At a glittering ceremony in Liverpool’s Adelphi Hotel on Wednesday 21 January, our team went head-to-head with eight other historic venues across the UK and was presented with the national award by TWIA founder Damian Bailey.

It’s an incredible feat for our exclusive use wedding venue, after receiving the National Winner trophy in 2024 for TWIA’s Events Team of the Year. We also scooped the regional title for three consecutive years for Yorkshire and the North East.

Watch the fabulous video from the National Finals here

Ellingham Hall was named Best Historic Wedding Venue in the UK which featured in Northumberland Gazette

If you are looking for an exclusive, unforgettable Two-Night Wedding Experience, contact the Event team at Ellingham Hall or book your private viewing appointment.

“We simply had the ultimate family party, I’d say. On the Sunday, we had games outside, including rounders, and everyone got involved. Then we enjoyed a barbecue, with karaoke and there were other activities on the evening.

“It was something I wanted to do, but not many venues would offer it. So, when we came to Ellingham Hall, I already knew they offered a two-night wedding.

“We asked if we could extend to three nights, and they were very accommodating. So we did it, and that was exactly what we wanted. We didn’t think we’d be able to because other venues had said they couldn’t offer three nights. Some don’t offer two night weddings either!”

Notes from the Bride

What did your Family say when they realised it was a three night wedding?

They all thought it was amazing, it was like a mini holiday! Everyone enjoyed their weekend away. On the Sunday, some guests stayed at Ellingham Hall while others visited Alnwick Castle and the beautiful coastal beaches. We made a weekend out of it. It was nice to have that extra time enjoying Northumberland and then for guests to return later in the day for a delicious barbecue with drinks. It was the ultimate family Sunday.

What did your Guests say about the Experience?

Everyone said it was amazing. They said the venue was beautiful and so well looked after. They all thought it was fantastic and only two guests had been to an event at Ellingham Hall before. They said it was just a lovely weekend full of fun and everyone was in good spirits. We felt very much like we were at home. In fact it felt like it was our house!

Did Guests have far to Travel?

We’re live about an hour and a half away from Ellingham Hall, but our guests came from all over. We’ve got family in London, Sheffield and some travelled all the way from Australia to celebrate with us! A couple of friends came from New Zealand too, we were thrilled they could join us.

Why did you opt for a Black-Tie Themed Wedding?

Well, we thought it would be a bit different. Ellingham Hall also inspired us. It just fitted with the look and feel of the Hall.

Why did you choose Ellingham Hall?

As soon as we drove up the driveway, we got the “wow” factor! Then we went inside and it felt right. Everyone on the team was just so good and very friendly. It was different to what we’d experienced at other venues because we immediately felt at ease and at home. There wasn’t anything pretentious and it was all about us and what we wanted, and not about us choosing a package which feels restrictive.

Why did you choose to marry in Summer?

I always wanted a summer wedding, as I love the idea of being outside. So because the outdoor ceremony spaces were so good, it was perfect for us. We played lawn games on the Sunday, which finished a perfect summer wedding.

You brought your dog, Zola. Was that part of your wishes?

Ellingham Hall is a dog friendly wedding venue and having our dog at our wedding, was very important to us. Their dog parlour is great, and Zola was able to stay in the Hall on the Friday night. It meant Dan could take her for a walk on the wedding day morning. It helped calm his nerves and keep to his usual routine of taking her out for a walk around the gorgeous grounds.

What’s your advice for anyone planning a summer wedding?

Don’t worry about the weather. It will be what it will be and Ellingham is perfect whatever the weather!

If you are looking for a three night wedding in Northumberland contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

Wedding Day Suppliers

Photographer – Holly Ruby Photography
Videographer – We Were Here
Content Creator – Moments Media
Registrar – Northumberland Registrars
Florist/Event Styling – Made Simply Perfect
Bridal Gown Day – Joana Bridal Harrogate
Bridal Dress evening – Unona
Hair – Up Do Darlin
Mua – HFS Make up Artist Make Up by Lau
Dog Chaperone – Wagging Tails NE
Cake – Cakes of Dales
DJ – PA Entertainments
Band – The Covers Club

It’s an incredible feat for the wedding venue whose events team was previously crowned TWIA National Winner for Events Team of the Year in 2024 and Regional Winner for three consecutive years.

Read more about how Ellingham Hall was named Best Historic Wedding Venue in the North East & Yorkshire which featured in Northumberland Gazette and The Chronicle.

If you are looking for an exclusive, unforgettable Two-Night Wedding Experience, contact the Event team at Ellingham Hall or book your private viewing appointment.

