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From watching The Wedding Planner to heading up our Wedding Team!

Watching movies such as 27 Dresses

As well as Jennifer Lopez’s blockbuster The Wedding Planner gave Debbie Armstrong the desire to plan and deliver weddings. That said, it wasn’t until Debbie decided to change career that the opportunity to fulfil her dream arose and join the award-winning Ellingham Hall team.

Whilst having an informal chat with Debbie our General Manager, David, recognised her warm and friendly personality, it was clear to him that Debbie was ambitious and passionate – all attributes that David knew would be essential in becoming a successful wedding and events planner. Little did he know that later that year the stars would align, and Ellingham Hall would be looking to recruit a new wedding and events co-ordinator, which Debbie later became the successful applicant of. Having no hands-on experience in the world of weddings it was Debbie’s sparkling personality, kindness and transferable skills from previous employment that made her stand out.

During Debbie’s first year with Ellingham Hall, she really earned her stripes by planning and part delivering the extensive backlog of weddings that were sadly not able to take place during the pandemic. Under tremendous pressure Debbie had to plan multiple weddings side by side, all the while making each couple feel special. It was Debbie’s calm approach and excellent customer service skills that gained her a promotion, awarding her the title of Head of Weddings and Events.

With Debbie’s new role and Ellingham Hall winning the title of ‘Events team of the year’, awarded at the regional final of The Wedding Industry Awards, we thought we’d catch up with Debbie and see how she’s enjoying being the real-life Mary Fiore, planning and delivering bespoke weddings at our exclusive Northumberland Wedding Venue.

What did you do before joining Ellingham Hall?

I am a trained nurse but was working in retail when I was chatting to my neighbour, David, who is General Manager, about a career change. When I asked him what he did, I told him it was a dream of mine to plan weddings as I’d been inspired by movies, like The Wedding Planner. It isn’t quite the same as what you see on screen, of course. It is a real privilege to help couples plan and deliver their dream wedding.

Any standout moments?

Well, there was one time when a florist forgot the confetti and suddenly realised before the ceremony. We pulled out all the stops and managed to contact our admin assistant, Wendy, who had some. It arrived about three minutes before the couple left the Ceremony Room. The bride was so grateful because it was important to her. It was a lovely photograph. One bride was in the process of getting ready, and when I popped into the suite to check everything was OK, she jumped up and gave me a huge hug because she was so thrilled with everything!

What have you learned so far?

It’s nice to make people feel good and make them happy. It maybe just my job, but it’s important because their wedding memory will be with them forever. It’s more than just a job, and it’s why I even take work home because I want every couple to know that every detail is as important to us as it is to them.

A Wedding Suite steeped in History and Romance

Lady B’s Wedding Suite

When choosing to marry at Ellingham Hall, you’re experiencing more than just a luxury wedding venue in the heart of Northumberland you’re immersed in history.

And for couples who tie the knot here, they’re walking in the footsteps of a member of high society when enjoying the Wedding Suite, Lady B’s Suite.

Belinda Ann de Marie Haggerston the eldest daughter and heiress of Sir Carnaby Haggerston was the last of the landed family to live at Ellingham Hall before it became an education establishment.

Such was Belinda Ann’s standing in society, the announcement of her engagement in 1955 to the distinguished Peter Gadsden was the cover story of Country Life magazine.

After her marriage, she became Belinda Ann de Marie Haggerston Gadsden, keeping her connection to the heritage of the famous Northumberland family. The couple went on to have four daughters and Peter became known as a globe trotting trader, who was also the Lord Mayor of London between 1979 and 1980. Indeed, Peter eventually added the name Haggerston to his name such is the importance of the family.

Room with a view and more

While we were unable to host weddings during the pandemic, we decided it was the right time to carry out some renovation work at Ellingham Hall. One of the rooms to be given a refresh was Lady B’s Wedding Suite.

Reflecting the genteel nature of a time gone by, the suite has been sympathetically decorated in the sumptuous styling that would have been enjoyed at Ellingham Hall in it s early years. It also boasts everything you would expect of a modern, luxury wedding venue.

As well as offering a place to rest, brides also get the chance to relax and experience the stunning grounds from the oriel, south facing window, where the sophisticated lady of the house is likely to have once reclined. It’s certainly a wonderful way to start your wedding day!

Brides also have a treat in store: a discreet lavish dressing room where they can prepare for the ceremony in style. And it’s big enough for up to 8 bridesmaids to join them.

