before the ceremony or time spent with guests afterwards, there’s always that soft backdrop of sea and sky, which adds so much to the atmosphere of the day.

Hotel Cristina works particularly well for weddings because the whole property feels shaped around that outlook. The terrace really comes into its own in the warmer months – a relaxed, sun-filled setting where guests can gather together, celebrate, and simply enjoy being in the moment. It has that effortless holiday feeling, but still with a sense of style and polish that suits a wedding day so well.

Inside, that same feeling continues. The interiors are contemporary and comfortable, with a soft boutique style that keeps everything feeling relaxed rather than formal. It’s the kind of space where the day flows naturally - from ceremony to drinks to evening celebrations - without ever feeling staged or segmented, allowing everything to unfold in a really organic way.

The St. Aubin Suite

The St. Aubin Suite at Hotel Cristina is one of those ceremony spaces that’s really easy to understand why couples love it so much.

With its beautiful panoramic views across Millbrook Park and St. Aubin’s Bay, it offers a private setting that feels both relaxed and incredibly special. It’s a space that works perfectly for both your ceremony and your celebrations, with the view naturally becoming part of the experience.

From a celebrant’s perspective, I can imagine there’s something really special about standing there with a couple as they begin married life together, looking out over the sea. On a clear day, the sunsets are stunning - soft, golden, and uninterrupted - creating a backdrop that feels effortless and memorable in equal measure.

It’s easy to see why so many couples choose the St. Aubin Suite for their wedding day; it has that rare combination of privacy, simplicity, and a view that truly speaks for itself.

Capacity:
Dining – up to 90
Cocktail – up to 120

**Spectacular views from The St. Aubin Suite**

In conclusion

Visiting both The Somerville Hotel and Hotel Cristina in the same week really highlighted just how diverse and exciting wedding venues in Jersey can be. Although they are part of the same hotel group, each one offers a completely different atmosphere, style, and energy.

As a celebrant, it is such a privilege to be able to work with venues like these - spaces that don’t just host ceremonies, but actively enhance them. The setting of a wedding is never just a backdrop; it becomes part of the story, part of the vows, and part of the memories that couples carry forward into married life.

I am so grateful to Sarah-Lynne for taking the time to show me around both properties and share her insight into what makes each venue so special. It is clear that a huge amount of care and thought goes into how weddings are supported at both hotels, and that makes all the difference for couples planning their day.

**Myself and the lovely Sarah-Lynne pictured outside Hotel Cristina**

As I continue this journey with Belle Isle Ceremonies, I am looking forward to meeting more couples, exploring more venues, and helping create ceremonies that feel truly personal and meaningful.

There is something incredibly special about weddings in Jersey - the landscape, the light, the sea - and venues like The Somerville Hotel and Hotel Cristina showcase all of that beautifully in their own unique ways.

I cannot wait to see many more love stories unfold in these wonderful spaces.

Saying “I Do” in Jersey: Exploring Two Beautiful Dolan Hotels Group as a Jersey Celebrant