“As both our families are Catholic it was important for us to keep up the tradition. St Paul’s Catholic Church in Alnwick was perfect for us, and we wanted to find a wedding venue nearby.”

The couple looked at several wedding venues in Northumberland, but Ellingham Hall was the venue that stole their hearts…

Notes from the Bride

Why did you Choose Ellingham Hall?

We knew it was right as soon as we first walked up the driveway for the viewing. The building is stunning, and the grounds are amazing too – we both got the feeling that it was the one. The venue was a great size for all our guests, as we have two big families and the other venues we viewed were too small. Not all our guests stayed overnight as we live in Cramlington, but Ellingham Hall offers great accommodation. With a summer wedding you don’t know if you’ll get good weather, so you need to consider the indoor spaces too. And the fact it is a two-night wedding was perfect. It was amazing!

Did you know about Two-Night Weddings before Visiting?

It was the first we’d heard of it, and we loved being able to relax with our family the night before. We have family from all over the UK, and some stayed at the Hall, so the extra night was a huge benefit. Other guests stayed at the Pack Horse Inn and accommodation nearby. It was fantastic having the chance to spend quality time together the night before, as it gave everyone time to catch up.

Tell us about the Night Before the Wedding?

We enjoyed a delicious barbecue with drinks outdoors on the Chapel Terrace. The food was unbelievable, all our guests commented how amazing the food was. They loved all of it, including the food on the wedding day. It was lovely to sit outside on a summer evening and watch the peacocks parading the grounds, it was great entertainment for our guests!

Did you have a Theme for your Wedding?

I had absolutely no ideas at all! I was really starting from scratch with all the wedding planning. I’m not an organiser and I really needed that support. It was Lynn, the Group Sales & Marketing Manager who showed us around, and she was amazing and very knowledgeable. She put all our worries at ease and said that anything was possible, as they tailor each wedding to the couple’s aspirations. But the planning resources that we were sent initially with the booking pack were so helpful. That gave us a starting point to go from which included Ellingham’s recommended suppliers. The Real Wedding Blogs are super helpful too, they gave us inspiration, ideas for colours and flowers and all those things.

What did you choose for your Wedding Favours?

I’m a wildlife ranger, so we opted for wildflower seeds for our favours. I thought it was a nice little personal touch for guests to take away. We originally thought about getting married in Greece and had the idea of a blue and white theme, so we stayed with those colours, and it all came together really well.

How did you Travel from Ellingham Hall to St Pauls Church?

Stephen travelled with his good friend Connor, who was also our Master of Ceremonies on the day. I arrived at the Church in a traditional wedding car along with my bridesmaids. The reason we opted to have a church wedding was we wanted to have a traditional wedding, so the car was a must. It made me feel really special driving through Alnwick and everyone stopping and waving.

Did you see each other before Arriving at the Church?

As Ellingham Hall has two wedding suites; Lady B’s and the Ellingham Suite, it made it easy to stay separately the night before and on the morning. The team at Ellingham Hall were amazing. Alicia was fantastic and made sure everyone was out of the venue before I came down the grand staircase to get some photos before leaving for the church.

So, it all ran like Clockwork?

It absolutely did at Ellingham Hall. We had a little hiccup on the way to the venue the night before , as the cake collapsed in the back of the car. But it was one of those funny stories we’ll always remember. Alicia our wedding co-ordinator was brilliant and when we arrived, she said the team would sort it out. You couldn’t tell there’d been an issue with the cake in the end, we were extremely grateful for their help!

Now you’ve Planned a Wedding, what’s your Advice to Couples?

I’d say book Ellingham Hall!

From start to finish, everything was amazing. All the staff were helpful and always on the end of the phone. They answered emails quickly. I felt like I was nagging them, and I had so many questions, and they really put me at ease throughout the planning process.

Explore more beautiful images from Katherine & Stephen’s wedding here

If you are looking for a Summer Church wedding in Northumberland contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

Wedding Day Suppliers

Photography – 2 Tone Photography

Videographer – Unveil Films

Church – St Paul’s Alnwick

Bridal Gown – Wed2B Bridal

Bridal Seamstress – The Little Seamstress

MUA – Melanie Hedley Make Up Artist

Hair – Bridal Hair by Cheryl

Suits – Suit Culture

Bridesmaids Dresses – Ever Pretty

Florist & Stylist – Made Simply Perfect

Wedding Car – AB Wedding Cars

Musicians- Andrelli Strings

Singer – Dave Red Music

Band – Hip Operation

Cake – Homemade

Wildflower Seeds – Etsy

Seeing the hit Netflix show, inspired the couple to come up with the stand-out attire for their big day. And while the suits were a talking point for surprised guests, they were also surprising for John and Kyle.