History meets modern day

Owner Helen Ruff says, “We wanted to build a bridge by recognising a significant former resident and period in time, but also ensuring modern tastes and requirements were met. So, the room has classic French style furniture and lavish fabric curtains, cushions and drapes that suit s the room perfectly and is very romantic.

“One of the joys of Lady B’s Suite is the dressing room. When couples view the suite and see it leads into the dressing room it’s always a lovely surprise.”

If you would like to experience Lady B’s Suite and walk in the footsteps of history for yourself, contact our team today to arrange a visit to Ellingham Hall.

Supplier Spotlight – Fiona Winn

Ask our Expert – Fiona Winn

We spoke to Fiona Winn from Great British Bash, a creative and experienced events company based in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Great British Bash are passionate about what they do and are committed to delivering the most amazing weddings and events for their clients.

Their exclusive collections were designed to include all the elements necessary to create a coordinated look with that ‘wow’ factor.

What do you like about creating weddings at Ellingham Hall?

Ellingham Hall is a wonderful venue to dress, with a choice of stunning settings both inside and out. From the beautiful interiors of the vaulted Chapel and panelled Ceremony Room to the extensive grounds and romantic pergola, there are so many opportunities for us here at Great British Bash to create a stunning wedding! The neutral colour scheme in the main areas makes the perfect blank canvas for couples to put their unique stamp on.

So, with all the wonderful aspects of the venue, why book a wedding stylist?

Couples book us for several reasons: from not knowing where to start, not knowing what they want, to knowing what they want but not having the time to find it! But the Number One reason, by far, is to take the stress out of planning their wedding so they can enjoy the journey and big day itself.

What do you do?

We design and deliver memorable weddings that reflect the individual personality of our clients. We use our creativity, experience, passion, and commitment to go the extra mile to exceed their expectations.

We’re known for our full-on style, so if you love minimal, you’re in the wrong place! But if you want a ‘wow factor’ wedding, with maximum impact and minimum stress, then we’re here to help you every step of the way.

How do you do this?

We spend time listening to our clients’ thoughts on their dream wedding and then do everything we can to make that dream a reality.

To deliver this, we need to get to know them, their favourite colour scheme, what inspires them, what their lifestyle looks like and their design preferences.

Do they want a contemporary look or a timeless, classic style? Will the vibe be smart or relaxed, luxurious, or rustic?

What makes Great British Bash different?

We create amazing environments for our clients and their guests to enjoy. For us it’s all about the vibe and the atmosphere, not about selling products.

When we first started Great British Bash, we noticed that there was a lack of coordinated products for weddings and events. Planning required a lot of hours of online research to find items with no guarantee they would go together!

Since then, we have created 14 exclusive collections, featuring everything client’s need to create that pulled together look.

Clients have access to our amazing wedding inventory, from faux flowers to venue décor and table linens, accessories, and lighting to all the printed items.

Great British Bash at Ellingham top tips for Creating your dream wedding

Take inspiration from what you are naturally drawn too, then your wedding theme will reflect you as a couple. The ceremony room is more formal with its wood panelling and crystal chandeliers.

The chapel offers the opportunity to be grand because of its scale, but the simplicity of the architecture and décor means that a relaxed look works perfectly too.

Arch or fireplace or both!

Start with the biggest pieces. These are the stars of the show and everything else is the supporting cast! Ellingham has enough space to go big and we often use an arch at the end of the aisle to great effect in the Chapel, as it frames the fireplace. An oversize open top arch looks amazing in front of the ceremony room fireplace too.Recycle is the smart wedding plan

We encourage all our lovely couples to reuse their look all throughout the day into the evening. This continues the look for those who are with you all day and if you have additional evening guests, they will have a good feel for the experience of the day.

The Details

These really put the final touches on your designated look. They can add opulence and luxe touches by adding extra layers of detail. Charger plates, gold or rose gold cutlery, designer glasses, luxe linens build texture and reflect your individuality.

So, spend on the big stuff and then whatever is left of the budget can be used to finish off with the details.

Special Touches

At Ellingham Hall they provide table, chairs, white linen tablecloths and napkins, glassware, and cutlery for your special day, however if you would like to transform your venue, by adding your own individual touches, here are some ideas to consider!

Chair Styling

We have dressed Ellingham’s Chiavari Chairs in many ways! Depending on the look you are going for, choose from our elegant Camilla Lace Chair Caps as shown here, to Antonia our graceful chiffon chair drape, from Coco our pearl swags to Ravenna our foliage chair swags. We can advise on the best choice to co-ordinate with your theme.

