Looking For That Special Wedding Venue? Then Look Here!

File:Metropolitan opening reception.jpgIf you've been following us on Twitter recently, then you may have noticed that we've been highlighting a few of the venues from our directory. 142 characters however, can't do these hotels justice, so we thought that we'd feature them on here, too.

 We've written before about the vital role of a venue in a wedding. More than just a space with four walls and a roof,  it adds a real sense of occasion to a ceremony and whether you want awe-infectious detail or simple, intimate elegance, a venue can amplify that perfect atmosphere we all want when say, I do.

 We're fortunate enough to feature 7 hotels from the Principle Hayley Group, and we think you'll agree that their venues are superb examples of elegance, charm and splendor. And even better, they're eagerly waiting to host your wedding or civil partnership.

All the hotel information below is taken from Pink Wedding Days, and all the descriptions are in the venues' own words. If you click the name of the hotel, then a link will take you through to their listing and, from there, you'll find their contact details.

Eastwood Hall, Nr Nottingham


Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, so, when you contact us, you will be looked after by a dedicated wedding coordinator. We will help you choose the right details, checking everything runs to plan, and we can put you in touch with local wedding florists, photographers and entertainers to create your entire day. Eastwood Hall Weddings offer:

Sweeping drive for dramatic and stunning arrival
150 en-suite rooms
Elaborate receptions
Private celebrations
Wedding breakfasts for up to 240
Evening receptions for 300
Themed evenings, parties at weekends with dinner, dancing and late bar.
Our all inclusive wedding package at £2995 inc Vat includes:
Red carpet entrance
Civil ceremony room hire
Bucks fizz reception for 55
Exclusive use of your chosen wedding suite
3 course wedding breakfast with a glass of house wine for 55 people
Sparkling wines for toasts and speeches for 55
Evening BBQ for 80 guests.
Complimentary room for the happy couple.
Champagne welcome by Toastmaster for the happy couple
  

Ettington Chase, Stratford-Upon-Avon


 Our team will make sure every detail is carried out, ensuring your special day is as unique as you are. Your wedding may be an intimate ceremony followed by a stylish reception with family and friends. We have a range of options available so you can tailor make your special day with assistance of our experienced wedding coordinator. As a special thank you we offer all guests a very special rate to stay with us.

 Wedding showcases - come and see our beautiful venue for yourself.
  • Sunday 31st August 2014 (12-4pm)
  • Friday 26th September 2014 (6-8pm)
  • Monday 20th October (6-8pm)
  • Friday 21st November (6-8pm)

 Classic wedding package for 55 day guests and 80 evening guests - £2995

 Timeless Wedding package based on 55 day and 80 evening guests. £4195

 Elegance Wedding package based on 55 day and 80 evening guests. £5595

 We will only ever cater for 1 wedding per day.

Horwood House, Milton Keynes


 To assist with your personal wishes, Horwood House will provide you with a dedicated wedding coordinator who will be delighted to offer as much or as little help as you require in organising your day. We also have a team of dedicated Chefs ready to cater for your every need.  Whether you are looking for a 7 course fine dining menu or a simple fish and chip supper, we are happy to discuss and work out your individual requirements. Horwood House also has 185 bedrooms onsite, meaning that your guests can  relax and enjoy their evening with the convenience of not having to travel back home afterwards.
Prices start from £29.95 per person so please enquire and start planning your perfect day.

Kenwood Hall, Sheffield

We can create bespoke packages to cater to your every need and make your day exactly as you want it. We also offer the following in our packages:

  • Civil ceremony room hire
  • Glass of bucks fizz and canapes
  • 3 course meal
  • 2 glasses of wine with your meal
  • Glass of sparkling wine for the toast
  • Evening finger buffet
  • Resident DJ
  • Menu cards and table plan
  • Cake stand and knife
  • Toastmaster
  • Complimentary upgraded bedroom for the happy couple
  • Preferential rates for up to 10 guestrooms