“We had our suits custom made in India, and they were the most comfortable suits we’d ever worn” explains Kyle.

John adds, “We were intending on changing for the evening reception because we thought they might be uncomfortable to wear all day. However they were really comfy, so we kept them on.”

“As they were cream, we were terrified they would get dirty quickly, but they fared well, as they still looked spotless at the end of the wedding day,” Kyle adds.

Notes from the Couple

Did you tell Guests about your Suits before the Wedding?

John: Nobody knew about the suits until the day. We just told everyone that we’d gone for something different – no one guessed our style.

Kyle: There was panic from us right up to the day about whether we had done the right thing. But we feel we made the perfect decision.

John: That was probably the biggest thing that made me nervous before we walked down the aisle. I was thinking, “What’s everyone’s reaction going to be to what we’re wearing?” But our guests were all blown away, they thought we looked fantastic.

What made Ellingham Hall your Dream Venue?

John: We originally viewed a venue near to where we live in Rowlands Gill. We liked the fact it had accommodation, and our guests could stay over. I’m from Cumbria and Kyle’s family are from South Shields. We were very close to booking, but then we realised that there could be three or four weddings taking place on the same day and we didn’t want that.

Kyle: We came across Ellingham Hall, and the minute we arrived we knew it was perfect. We loved everything about the two-night wedding experience and the venue offers lots of luxurious accommodation. The grounds for the kids were perfect too.

John: We loved the idea of the two-nights. When we went to view, we were told that an imaginary key would be given to us the night before night and then you hand it back on the morning after. I loved the idea that we were not going to bump into other wedding parties, as the Hall and grounds are exclusively yours during your wedding celebration.

Kyle: It was like our own home for the weekend. We only had close family stay with us the night before. Our parents had met before, but our brothers and sisters had not. It meant there was no awkwardness on the day as everyone had time to get to know one another and chill the night before. At breakfast, everyone was mingling which was lovely to see.

So, your Family enjoyed the Night Before Celebration?

Kyle: Oh yes. No one segregated like you get at most weddings. Some people have made new friends because they had time to get to know one another. In fact, many have stayed in touch and we’re having a garden party for them. It’s lovely and it meant there was no panicking. I was surprised at how relaxed everyone was on the wedding morning.

John: My grandma is 86 and she mentions the wedding and Ellingham Hall all the time. She said it’s the best wedding she’s ever been to and that she’ll ever go to. Her comments stood out a mile for me.

Why did you choose an Autumn Wedding?

John: We normally go on holiday in September; it’s part of our anniversary. It’s also my birthday, but the wedding wasn’t centred around that.

Kyle: And neither of us are sun worshippers. We didn’t want it to be a red-hot weekend. The weather was perfect.

John: We’ve been to weddings in the summer and as you’re all dressed up in a suit you just want to get indoors to cool down. We didn’t want our guests to feel uncomfortable with the heat.

And your Speeches hit a Different Note! 

Kyle: We didn’t do the standard, traditional speeches. We had singing waiters who sang them for us. We don’t do tradition at all!

John: The singing waiters were great, and we also booked a string quartet who played as we walked down the aisle as well as a live band and a DJ for the evening party.

Tell us about your Wedding Day?

John: The team at Ellingham Hall were brilliant. One person who stood out to me was Matt. There could have been an issue, as there was a mix up with one of our suppliers. We didn’t know what to do and Matt came up with a solution. He brought us an option to show us and said that if we didn’t think it was right, not to worry. But his idea was perfect, and we were extremely grateful to him.

Kyle: Nothing seemed to be a hassle. You could tell his priority was to ensure we were happy. It’s those small details that you remember.

What’s your advice to couples planning a wedding?

John: Don’t overlook the small details. We added personalised touches such as shots on the table and some people who didn’t drink them, took them home. We also put together little party packs for the kids as their wedding favour. We bought glow sticks for the evening and flip flops for anyone whose feet were sore. It’s those extra touches that our guests still mention.

Kyle: The day goes so fast, make sure you take time away at different points in the day to spend time together. Dru, our photographer, gave us that tip. He was brilliant and had lots of advice. We took 5 or 10 minutes away four or five times just to walk around and take everything in. We were so pleased we did.

John: We also made a point to get up in between each course of the wedding breakfast to go around and talk to people. When we look back, it was the only time we really got to make sure we spoke to everyone.

Kyle: Our last piece of advice is not to walk down the aisle too quickly. We didn’t realise how quickly we walked, but some guests said that they missed us walking down as we were so fast!