Coloured Tablecloths & Napkins

We offer 30 colours in our classic Chelmsford table napkin and have an extensive range of crushed taffeta napkins and cloths if you love a luxurious look.

Bespoke Cutlery & Glassware

Choose from our gold, rose gold and silver cutlery to match your charger plates.

Our Alexa gold or silver rimmed glasses add elegance and sparkle.

Charger Plates

Select Tallulah Charger Plate if you like a crystal plate with a metal bead trim, or Cassie if you want a solid metallic look.

Stationery

We design personalized stationery to add the final touches to your unique big day.

From Save the dates, invitations, welcome sign, order of the day, menus, place cards, table plans and thank you cards for after the event.

And more

If you would like to find out more about Great British Bash, make sure to check out their website!

Supplier Spotlight – Hotspur 1364 Menswear

Ask our Expert – Lisa Aynsley

Hotspur 1364 are a multi-national award winning menswear boutique based in Alnwick, in the heart of Northumberland. Established in 2014, Lisa and her team have dressed thousands of grooms and groomsmen over the years and are recommend supplier to Ellingham Hall.

They provide style advice to help chaps build a unique standout image by sourcing tailored, personal and designer collections to compliment, enhance and profile their look.

Check out Lisa’s Top Tips to help Grooms look their Best on your Wedding Day.

1. Don’t involve Groomsmen!

Should the groom and groomsmen choose the style of the suits? NO, NO, NO!

It’s your choice who you take to choose your suits, but our experience is that groomsmen do have a tendency to behave a bit like divas.

They quite often cajole a groom into something you didn’t really want with their own opinions and choices heavily influencing your decisions. Also, it’s difficult to please all the people all of the time, so the debates can become quite intense, especially if you have a lot of groomsmen.

We find it works best if you and your partner go together with an open mind and try on different suit combinations. We encourage you to take photos and then review to make a final decision on your look for your big day.

THEN the fun stuff happens…

We book you in for your VIP fitting experience with all your groomsmen in our private showroom (there’s complimentary cold beers too!) and we encourage you to try and make a day or evening of it.

To make your experience as stress free as possible, we pull a selection of sizes and get the grooms squad all tucked and pinned ready for our in-house tailor to make you all fit perfectly.

2. Your Suit is an Investment!

The choice is yours, but its better to go with a classic look that’s timeless just like your venue Ellingham Hall! We are happy to style you any way you desire, and our huge range ensures there is something for everyone. From tweed to tuxedo, mix and match, a three piece or simply a jacket and waistcoat. Whatever your vibe, we have a style to suit.

You may be thinking that suits are just for weddings and other formal occasions, but, in fact, they can be worn whenever you want. Suits aren’t just for special occasions like your wedding day, or job interviews they’re also great for other everyday events, such as going to work or hanging out with friends. Suits are easy to wear and dress up or down accordingly.

A blazer, polo shirt and chino combination are now a staple wardrobe go to for the modern man about town, just as is a suit trouser with a smart sharp shirt which are both perfect outfits for the relaxed Night Before celebration at Ellingham. View your suit as an investment piece that can be utilised time and time again.

3. White Shirts can’t be Beaten

We believe there’s nothing better than a crisp white shirt with your suit when saying ‘I do‘.

Colours are great too, but nothing beats the ‘ WoW’ factor than a white shirt for us.

We recommend to buy new shirts from the same brand or shop! We’re often bamboozled by the men’s’ thought processes regarding shirts: they’re happy to spend a sizeable amount on a suit only to pull an old white shirt out of their wardrobe to wear with it!

Please make and extra effort for a new shirt…it really does make all the difference!

4. Suits don’t have to match Bridesmaids

Suits have evolved over the years and have moved away from your simple two button black, navy or grey. We feel the groomsmen can stand alone and still have a dramatic effect. Sometimes a matching tie and pocket square in the chosen colour scheme is more than enough to bring the look together.

We are asked a lot if the groom should look slightly different, so he stands out from the rest of his groomsmen. This is easily achieved with perhaps a contrast waistcoat or a different colour tie. But we also feel everyone knows who the main man is, so there’s no need to make him different to stand out.