Kenwood Suite Package (based on 75 adult day guests and 120 evening guests) - £5995

Kenwood House Package (based on 50 adult day guests and 90 evening guests) - £4495


Sedgebrook Hall, Northamptonshire


With its beautiful grounds, Japanese garden and great views over the hills,  Sedgebrook Hall is sure to provide you with the perfect backdrop for your photos.
Sedgebrook will provide a personal wedding planner to give as much help or advice
 you need to plan your special day.
Our team of dedicated Chefs are on hand to cater for your every need, from a 7 course fine dining menu to a simple fish and chip supper, we are happy to discuss your individual requirements.
With 102 onsite bedrooms, your guests can relax and enjoy their evening and make the most of the celebrations.

 Prices start from just £29.95 per person so enquire today and start planning your perfect day.
Prices start from just £29.95 per person so enquire today and start planning your perfect day.

The George Hotel, Edinburgh

The elegant Kings Hall dating back to 1827 complimented by the famous flight chandelier is the perfect location for our bridal parties to create incredible memories of their special day. Holding up to 200 wedding guests we are licensed for religious, humanist and civil ceremonies. Our professional team are with you every step of the way and will help you create a magical wedding day.


At The George Hotel we are dedicated to making your dream wedding come true and will work with you to  ensure the closest attention to detail. We will offer guidance throughout to ensure you enjoy the entire process. We can give your guests guaranteed discounted bedroom rates subject to availability. We can also provide you with exclusive access to Queen Street gardens the perfect setting for wedding photographs.
For weddings booked on a Friday, the George Hotel would like to offer you a complimentary glass of sparkling wine for each day guest. Book on a Sunday and we will offer 2 complimentary glasses of sparkling wine per guest and 2 bedrooms. The George will also offer the bride and up to 10 of the bridal party a sparkling wine and canape reception in our spectacular Panorama Suite which offers a comfortable lounge area and terrace with panoramic views across the city. the perfect way to relax and prepare for the wedding ceremony, and a great opportunity for photographs. Please contact us to arrange a show round or for additional information.

The St David's Hotel & Spa, Cardiff



A 2013 regional winner of the Best Wedding Venue from the Welsh National Wedding Awards, it’s no surprise the St. David’s Hotel is a favourite among many. Flooded with natural light and surrounded by breathtaking views, you can rest assured that the dedicated wedding and events team at the St David’s Hotel & Spa will take the stress out of organising your event. After all, your wish is our command! Our flexible wedding and reception rooms are stunning backdrops for any event and have the versatility to accommodate a range of different set-ups:

Our new Penarth Suite is perfect for intimate weddings of 16 or fewer people

Our Dylan Thomas Suite accommodates 220 for a wedding breakfast and 350 evening guests

The Roald Dahl Suite is perfect for a wedding breakfast for up to 160 and 200 evening guests
Our dedicated wedding team will work in partnership with you and a range of suppliers we can help recommend:

Florists
Photographers
Linens & chair cover providers
Room decorators

Our highly experienced Chefs will work with you to develop fine menus that suit your needs and your budget – from canapés to meals for special dietary requirements. We’ll get to know your taste and style, and we’ll look after the details so you don’t have to.
Planning a wedding this year? Take advantage of these great offers 
Receive an extra 15% off all wedding packages during July to December 2014
5 Star Bow all wrapped up from £4900 for 65 guests (2014)
10% off at our recommended suppliers
Win £10,000 nest egg
Late Availability

8th August 2014
15th August 2014

Join us at our next Wedding Fayre on Sunday 2nd November 2014 from 11am – 4pm.