If you are looking for a Bridgerton Wedding setting or an Autumn wedding venue in Northumberland contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

Wedding Day Suppliers 

Photographer – Dru Dodd

Registrar – Northumberland Registrars 

Suits – Designed bespoke in India

Hair – Hair There and Everywhere by Sian

Bridesmaids’ Dresses – WED2B

Florist/Stylist – Great British Bash

String Quartet – North East Soiree

Singing Waiters – Waiter Surprise

Cake – The Cake Garden

Band & DJ –  Knight Muse provided by North East Soiree

Seeing the hit Netflix show, inspired the couple to come up with the stand-out attire for their big day. And while the suits were a talking point for surprised guests, they were also surprising for John and Kyle.

“We had our suits custom made in India, and they were the most comfortable suits we’d ever worn” explains Kyle.

John adds, “We were intending on changing for the evening reception because we thought they might be uncomfortable to wear all day. However they were really comfy, so we kept them on.”

“As they were cream, we were terrified they would get dirty quickly, but they fared well, as they still looked spotless at the end of the wedding day,” Kyle adds.

Notes from the Couple

Did you tell Guests about your Suits before the Wedding?

John: Nobody knew about the suits until the day. We just told everyone that we’d gone for something different – no one guessed our style.

Kyle: There was panic from us right up to the day about whether we had done the right thing. But we feel we made the perfect decision.

John: That was probably the biggest thing that made me nervous before we walked down the aisle. I was thinking, “What’s everyone’s reaction going to be to what we’re wearing?” But our guests were all blown away, they thought we looked fantastic.

What made Ellingham Hall your Dream Venue?

John: We originally viewed a venue near to where we live in Rowlands Gill. We liked the fact it had accommodation, and our guests could stay over. I’m from Cumbria and Kyle’s family are from South Shields. We were very close to booking, but then we realised that there could be three or four weddings taking place on the same day and we didn’t want that.

Kyle: We came across Ellingham Hall, and the minute we arrived we knew it was perfect. We loved everything about the two-night wedding experience and the venue offers lots of luxurious accommodation. The grounds for the kids were perfect too.

John: We loved the idea of the two-nights. When we went to view, we were told that an imaginary key would be given to us the night before night and then you hand it back on the morning after. I loved the idea that we were not going to bump into other wedding parties, as the Hall and grounds are exclusively yours during your wedding celebration.

Kyle: It was like our own home for the weekend. We only had close family stay with us the night before. Our parents had met before, but our brothers and sisters had not. It meant there was no awkwardness on the day as everyone had time to get to know one another and chill the night before. At breakfast, everyone was mingling which was lovely to see.

So, your Family enjoyed the Night Before Celebration?

Kyle: Oh yes. No one segregated like you get at most weddings. Some people have made new friends because they had time to get to know one another. In fact, many have stayed in touch and we’re having a garden party for them. It’s lovely and it meant there was no panicking. I was surprised at how relaxed everyone was on the wedding morning.

John: My grandma is 86 and she mentions the wedding and Ellingham Hall all the time. She said it’s the best wedding she’s ever been to and that she’ll ever go to. Her comments stood out a mile for me.

Why did you choose an Autumn Wedding?

John: We normally go on holiday in September; it’s part of our anniversary. It’s also my birthday, but the wedding wasn’t centred around that.

Kyle: And neither of us are sun worshippers. We didn’t want it to be a red-hot weekend. The weather was perfect.

John: We’ve been to weddings in the summer and as you’re all dressed up in a suit you just want to get indoors to cool down. We didn’t want our guests to feel uncomfortable with the heat.

And your Speeches hit a Different Note! 

Kyle: We didn’t do the standard, traditional speeches. We had singing waiters who sang them for us. We don’t do tradition at all!

John: The singing waiters were great, and we also booked a string quartet who played as we walked down the aisle as well as a live band and a DJ for the evening party.

Tell us about your Wedding Day?

John: The team at Ellingham Hall were brilliant. One person who stood out to me was Matt. There could have been an issue, as there was a mix up with one of our suppliers. We didn’t know what to do and Matt came up with a solution. He brought us an option to show us and said that if we didn’t think it was right, not to worry. But his idea was perfect, and we were extremely grateful to him.

Kyle: Nothing seemed to be a hassle. You could tell his priority was to ensure we were happy. It’s those small details that you remember.

What’s your advice to couples planning a wedding?

John: Don’t overlook the small details. We added personalised touches such as shots on the table and some people who didn’t drink them, took them home. We also put together little party packs for the kids as their wedding favour. We bought glow sticks for the evening and flip flops for anyone whose feet were sore. It’s those extra touches that our guests still mention.

Kyle: The day goes so fast, make sure you take time away at different points in the day to spend time together. Dru, our photographer, gave us that tip. He was brilliant and had lots of advice. We took 5 or 10 minutes away four or five times just to walk around and take everything in. We were so pleased we did.

