Why We Love Southdowns Manor Weddings (and Why Our Photo Booths Are a Perfect Fit)
Southdowns Manor is a romantic country house venue on the Hampshire/Sussex border. Set in the heart of the South Downs National Park, Southdowns Manor is one of those venues that instantly makes you fall in love. With sweeping countryside views, elegant interiors, and exclusive-use hire, it’s a dream setting for couples who want a relaxed yet luxurious wedding.
Weddings at Southdowns Manor
Smiles Better Entertainment is proud to be a preferred supplier at Southdowns Manor, which means we know exactly how to fit seamlessly into your day. Whether you’re looking for our glamorous Magic Selfie Mirror with Hollywood Lights, English Garden or Silver Glitter, each of our setups blends beautifully with the Manor’s elegant surroundings.
Guests love stepping away from the dance floor to strike a pose, and with instant prints, your wedding memories last long after the day ends.
📸 Why Choose a Photo Booth at Southdowns Manor?
- Grand Interiors: Our Magic Mirror looks stunning in the elegant function rooms.
- Keepsakes: With unlimited prints, your guests leave with instant keepsakes.
- Evening Fun: With staff on-hand to ensure that everyone is having fun.
- Countryside Views: The Traditional Ice Cream Trike is perfect match for outdoor weddings.
Entertainment at Southdowns Manor
Magic Selfie Mirror Photobooth
A sleek, interactive full-length mirror, complete with animations, unlimited prints, and fun props – always a crowd favourite. Great for large groups, taking full-length images.
The Magic Selfie Mirror is available in three stunning styles to perfectly match the theme of your event. Choose the glamorous Hollywood Lights frame for that red-carpet feel, the charming English Garden design for a touch of elegance and romance, or the sparkling Silver Glitter finish to bring fun, sparkle and wow-factor to your celebration. Whichever you choose, the Magic Selfie Mirror is guaranteed to be a show-stopping addition that your guests will love.
“Absolutely amazing! Everyone loved the photo booth and joined in! Brilliant staff and helpful with plenty of funny props to make the photos better. Thank you so much! Mr and Mrs Brown!!!!”
🎉 Modern Memories at Southdowns Manor
Weddings today are about more than just photos – they’re about capturing the feeling of the day in ways that last forever. At Southdowns Manor, couples are increasingly choosing modern memory-makers like our Video Guestbook and Content Creation service to complement their traditional photography and videography.
Video Guestbook
Our Video Guestbook is one of the most popular choices for Southdowns Manor weddings and it’s easy to see why. Instead of signing a page in a traditional book, guests step up to the booth and record a personal video message. The result? A modern keepsake filled with heartfelt words, laughter, and memories that can be replayed for years to come.
At Southdowns, the Video Guestbook is often set up in the snug in the Sussex Bar, making it easy for guests to stop by. Couples love it because it captures not just the messages, but the voices and personalities of friends and family – something a written note simply can’t match.
It’s also a fantastic way to include those light-hearted, spontaneous moments that make a wedding unique. From touching advice from grandparents to playful toasts from the bridal party, the Video Guestbook brings together the full spectrum of your wedding day in a way that feels authentic, emotional, and unforgettable.
“We met Paul at the Southdowns Manor open evening and despite already putting down a deposit for another photo booth we immediately knew Paul was the right fit for us. He was the recommended supplier for Southdowns so we knew he was knowledgeable on the venue and the best place to put himself. We opted for the video message option as well as the evening Photo booth and we are so glad we did. Watching our guests’ messages was really lovely. Not only was Paul super pro active at getting your guests to record these but he also took some fantastic photos and videos on his phone that truly captured some behind the scenes bits.
Paul and the team were professional and responsive throughout the whole process and we would recommend them to everyone! Alex Isaacs”
📱 Content Creation
Capture your wedding’s essence effortlessly with our Content Creation service – the perfect complement to your professional photos and video. While your photographer focuses on those timeless shots, our content creator captures the behind-the-scenes moments that make your day feel real: the laughter in the bridal suite, the excited faces before walking down the aisle, the energy of the dance floor, and all the candid moments in between.
We specialise in creating TikToks, Instagram Reels, and story-ready clips that are delivered to you the very next day, so you don’t have to wait weeks to relive the magic or share highlights with friends and family.
Couples can choose from a range of packages, starting with Getting Ready & Ceremony coverage, perfect for those who just want those early, intimate moments captured, right through to full-day content creation, including speeches, the evening reception, and those all-important dance floor celebrations.
It’s authentic, fun, and totally stress-free – giving you a unique perspective on your Southdowns wedding day.
✨ Paired with the Video Guestbook, Content Creation ensures that your Southdowns Manor wedding is captured not just in professional stills, but in authentic, shareable memories that you can enjoy instantly.
“Wow! What can we say. Paul was incredible from start to finish. The guys were absolutely lovely and felt like part of our wedding day. We had some content created, Photo Booth and video guest book and they all were outstanding.
Our guests thought the content was all brilliant. We were quite literally put in a box with our guests and had pictures taken and the end result is something else. His ideas were amazing and have turned out brilliantly. We didn’t even realise half the pictures/ videos were being taken, it was all captured so well and completely subtle. We loved the way they were able to capture the behind the scenes footage and moments we didn’t even know were happening!
The video guest book has us in tears watching it back. It’s a truly memorable.
The photo booth was such a laugh and even had my grandma up and joining in. The pictures and memories will laugh a life time. If you’re debating whether to have content, Photo Booth or video guest book… do it. It will be the best thing you’ve ever done.