Popular posts from this blog

Should I Propose at Christmas? (Spoiler Alert: Probably Not)

Image
There’s something relentlessly optimistic about the festive season: the gathering of family and friends, the gift-giving and peace-and-good-will-to-all-men shtick. It’s probably the proximity to New Year, too, and all those resolutions and promises for a fresh start. SO many Christmas films have proposals in them, too.  And what greater gift could there be than an engagement over the festive period? Well… It’s easy to get carried away in the spirit of things but Christmas engagements aren’t always a great idea.  And if you have to ask should I propose at Christmas , then the answer is probably no. According to a survey by event company Chili Sauce , men seem to like proposing on Christmas Eve  (woman aren’t quite so keen). Guess you lucky lesbians are off the hook… Only you know whether or not it’s the right time to propose to your partner but here’s why we think you should be careful. 1.   Don’t propose just because it’s Chris...
Read more

Who Walks Down the Aisle at a Gay Wedding?

Image
Wedding traditions remain an important component of many gay and most straight wedding ceremonies. So who walks down the aisle at a gay wedding?   The short answer?  Whoever you want. What you choose to do and celebrate within your own wedding should be entirely up to you and your partner. Tradition shouldn’t be seen as something that must be adhered to or – in the case of LGBTQ ceremonies – adapted mindlessly.  One of the best things about planning a gay wedding is that there are plenty of opportunities  to customise both the ceremony and reception to reflect your own individual personalities.  The important thing is not to let family or friends who are fixated on what’s traditional to unduly influence what it is that you want to do on your big day.  Some people just don’t have the imagination for anything other than a cookie-cutter ceremony. You might hear people saying things like: You CAN’T see each other befor...
Read more

Wedding Fair or Wedding Fayre: Which is it?

Image
Fair or fayre? We got busted by a simple Google search.  And we owe you an apology. After writing hundreds of posts promoting wedding open days , showcases and exhibitions , we assumed that we had wedding terminology down-pat. It turns out that we didn’t. All’s Fair or Fayre in Love (and Wedding Planning) According to The Cambridge Dictionary, Fayre is: “an old-fashioned spelling of fair , used to talk about a traditional public event where goods are bought and sold and where there is entertainment: a country fayre” Uh-oh. We went back through some of our posts to double check what we've been using and... How to Survive a Wedding Fayre  Hadley Park is Hosting a Wedding Fayre And these weren't the only ones.  In fact, every single wedding event we’ve advertised (aside from those specifically marketed as open days) has been described as a fayre. Okay , we thought, let’s get a second opinion. ...
Read more

Gay Wedding Hashtags

Image
Creating a wedding hashtag for a ceremony and reception isn’t every couple’s cup of tea but is it really so ridiculous when most of us use social media to document and organise our lives anyway.  Gay wedding hashtags are one example of how same-sex couples are creating new traditions.  Planning a wedding when you’re LGBTQ often means navigating heterosexual customs and gender-based norms.  This is one way that couples (gay or otherwise) can embrace modernity and add a bit of fun to their ceremony and reception. Customising a hashtag for friends and family to follow across social media platforms is bound to raise an eyebrow with some guests who may feel that it’s a bit soulless, tacky or narcissistic BUT hashtags are so helpful in curating photographs taken throughout the day.   It’s great for the happy couple to search back through, too, and see a different side of the celebrations: a guest’s eye-view.    Another reason that it’s popul...
Read more

How To Make Small Talk At Weddings

Image
*This post was updated July 30th 2015* The service  was delightful. The brides looked divine. The grooms were as handsome as you’ve ever seen them. You made small talk with the mother-in-law, buried your face in the order of service when everyone was  hugging , and mouthed hello to someone you vaguely remember from the hag do.  Now, you’re standing in the car park and everyone’s hanging around before the reception, but you don’t have anyone to talk to. Or maybe, you are with people you know. Maybe you’re laughing all the way to the reception until – ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? – You read the place settings only to realise that you’re sitting on a table with people you don’t know. Suddenly, you can’t kick your shoes off under the table; you can’t bury your face in the salmon starter, and you can’t do that party trick with a glass of water, a penny and the tablecloth. Well, you could... Oh, but THANK THE STARS , at least there’s wine. Being polite shoul...
Read more

Should You Invite a Homophobic Relative to Your Gay Wedding?