John: We also made a point to get up in between each course of the wedding breakfast to go around and talk to people. When we look back, it was the only time we really got to make sure we spoke to everyone.

Kyle: Our last piece of advice is not to walk down the aisle too quickly. We didn’t realise how quickly we walked, but some guests said that they missed us walking down as we were so fast!

If you are looking for a Bridgerton Wedding setting or an Autumn wedding venue in Northumberland contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

Wedding Day Suppliers 

Photographer – Dru Dodd

Registrar – Northumberland Registrars 

Suits – Designed bespoke in India

Hair – Hair There and Everywhere by Sian

Bridesmaids’ Dresses – WED2B

Florist/Stylist – Great British Bash

String Quartet – North East Soiree

Singing Waiters – Waiter Surprise

Cake – The Cake Garden

Band & DJ –  Knight Muse provided by North East Soiree

Notes from the Couple

Did you tell Guests about your Suits before the Wedding?

John: Nobody knew about the suits until the day. We just told everyone that we’d gone for something different – no one guessed our style.

Kyle: There was panic from us right up to the day about whether we had done the right thing. But we feel we made the perfect decision.

John: That was probably the biggest thing that made me nervous before we walked down the aisle. I was thinking, “What’s everyone’s reaction going to be to what we’re wearing?” But our guests were all blown away, they thought we looked fantastic.

What made Ellingham Hall your Dream Venue?

John: We originally viewed a venue near to where we live in Rowlands Gill. We liked the fact it had accommodation, and our guests could stay over. I’m from Cumbria and Kyle’s family are from South Shields. We were very close to booking, but then we realised that there could be three or four weddings taking place on the same day and we didn’t want that.

Kyle: We came across Ellingham Hall, and the minute we arrived we knew it was perfect. We loved everything about the two-night wedding experience and the venue offers lots of luxurious accommodation. The grounds for the kids were perfect too.

John: We loved the idea of the two-nights. When we went to view, we were told that an imaginary key would be given to us the night before night and then you hand it back on the morning after. I loved the idea that we were not going to bump into other wedding parties, as the Hall and grounds are exclusively yours during your wedding celebration.

Kyle: It was like our own home for the weekend. We only had close family stay with us the night before. Our parents had met before, but our brothers and sisters had not. It meant there was no awkwardness on the day as everyone had time to get to know one another and chill the night before. At breakfast, everyone was mingling which was lovely to see.

So, your Family enjoyed the Night Before Celebration?

Kyle: Oh yes. No one segregated like you get at most weddings. Some people have made new friends because they had time to get to know one another. In fact, many have stayed in touch and we’re having a garden party for them. It’s lovely and it meant there was no panicking. I was surprised at how relaxed everyone was on the wedding morning.

John: My grandma is 86 and she mentions the wedding and Ellingham Hall all the time. She said it’s the best wedding she’s ever been to and that she’ll ever go to. Her comments stood out a mile for me.

Why did you choose an Autumn Wedding?

John: We normally go on holiday in September; it’s part of our anniversary. It’s also my birthday, but the wedding wasn’t centred around that.

Kyle: And neither of us are sun worshippers. We didn’t want it to be a red-hot weekend. The weather was perfect.

John: We’ve been to weddings in the summer and as you’re all dressed up in a suit you just want to get indoors to cool down. We didn’t want our guests to feel uncomfortable with the heat.

And your Speeches hit a Different Note! 

Kyle: We didn’t do the standard, traditional speeches. We had singing waiters who sang them for us. We don’t do tradition at all!

John: The singing waiters were great, and we also booked a string quartet who played as we walked down the aisle as well as a live band and a DJ for the evening party.

You also had a Special Guest…

Rachael: Yes, our dog Finley was at the wedding. He’s a golden retriever and he wore a little bow tie, though it was hidden under his fur most of the time! We hired a dog chaperone to bring him to the venue, as he was only about nine months old at the time, so very excitable. It was a good thing that he was able to come along and interact with our guests and we could get photos with him.

Tell us about your Personal Touches

Rachael: We go on lots of holidays and our tables were named after places we’d visited with the guests who were sitting on those tables. One table was named Bali, a place where we’d met some of our friends. Our top table was named Rome as that was the city where Gareth proposed to me. All the table names meant something personal to us both.

What’s your Wedding Planning Advice for Couples?

 Rachael: Do all the planning beforehand, but on the day don’t worry about anything because it’s all in the hands of your weddings team. Just relax and enjoy your special day.