Our guests and us are going to be taking about it forever!
We can’t thank them enough.
Harmony & James”
✨ Extra Touches That Enhance Your Southdowns Wedding
While Southdowns’ rustic barns and sweeping countryside views set the perfect stage, it’s the personal details that truly make your wedding unforgettable. Couples often enhance the venue with a mix of stylish décor and interactive extras, creating both atmosphere and entertainment.
🌸 Floral Arch
The Floral Arch adds romantic flair and frames your ceremony or photo zones beautifully with floral elegance. At Southdowns, the floral arch is often placed at the main entrance, creating a stunning first impression for guests as they arrive. It’s also a popular choice for the end of the main aisle, making those all-important vows even more picturesque. Later in the day, many couples have the arch behind the top table, turning speeches and the wedding breakfast into a beautiful photo backdrop.
To personalise the arch, couples often accessorise it with a neon sign blending timeless florals with modern wedding trends.
🌿 Hedgewall Backdrop
The Hedgewall Backdrop is elegant and versatile, perfect for photos, signage, or enhancing your décor with lush greenery. At Southdowns, the hedgewall backdrop has been used in multiple creative ways: at the end of the aisle for a natural focal point, behind the top table for a stylish reception backdrop, and even as a fun setting for the Magic Mirror photo booth, giving guests the perfect place to strike a pose.
Just like the floral arch, the hedgewall looks incredible when paired with neon signage or romantic touches like ‘Mr(s) & Mr(s)’ lettering, making it adaptable for both daytime ceremonies and evening parties.
✨ Both of these décor features – the floral arch and the hedgewall backdrop – provide flexible, stylish ways to elevate your Southdowns wedding.
Whether paired with photobooths, signage, or kept simple and elegant, they tie your theme together and create unforgettable photo opportunities.
“We used Smiles Better for our wedding in October 2023 and would recommend them to anybody.
We had the photo pod where guests got their shots straight to their phone via QR code which made things so easy and Paul was always on hand to assist. Nothing was too much, we also had: Mini Golf, a flower arch, flower wall backdrop and a hand made wooden sign all from Smiles Better and they were all of exceptional quality.
They can pretty much get whatever you want and we certainly look forward to either using or seeing them again soon! Patrick Coppins”
💡 Light Box
Our Light Box is illuminated with your names or custom wedding hashtag, the light box is an eye-catching prop that adds character and ambience.
Couples often place it in the reception area, where it doubles as both a décor feature and a photo opportunity. Whether displaying your surname, hashtag, or a simple LOVE, the glow makes a bold statement.
🎲 Garden Games
Fun and relaxed, garden games are a brilliant addition to outdoor celebrations at Southdowns.
From giant Jenga and Connect Four to croquet or ring toss, these interactive touches keep guests entertained during the drinks reception or while photos are being taken. They bring laughter, mingling, and a festival-style atmosphere that suits the venue’s countryside charm.
“What can we say!!
Paul was amazing from the first meeting right up until he finished at our wedding!
We had the video pod, games as well as the photo booth and all were loved by our guests! Paul was so lovely and professional throughout the process!!
Recommend 100% – you will not be disappointed.
Thank you Paul! Becky & Dean x”
✨ Whether it’s the romantic floral arch, the greenery of the hedgewall, the glow of the light box, or the playful spirit of garden games, these thoughtful extras help couples add personality, fun, and unforgettable photo moments to their Southdowns wedding.
Traditional Ice Cream Trike
Serving award-winning ice cream with inclusive options – gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, halal, and even dog-friendly.
Our Traditional Ice Cream Trike is a charming and indulgent treat loved by all.
Served in tubs or cones, you can choose four flavours to delight your guests.
“Had the most brilliant experience with Smiles Better Entertainment for our wedding on 29th August!
We had a pretty big package with them (photobooth, ice cream and lawn games) and everything was so professionally executed.
The ice cream flavours were incredible (everyone raved about them!) with options for every dietary requirement, and Paul was able to fix a small problem with the photobooth printer on the day to make sure we could all take home our fabulous photos!
The lawn games were great fun, he was brilliant with all the kids who wanted to play or have their photos done, and everyone had a great time! Thank you. Rachel Robinson”
🧰 Setup Made Simple
With over eight years of experience at Southdowns Manor, our team can set up quickly without disrupting your day.
📞 Book Your Southdowns Manor Photo Booth
If you’re planning a Southdowns Manor wedding, Smiles Better Entertainment would love to be part of your big day.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the South Downs National Park, Southdowns Manor is an elegant wedding venue nestled between West Sussex, Hampshire, and Surrey. Its graceful country-house architecture and beautifully manicured gardens make it a dream destination for couples from Petersfield, Midhurst, Haslemere, Guildford, Chichester, and beyond.
We’re honoured to be the in-house photobooth and entertainment supplier at Southdowns Manor, helping to elevate special days with an array of experiences designed to entertain and delight your guests.
“We always refer the couples getting married at our wedding venue to Smiles Better Entertainment. Paul offers a fantastic, friendly, professional service and puts 100% into everything he does. He has an ever growing range of things he can offer for weddings, parties. Can’t rate him and the company enough, highly highly recommend! – Southdowns Manor”
At Southdowns Manor, every detail helps tell your story and our tailored entertainment adds unforgettable moments that enhance your celebration, from visual keepsakes to tasty treats and creative content.
If you’re planning your day here and want standout features that your guests will remember long after the last dance, we’d love to help. Let’s bring those extra touches of magic to life!