Image
It doesn’t matter whether you’re planning a straight, gay or bi wedding – families can make things difficult .  LGBTQ couples have the additional headache of deciding whether or not to invite relatives that don’t support same-sex marriage .  It’s hurtful and it adds additional pressure and stress onto what is already a difficult time of planning.  When you’re curating your guest list the question is: should you invite a homophobic relative to your gay wedding?   No – that’s our gut reaction.   If someone can’t give you 100% love and support on your wedding day, then they shouldn’t be there.  For some couples, it’s as straightforward as that.   But it isn’t always that simple, is it? It rarely is when family are involved.  Only you can decide whether or not that person (or those people) deserves to be a guest at your wedding.  You hold the power.  You’re the inviter-in-chief.  But before you make a...
Read more

Guest Who? A Wedding Guest Book with Personality

Image
The Guest book is hardly the highlight of the wedding reception. There's the pressure of writing something thoughtful, something touching, lightly humorous or insightful in the space of a couple of minutes and all  without the luxury of a first draft.  Unless you're some kind of ad hoc Shakespeare , then it's hardly ideal. There's the risk, too, of scribbling some insipid message that's as generic as the  verse  in the Hallmark card you've already deposited in the  wedding  postbox.  But o f course, you don't want to write something too personal. Those penning later entries can't help but flick through previous pages to see what's already been said. Nobody wants what they've written to become a template for what not to write.  That's why we thought we'd share with you something that could spice up your guest book:  the wedding guessing game and guest book – Guest who? (Scroll to the bottom of the page fo...
Read more

Wedding Venue Spotlight: Ashridge House (Wedding Fayre April 8th 2017)

Image
Where: Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire What: Hotel Capacity: Up to 170 guests for a formal meal with up to 400 in an informal evening reception. Contact:   PWD page                 Ashridge House Website                 Twitter                 Facebook Wedding Fayres: April 8th, 2017 11am to 4pm with a fashion show at 12.30pm and 2.30pm. What we love: If you love history, character and charm, then this could be the venue for you. With a history spanning over 730 years, Ashridge House is placed in an idyllic 190-acre  estate .  This is a venue with more than one gorgeous ceremony space: there's a stunning sweeping staircase in the main hall and a terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens.  You’ll be well looked after, too, with Ashridge House’s experienced wedding coordinators.  There ar...
Read more

Paris: The City of Love as an LGBTQ Honeymoon Destination

Image
What’s the most romantic city in the world? Most people will say Paris even if they’ve never been there. They’ll say it even if they’re single or if they despise romance because it’s an opinion transformed into fact by its re-telling.   Whether or not you think that Paris is THE city of love, it’s believed to be true by the countless couples who add their padlocks to the railings on the Pont Des Arts. And isn’t French known as the language of love? The cuisine is often the first port-of-call for those looking for a romantic meal and what of the cosy cobblestone streets of Montmartre? Paris is a city made for handholding, for sunset cruises, for champagne and croissants by the river and for proposals and for love. Of course, we couldn’t possibly comment on the reputation of the French as exception lovers; we’ll leave that one to your imaginations (or experience). There’s no doubt that Paris is a popular honeymoon destination but how safe and how suitable is it ...
Read more

Wedding Favours: 5 LGBTQ Charities to Donate to

Image
The average wedding costs around £27,000 . Couples could be forgiven for thinking that an invitation is favour enough without adding a small gift on top.  Wedding planning is stressful and shopping around for trinkets and tokens to add to place settings can seem an unwelcome drain both on time and budget.  But favours are still popular.  They do make a cute addition to the tables at the wedding breakfast, too, when they’re chosen to complement the reception's overall aesthetic or theme. One of the biggest trends in recent years has been serving retro sweets and chocolates as wedding favours. Sweetie carts and jars where you fill your own bags are a regular feature at receptions and are popular both with younger and older guests.  It’s easy enough to find out which sugary treats are fan favourites; you can read the results of a recent survey on the nation’s favourite candies and chocolates here. But is there still a place for the traditional...
Read more