Gareth: I’d say to write everything down about what you want and add little bits as you go. We put our own personal touches on things, for example we arranged a game of rounders because Ellingham Hall has great grounds for outdoor activities. We played the game between the wedding breakfast and evening party. We made sure we had written down that we needed a rounders kit. Most importantly, enjoy the whole experience!

If you are looking for a Bridgerton Wedding setting or an Autumn wedding venue in Northumberland contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

What’s your advice to couples planning a wedding?

John: Don’t overlook the small details. We added personalised touches such as shots on the table and some people who didn’t drink them, took them home. We also put together little party packs for the kids as their wedding favour. We bought glow sticks for the evening and flip flops for anyone whose feet were sore. It’s those extra touches that our guests still mention.

Kyle: The day goes so fast, make sure you take time away at different points in the day to spend time together. Dru, our photographer, gave us that tip. He was brilliant and had lots of advice. We took 5 or 10 minutes away four or five times just to walk around and take everything in. We were so pleased we did.

John: We also made a point to get up in between each course of the wedding breakfast to go around and talk to people. When we look back, it was the only time we really got to make sure we spoke to everyone.

Kyle: Our last piece of advice is not to walk down the aisle too quickly. We didn’t realise how quickly we walked, but some guests said that they missed us walking down as we were so fast!

Why did you choose Ellingham Hall as your North East Location Venue?  

Abbie Jeffrey, Social and Content Manager for Humes said “It was the impressive rooms and beautiful décor that first caught our eye. With many unique rooms that told their own story, we knew that there would be many amazing photo opportunities, but Ellingham Hall exceeded our expectations. The overall grand, luxurious feel of the venue and its location in the picturesque Northumberland countryside captured the essence of our photoshoot perfectly.”

Tell us about the Spaces you used for the Shoot

 We shot in the two stunning Reception Rooms (the Entrance Hall and Drawing Room), Lady B’s Wedding Suite, Grand Staircase and the exterior manicured Grounds. Each space provided a new visual and ambience, with so many vibrant colours, pieces of unique furniture, textures and natural lighting to give our catalogue the variety we were looking for.

Notes from the Couple

Did you tell Guests about your Suits before the Wedding?

John: Nobody knew about the suits until the day. We just told everyone that we’d gone for something different – no one guessed our style.

Kyle: There was panic from us right up to the day about whether we had done the right thing. But we feel we made the perfect decision.

John: That was probably the biggest thing that made me nervous before we walked down the aisle. I was thinking, “What’s everyone’s reaction going to be to what we’re wearing?” But our guests were all blown away, they thought we looked fantastic.

What made Ellingham Hall your Dream Venue?

John: We originally viewed a venue near to where we live in Rowlands Gill. We liked the fact it had accommodation, and our guests could stay over. I’m from Cumbria and Kyle’s family are from South Shields. We were very close to booking, but then we realised that there could be three or four weddings taking place on the same day and we didn’t want that.

Kyle: We came across Ellingham Hall, and the minute we arrived we knew it was perfect. We loved everything about the two-night wedding experience and the venue offers lots of luxurious accommodation. The grounds for the kids were perfect too.

John: We loved the idea of the two-nights. When we went to view, we were told that an imaginary key would be given to us the night before night and then you hand it back on the morning after. I loved the idea that we were not going to bump into other wedding parties, as the Hall and grounds are exclusively yours during your wedding celebration.

Kyle: It was like our own home for the weekend. We only had close family stay with us the night before. Our parents had met before, but our brothers and sisters had not. It meant there was no awkwardness on the day as everyone had time to get to know one another and chill the night before. At breakfast, everyone was mingling which was lovely to see.

What’s your advice to couples planning a wedding?

John: Don’t overlook the small details. We added personalised touches such as shots on the table and some people who didn’t drink them, took them home. We also put together little party packs for the kids as their wedding favour. We bought glow sticks for the evening and flip flops for anyone whose feet were sore. It’s those extra touches that our guests still mention.

Kyle: The day goes so fast, make sure you take time away at different points in the day to spend time together. Dru, our photographer, gave us that tip. He was brilliant and had lots of advice. We took 5 or 10 minutes away four or five times just to walk around and take everything in. We were so pleased we did.

John: We also made a point to get up in between each course of the wedding breakfast to go around and talk to people. When we look back, it was the only time we really got to make sure we spoke to everyone.

Kyle: Our last piece of advice is not to walk down the aisle too quickly. We didn’t realise how quickly we walked, but some guests said that they missed us walking down as we were so fast!

If you’re looking for a North East Location Venue for film or photoshoot work, contact the team at Ellingham Hall today to book a private tour.