5. Don’t leave it too Late to shop!

Pre-pandemic, leaving the suit shopping until the last minute was not a problem, with stock supply in abundance and a supply chain that was slicker and quicker than Lewis Hamilton in last year’s F1. You could quite easily walk in the day before your wedding and get fixed up.

Unfortunately, times have changed, so if you have your heart set on a particular style and colour, we would advise to start looking 12 months in advance of the wedding.

Supply chain is still difficult but also prices are increasing almost monthly. I know a lot of chaps may be looking to lose weight or work out prior to the wedding, so you look your best on the big day, which is often the reason for putting back the suit purchasing until nearer the wedding.

Don’t worry we have an in-house tailor who can easily tweak, take up, in, out and down to ensure you look perfect on your day.

6. The Big Day

First, have a decent breakfast to set you up for the day and try not to have too much alcohol at least until the important bit is over.

Make sure you have done up the INSIDE button on your waistcoat, so it stays in place for the day ahead, and remove all mobile phones from trouser pockets for those intimate wedding portraits within Ellingham’s stunning grounds.

Finally, RELAX and ENJOY your special day!

If you’ re looking to dress your groom, visit Hotspur 1364 in Alnwick or visit hotspur1364.co.uk For details about our wedding venue in Northumberland and to book a viewing, fill in our contact form.

Ellingham Hall proves weddings are Child’s Play!

Charlene & Brett

2nd September 2021

A family friendly wedding venue was essential when Charlene and Brett decided to tie the knot. As parents of three gorgeous young boys, it was vital that they were a central part of the wedding celebrations.

So, the couple’s choice of venue had to have enough space for Roco, Teddy and Kitt to let off some energy! Ellingham Hall’s fun treehouses, woodland and lawns all set in the private grounds, were the perfect place for the boys to have fun on mum and dad’s special day.

Charlene says that having exclusive use of a venue was also a key factor in their decision when it came to finding their dream venue.

CHARLENE SAYS…

How did Ellingham Hall stand out for you as parents?

It’s a long day and we wanted our boys to be part of it. Unlike a big hotel, where they could end up goodness knows where or mixed up with other hotel guests, we were comfortable that Ellingham Hall had enough space available for them to play and have fun. What really helped was that the venue was completely private to our family and friends for two days and that it felt relaxed like home.

Did they come to the viewing?

We took Roco with us and he had such an exciting time he already felt at ease at the viewing! It’s the warmth of the place that made us feel really relaxed and that helped make our decision.

Your photos show the treehouse featured in your day.

The boys spent a lot of time at the treehouses, even on the morning of the wedding. As I was getting ready, I didn’t have much time to spend with the boys, so my dad took them along to play. The photographer used it in our photos, too, as it was such a great memory for them to look back on! My dress was in a bit of state after that…

Stand out wedding moments?

We were really well cared and catered for. We had a casino the night before and the Ellingham Hall team made sure there was room for it. Nothing seemed to be any problem. We really enjoyed having our photographs taken and the 3-course wedding breakfast was delicious. We had booked our original date in July, but Covid restrictions meant we had to push it back to September as it was the date when all the entertainment, we booked was available again. We had a wonderful time.

What was your guest’s feedback?

Every one of our guests enjoyed the two days, including the evening before. They were pleased to get quality time together. Also, I didn’t feel pressured to see everyone on the wedding day as I’d already spent time with them which was great. We had a lot of guests staying the night before and the cottages were also lovely. It’s nice that they’re set behind the main Hall, so you don’t feel like everyone’s getting under each other’s feet.

If the idea of an exclusive family friendly wedding venue in the heart of Northumberland is your dream destination, then contact our team today.

CREDITS

Photographer – Sarah Jane Ethan

Videographer – Unified Films

Registrar – Northumberland Registrars

Flowers & Décor – The Whole Schbang

Cake – The Master Cakesmith

Wedding Dress – The Wedding Dress Company

Evening dress – Marrime

Bridal Hair – Waves and Veil

Make Up – Beauty Box Studio

Studio DJ – Beat Boutique

Saxophonist – Steve Bone Sax

Rings – Angelic Diamonds

It takes two to make a memorable wedding!

Ian & James

18th November 2021

One of the comments couples often make about their wedding is that it passed far too quickly! A single day can fly by, which is why our two night wedding celebration in Northumberland is so popular.

It was for this reason that Ian and James decided that Ellingham Hall was right for them. And it was worth the wait which was a year longer than planned, due to Covid restrictions!

Notes from the Couple

So, a two day celebration appealed to you?

James: It was one of the biggest, if not the biggest reason for choosing Ellingham Hall. The issue with things like weddings is they can go really quickly. So, it was nice to have two days and have the night before to be more relaxed and informal. We were able to have a proper catch up with guests and spend time with them. You wouldn’t necessarily get to spend a lot of time with everyone on the day itself.

Ian: It worked well because there were people travelling quite far to co me along. The idea of trying to cram it all into a few hours on the one day was just felt a bit too much. So, the idea of being able to do two days that was more relaxed was definitely what we wanted.

Did guests travel far?

Ian: Most of our family were relatively nearby. We had people from Northumberland, where James is from, and then my family are all in Leeds, so they travelled up. One guest travelled all the way from Toronto in Canada, so it’s quite a distance for them! There were also people from around the UK, such as Birmingham, as well as from Jersey.

What did they think of your venue choice?

Ian: They loved it. I would say about 90% of guests were able to join for both days and they had a snoop around on the night before and really enjoyed that. The main feedback we had from all the guests was just how they didn’t feel like they were just a guest at a wedding venue. They felt much more relaxed and spent much more time actually enjoying the venue than you would at a hotel for one day.

James: I think it’s because it almost feels like home when you’re having it for two days as well. My Best Man’s got a little boy, and when he was leaving, he said that he really liked our house! He just thought it was our home. You do almost feel like you live there, which is kind of warm!

And how was the wedding day?

Ian: It was really good. I’d not slept much the night before, so I was awake from about 2am, but it all just kind of went really smoothly. We could hear our guests waking up and getting ready, so we were able to pop in and see them. That was really exciting be cause it was all part of the build up…

James: And once we’d spoken to all the suppliers, we had chance to walk around the grounds and take some time for ourselves. We appreciated that and Ellingham Hall having the space to find those moments when we could on our own before the wedding.

Your advice to those planning a wedding?

Ian: Don’t stress over things that aren’t important! You’re there to get married and celebrate with the people that you love, your friends and family. So, enjoy your time.

James: I think that’s why Elllingham Hall works so well. It lets you do that but at a really good pace. It doesn’t feel rushed because it’s a two night experience and it will go really
fast! But if you’re somewhere like Ellingham Hall, then you can make the most of the time that you’ve got!

If you are looking for a two night wedding celebration in Northumberland, contact us today and discuss your ideas with our award-winning weddings team!

CREDITS

Photographers – From The Smiths http://fromthesmithsphotography.co.uk/

Registrar – Northumberland Registrar

Hairdresser – Hair by Victoria Alder https://hairbyvictoriaalder.co.uk/

Wedding Cake Company – Bessy’s Sweet Bakes https://www.instagram.com/bessys_sweet_bakes/

Florist – Wild With Love Flowers http://www.wildwithlove.co.uk/

Band – The Sleekit Beasties https://sleekitbeastiesceilidhband.co.uk/

Suits – Mr Munro https://www.mrmunro.co.uk

Shoes – Loake https://www.loake.com

Rings – Goldsmiths http://www.goldsmiths.co.uk

Chocolate Favours – Studio 28 Patisserie https://www.studio28patisserie.co.uk

Supplier Spotlight – The Beauty Box Studio

The Beauty Box Studio

We spoke to professional bridal makeup artists The Beauty Box Studio about what they do and their top tips for skin prep! Here’s what they had to say:

“I’ve been a professional bridal makeup artist for 9 years, and I love the power and confidence make-up can give to my clients. I opened the studio last year and me and the team pride ourselves on giving the best in luxury bridal make-up to ensure you look and feel your very best on your wedding day.”

3 tips on skin prep leading up to your Wedding

Looking after your skin is so important – after all, it’s with you for life! So, here are some of best skincare tips to ensure you’re glowing from within on the big day.

1. Invest in a solid skincare routine. If you’re not sure about where to start, it’s best to visit an aesthetician/beauty therapist who specialises in skincare to advise you. My personal recommendations would be Clinic 32 Aesthetics and The Aesthetics Edit, both based in the North East. I couldn’t live without my routine: cleanse, eye cream, serum, moisturiser and SPF!

2. It’s never too early to start! I always recommend brides start facials a year in advance so you can give your skin plenty of time to glow! As much as we would love an overnight quick fix, there’s no such thing!