Tell us about the Spaces you used for the Shoot

 We shot in the two stunning Reception Rooms (the Entrance Hall and Drawing Room), Lady B’s Wedding Suite, Grand Staircase and the exterior manicured Grounds. Each space provided a new visual and ambience, with so many vibrant colours, pieces of unique furniture, textures and natural lighting to give our catalogue the variety we were looking for.

Notes from the Couple

Did you tell Guests about your Suits before the Wedding?

John: Nobody knew about the suits until the day. We just told everyone that we’d gone for something different – no one guessed our style.

Kyle: There was panic from us right up to the day about whether we had done the right thing. But we feel we made the perfect decision.

John: That was probably the biggest thing that made me nervous before we walked down the aisle. I was thinking, “What’s everyone’s reaction going to be to what we’re wearing?” But our guests were all blown away, they thought we looked fantastic.

What made Ellingham Hall your Dream Venue?

John: We originally viewed a venue near to where we live in Rowlands Gill. We liked the fact it had accommodation, and our guests could stay over. I’m from Cumbria and Kyle’s family are from South Shields. We were very close to booking, but then we realised that there could be three or four weddings taking place on the same day and we didn’t want that.

Kyle: We came across Ellingham Hall, and the minute we arrived we knew it was perfect. We loved everything about the two-night wedding experience and the venue offers lots of luxurious accommodation. The grounds for the kids were perfect too.

John: We loved the idea of the two-nights. When we went to view, we were told that an imaginary key would be given to us the night before night and then you hand it back on the morning after. I loved the idea that we were not going to bump into other wedding parties, as the Hall and grounds are exclusively yours during your wedding celebration.

Kyle: It was like our own home for the weekend. We only had close family stay with us the night before. Our parents had met before, but our brothers and sisters had not. It meant there was no awkwardness on the day as everyone had time to get to know one another and chill the night before. At breakfast, everyone was mingling which was lovely to see.

So, your Family enjoyed the Night Before Celebration?

Kyle: Oh yes. No one segregated like you get at most weddings. Some people have made new friends because they had time to get to know one another. In fact, many have stayed in touch and we’re having a garden party for them. It’s lovely and it meant there was no panicking. I was surprised at how relaxed everyone was on the wedding morning.

John: My grandma is 86 and she mentions the wedding and Ellingham Hall all the time. She said it’s the best wedding she’s ever been to and that she’ll ever go to. Her comments stood out a mile for me.

Why did you choose an Autumn Wedding?

John: We normally go on holiday in September; it’s part of our anniversary. It’s also my birthday, but the wedding wasn’t centred around that.

Kyle: And neither of us are sun worshippers. We didn’t want it to be a red-hot weekend. The weather was perfect.

John: We’ve been to weddings in the summer and as you’re all dressed up in a suit you just want to get indoors to cool down. We didn’t want our guests to feel uncomfortable with the heat.

And your Speeches hit a Different Note! 

Kyle: We didn’t do the standard, traditional speeches. We had singing waiters who sang them for us. We don’t do tradition at all!

John: The singing waiters were great, and we also booked a string quartet who played as we walked down the aisle as well as a live band and a DJ for the evening party.

You also had a Special Guest…

Rachael: Yes, our dog Finley was at the wedding. He’s a golden retriever and he wore a little bow tie, though it was hidden under his fur most of the time! We hired a dog chaperone to bring him to the venue, as he was only about nine months old at the time, so very excitable. It was a good thing that he was able to come along and interact with our guests and we could get photos with him.

Tell us about your Personal Touches

Rachael: We go on lots of holidays and our tables were named after places we’d visited with the guests who were sitting on those tables. One table was named Bali, a place where we’d met some of our friends. Our top table was named Rome as that was the city where Gareth proposed to me. All the table names meant something personal to us both.

If you are looking for winter wedding venues in Northumberland or an exclusive two night wedding, contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

What’s your advice to couples planning a wedding?

John: Don’t overlook the small details. We added personalised touches such as shots on the table and some people who didn’t drink them, took them home. We also put together little party packs for the kids as their wedding favour. We bought glow sticks for the evening and flip flops for anyone whose feet were sore. It’s those extra touches that our guests still mention.

Kyle: The day goes so fast, make sure you take time away at different points in the day to spend time together. Dru, our photographer, gave us that tip. He was brilliant and had lots of advice. We took 5 or 10 minutes away four or five times just to walk around and take everything in. We were so pleased we did.

John: We also made a point to get up in between each course of the wedding breakfast to go around and talk to people. When we look back, it was the only time we really got to make sure we spoke to everyone.

Kyle: Our last piece of advice is not to walk down the aisle too quickly. We didn’t realise how quickly we walked, but some guests said that they missed us walking down as we were so fast!

Tell us about the Spaces you used for the Shoot

 We shot in the two stunning Reception Rooms (the Entrance Hall and Drawing Room), Lady B’s Wedding Suite, Grand Staircase and the exterior manicured Grounds. Each space provided a new visual and ambience, with so many vibrant colours, pieces of unique furniture, textures and natural lighting to give our catalogue the variety we were looking for.

Notes from the Couple

Did you tell Guests about your Suits before the Wedding?

John: Nobody knew about the suits until the day. We just told everyone that we’d gone for something different – no one guessed our style.

Kyle: There was panic from us right up to the day about whether we had done the right thing. But we feel we made the perfect decision.

John: That was probably the biggest thing that made me nervous before we walked down the aisle. I was thinking, “What’s everyone’s reaction going to be to what we’re wearing?” But our guests were all blown away, they thought we looked fantastic.

What made Ellingham Hall your Dream Venue?

John: We originally viewed a venue near to where we live in Rowlands Gill. We liked the fact it had accommodation, and our guests could stay over. I’m from Cumbria and Kyle’s family are from South Shields. We were very close to booking, but then we realised that there could be three or four weddings taking place on the same day and we didn’t want that.

Kyle: We came across Ellingham Hall, and the minute we arrived we knew it was perfect. We loved everything about the two-night wedding experience and the venue offers lots of luxurious accommodation. The grounds for the kids were perfect too.

John: We loved the idea of the two-nights. When we went to view, we were told that an imaginary key would be given to us the night before night and then you hand it back on the morning after. I loved the idea that we were not going to bump into other wedding parties, as the Hall and grounds are exclusively yours during your wedding celebration.

Kyle: It was like our own home for the weekend. We only had close family stay with us the night before. Our parents had met before, but our brothers and sisters had not. It meant there was no awkwardness on the day as everyone had time to get to know one another and chill the night before. At breakfast, everyone was mingling which was lovely to see.

So, your Family enjoyed the Night Before Celebration?

Kyle: Oh yes. No one segregated like you get at most weddings. Some people have made new friends because they had time to get to know one another. In fact, many have stayed in touch and we’re having a garden party for them. It’s lovely and it meant there was no panicking. I was surprised at how relaxed everyone was on the wedding morning.

John: My grandma is 86 and she mentions the wedding and Ellingham Hall all the time. She said it’s the best wedding she’s ever been to and that she’ll ever go to. Her comments stood out a mile for me.

Why did you choose an Autumn Wedding?

John: We normally go on holiday in September; it’s part of our anniversary. It’s also my birthday, but the wedding wasn’t centred around that.

Kyle: And neither of us are sun worshippers. We didn’t want it to be a red-hot weekend. The weather was perfect.

John: We’ve been to weddings in the summer and as you’re all dressed up in a suit you just want to get indoors to cool down. We didn’t want our guests to feel uncomfortable with the heat.

And your Speeches hit a Different Note! 

Kyle: We didn’t do the standard, traditional speeches. We had singing waiters who sang them for us. We don’t do tradition at all!

John: The singing waiters were great, and we also booked a string quartet who played as we walked down the aisle as well as a live band and a DJ for the evening party.

You also had a Special Guest…

Rachael: Yes, our dog Finley was at the wedding. He’s a golden retriever and he wore a little bow tie, though it was hidden under his fur most of the time! We hired a dog chaperone to bring him to the venue, as he was only about nine months old at the time, so very excitable. It was a good thing that he was able to come along and interact with our guests and we could get photos with him.

Tell us about your Personal Touches

Rachael: We go on lots of holidays and our tables were named after places we’d visited with the guests who were sitting on those tables. One table was named Bali, a place where we’d met some of our friends. Our top table was named Rome as that was the city where Gareth proposed to me. All the table names meant something personal to us both.

If you are looking for winter wedding venues in Northumberland or an exclusive two night wedding, contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

What’s your advice to couples planning a wedding?

John: Don’t overlook the small details. We added personalised touches such as shots on the table and some people who didn’t drink them, took them home. We also put together little party packs for the kids as their wedding favour. We bought glow sticks for the evening and flip flops for anyone whose feet were sore. It’s those extra touches that our guests still mention.

Kyle: The day goes so fast, make sure you take time away at different points in the day to spend time together. Dru, our photographer, gave us that tip. He was brilliant and had lots of advice. We took 5 or 10 minutes away four or five times just to walk around and take everything in. We were so pleased we did.

John: We also made a point to get up in between each course of the wedding breakfast to go around and talk to people. When we look back, it was the only time we really got to make sure we spoke to everyone.

Kyle: Our last piece of advice is not to walk down the aisle too quickly. We didn’t realise how quickly we walked, but some guests said that they missed us walking down as we were so fast!