3. Do a face mask the night before! This is a great way to have a pamper night before the wedding with your bridal party to ensure your skin is in tip-top condition! My favourites are the Charlotte Tilbury Dry sheet mask and Garnier Moisture Bomb!

One of my favourite aspects of bridal make-up is how timeless it is, and so I always encourage my brides to wear looks they will reflect on in years to come and still love! I’m going to share 4 of my favourite bridal looks for upcoming brides to rock on their big day!

Flawless & Fresh

My gorgeous bride Jessica opted for a matte but fresh look with pink hues on the cheeks and lips. I loved creating this look as it was a real collaboration between me and my bride.

Image by @helenrussellphotography

Bronzed & Glowing

My radiant bride Amy opted for a champagne eye with soft hues of brown and bronzed skin. She wore a gorgeous off-the-shoulder dress, so we used body make-up to enhance her décolletage.

Decadent Hollywood Glam

The beautiful Becky chose a classic Hollywood glam for her big day. The winged eyeliner and red lip were the star of the make-up! Her Hollywood waves complemented the look perfectly. Don’t be afraid to go bold on the big day, especially if it makes you feel your best!

Image By @carla.w.photography

Radiant & Peachy

This stunning bride, Ella, went for a radiant look with peachy, pink hues on the eyes, lips and cheeks. Very romantic and perfect for brides!

Supplier Spotlight – Epernay Bridal

Ask our Experts – Epernay Bridal

For years, Laurie and Judith’s makeup and artistry skills ensured every bride felt super unique and beautiful, but now we support brides to achieve the complete bridal look at Epernay Bridal.

Helping brides into their gowns and being one of the first to see the bride’s completed look, was one of the most magical moments whilst we were freelance makeup artists. It also provided us with an advantage to appreciating designs, fittings and silhouettes. Still, it gives us a real insight into every bride and their personal wedding dress shopping experiences.

Having both enjoyed the memorable moment every woman should experience when searching for her dream wedding dress, we both knew we had something unique to offer when we uncovered a shared dream to own a bridal boutique. Together we deliver an unforgettable experience for every bride pulling from personal memories and offering exceptional customer care with a creative eye for detail.

At Epernay Bridal, we have some fabulous collections and are Exclusive stockists for:

Hayley Paige & Blush by Hayley Paige

Tara Keely designed by Lazaro

Allison Webb

Ti Adora & Lucia designed by Allison Webb

Cizzy Bridal Australia

Kellylin Couture

Our boutique is welcoming, homely and cosy, filled with the latest collections. You will feel confident, and are in safe, knowledgeable hands with us both as we strive to help you to discover your dream wedding dress and say: ‘This is the One.’

Timeline for booking a wedding dress

(from initial contact to collection of dress)

Our designer’s timelines vary from 3 – 8 months.

We advise brides to start searching for their dress 12 months prior to their special day. This will allow plenty of time to visit (no more than 3 – 5) boutiques, as brides’ biggest mistake is attending too many appointments. Our advice is to research the stores you wish to visit, review their designers, and check pricing (do they meet your budget?)

Once that’s completed, invite-only those whose opinions matter to your appointments. Since our boutique is intimate, we can accommodate the bride plus three to four guests max. We propose to our brides they can invite other guests (no more than four) to their dress arrival appointment. This allows the bride to show their dress to others that we’re unable to attend the initial fitting should they wish to do so.

Your dress must arrive at least two months before your wedding date to allow plenty of time for your alterations. You will usually meet the seamstress three times during the two months leading up to the wedding date.

There are always solutions to timelines. All our designers work to rush order timelines, so we can work to (subject to approval) as little as five weeks if your timeline is short. However, this incurs a charge, and the seamstress will have to book (subject to availability) priority bookings. It is essential to think about timelines to reduce any unwanted extra costs.

We offer the chance to purchase dresses from our boutique on the day of your appointment, depending on size and fit. If the sample dress permits alterations or customisations, buying a dress at a reduced cost, which eliminates a timeline, is always an option. It’s a great solution that many brides take advantage of!

Pear Shaped Figure

Cizzy designed by Bridal Australia

Dresses that accentuate your shoulders, neckline, or bust, skimming over the thighs, and emphasizing the waist are perfect for pear shaped figures. The perfect way to draw the eye to the upper body is with bare shoulders. Our Cizzy Cz8617 dress has a satin skirt and sheer boned bodice with portrait neckline.

Hourglass Figure

Luicia designed by Allison Webb

Fitted and structured dresses compliment an hourglass figure. Our Gianna dress is an Ivory/Cashmere lace trumpet gown, with a sheer strapless sweetheart buttoned bodice and layered horsehair skirt.

Inverted Triangle Figure

Emme designed by Alison Webb

Fit and flare silhouettes help fill out your hips and balance your shoulders. Our Emme dress is an ivory stretch crepe, modified fit to flare gown with boat neckline and open back. It features a detachable black or Ivory bow and chapel train.

All Figures

Mae dress by Ti Adora designed by Allison Webb

A-line is the most popular style, as they are flattering on almost any body shape. Our Mae dress is an Ivory lace and English net A-line gown. It has a sheer natural waist, sweetheart lace bodice with spaghetti straps and detachable net shoulder pieces.

If you would like to explore our ist of recommended suppliers, contact our team today!

Breathtaking background makes Autumn Wedding perfect!

Charlene & Brett

2nd September 2021

Charlene says that having exclusive use of a venue was also a key factor in their decision when it came to finding their dream venue.

Notes from the Bride

AMY SAYS….

How was your switch to an autumn wedding?

It couldn’t have been more perfect. Looking at our photos, the colours of the leaves of the hall outside are just amazing. I felt so lucky that they were still there in November when we got married. It had such a different vibe!

We had planned to get married in July 2020, but the restrictions meant we moved it to June 2021. But with restrictions still in place, we couldn’t have all our guests with us. We then decided to move the date again to November!

So, it worked out ok?

Definitely. It was even more cosy and homely, with the red and gold leaves and the deck all lit up with fairy lights. We had autumn sunshine and it was quite a mild day. The photographer loved how the light was coming into the Wedding Suite. They said it was fantastic for our photos, which look amazing.

What was your guests experience?

They said the same about it being such a welcoming place. It was so relaxing, and a couple of people commented on the relaxed and warm vibe. There was a range of ages, and they were all happy. As we had exclusive use, it was nice and easy for everyone, and it suited those who are parents. We had about five children in our party. All our guests loved the food!

Were you both happy with the food?

The food was out of this world! We had a lemon theme because we got engaged in Sorrento, so we wanted an Italian vibe. I’d put out lemons on the tables to go with the flowers, and I guess you couldn’t do that in a hotel! We noticed that even though we didn’t mention the lemon theme to the Ellingham Hall team, the chef had put candied lemon on our sticky toffee pudding dessert, which was such a lovely thoughtful touch. It was that attention to detail that made it so special. And we were also able to tweak our drinks package to include limoncello for our toast, which was very good of the team.

Did you manage to relax?

Oh yes. We drove up from Sunderland the night before and I was quite nervous but also excited. But as soon as got unpacked and put our comfy clothes on we felt relaxed. It was lovely to be here the night before with our guests especially with it being autumn and that made i t feel even more cosy inside.

Why did you choose to travel to a venue?

We wanted to get married in the stunning Northumberland countryside and we had looked at a few venues around the area. But as soon as we got to Ellingham Hall and pulled up in front of the Hall we just knew this was going to be the right place. It has a “wow” factor, and the rooms are modern, but not too modern that it spoils the history of the Hall. We noticed it was surrounded by all those lovely trees, which turned out to feature more in our wedding than we expected them to.

CREDITS

Photographer – Sarah Jane Ethan

Videographer – Unified Films

Registrar – Northumberland Registrars

Flowers & Décor – The Whole Schbang

Cake – The Master Cakesmith

Wedding Dress – The Wedding Dress Company

Evening dress – Marrime

Bridal Hair – Waves and Veil

Make Up – Beauty Box Studio

Studio DJ – Beat Boutique

Saxophonist – Steve Bone Sax

Rings – Angelic Diamonds

If you are interested in a dream autumn wedding, then contact our weddings team today.

A Tail with a Happy Ending!

Ian & James

18th November 2021

One of the comments couples often make about their wedding is that it passed far too quickly! A single day can fly by, which is why our two night wedding celebration in Northumberland is so popular.

It was for this reason that Ian and James decided that Ellingham Hall was right for them. And it was worth the wait which was a year longer than planned, due to Covid restrictions!

Notes from the Couple

So, a two day celebration appealed to you?

Did guests travel far?

What did they think of your venue choice?

And how was the wedding day?

Your advice to those planning a wedding?

Ian: Don’t stress over things that aren’t important! You’re there to get married and celebrate with the people that you love, your friends and family. So, enjoy your time.