Notes from the Couple

Why did you choose Ellingham Hall?

We viewed Ellingham Hall in early November 2023 while we were in the North East looking at wedding venues, and we were just blown away by how beautiful the Hall looked. Northumberland is a stunning part of the North East and the Hall is so beautiful and well decorated that it was really easy for us to imagine ourselves and our guests there.

We were looking for somewhere that could accommodate most of our family and friends and that would offer a two-night wedding so that everything could take place in the one setting. We’d viewed some venues that were a bit too oldy-worldy in terms of décor, and some that were much too modern and a bit “quirky” for our taste. Ellingham struck the right balance between the two!

It was a lovely, cold, sunny day when we viewed the Hall, and the leaves of the creepers had turned to gorgeous red tones with the arrival of autumn. That aesthetic helped our decision to opt for an autumn wedding over a spring wedding that we’d originally planned! And when we found out there was some availability for the following November it was a no brainer for us!

Why did you opt for a Celebrant Ceremony?

We were legally married at the Holy Name of Mary Church in Middlesbrough a month before our wedding celebration. Mikhaila adds, “We chose to do that because a lot of my family have been married or christened there and it was my grandparent’s local church, so it means a lot to me!”

At Ellingham, we wanted a ceremony that felt more personal, relaxed, fun, and that meant something a bit more special to us both. We came across Jo the celebrant quite early in our search and she was so bubbly and fun when we had our initial chat, so we booked her straight away.

What was your favourite part of your Wedding Day?

Mikhaila: That’s such a tricky one! If I had to pick one part, it would be the walking into the Ceremony room with my mum and seeing Jesse standing there waiting for me and smiling. Neither of us knew what the other was wearing, so we both had a nice surprise! He looked great, and behind him I could see Jo our celebrant grinning at me at the end of the aisle and the incredible fireplace flower garland that Becca had arranged for us, and it was just a beautiful moment. But my uncle playing Ellingham’s grand piano after dinner and getting everyone singing along would be a close second!

Jesse: It’s a cliché but seeing my wife-to-be appear and walk down the aisle is a memory I will never forget.

What did your Guests think about your Two-Night Wedding?

They loved it! It’s not an exaggeration to say that everyone we spoke to raved about Ellingham Hall and how lovely it was. The indoor open fires were a big hit (as was the fire pit) and people remarked how great it was to have almost everyone in one place. Guests also commented how seamlessly the day itself was managed by the Ellingham team!

What’s your advice to couples planning their Autumn Wedding?

The main thing we would advise is being very mindful about your venue and the optionality it offers: you could get a gorgeous, crisp, sunny day or you could get rain or wind. For us, Ellingham was the perfect choice because we knew that if the weather was good our guests could wrap up and enjoy the outdoor fire pit and lovely grounds – but equally, if the weather was bad, the Hall is large enough with beautiful interiors that we could spend the entire day indoors and it would still be fabulous!

So, when you’re looking at venues think can your venue adapt to the weather? Is it roomy enough inside that everything could happen indoors if it had to? And beyond that, we’d suggest paying attention to the venue staff: Ellingham’s experienced team were fantastic and handled all parts of our wedding day, so we didn’t have to think about a thing! Being able to trust your events team to take care of everything just means the day’s more enjoyable so you and your guests can properly relax!

To explore more beautiful images from Mikhaila & Jesse’s Autumn Wedding click here

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

Wedding Day Suppliers

Photographer – Steven McDonald
Videographer – Top Table Films
Celebrant – Love Jo Ceremonies
Bridal Gown – Hugo & Elliott (Anna Campbell designer)
Hair & MUA – Claire Alexandra
Suits – Moss and Charles Tyrwhitt
Bridesmaid Dresses – Ghost
Florist – Wild in Tyne
DJ – Tartan Entertainment

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.

What did you think of the Two-Night Wedding Experience?

We loved it. The fact you have two days to enjoy precious time with friends and family was perfect. It was great for those family members who had travelled, and it gave them a chance to settle in and get to know Sean’s family. It’s nothing like a hotel, it’s homely and the staff solely concentrate on you and your guests during the two nights.

What is your Tip for any Bride-to-Be?

Go for a dress that makes you feel nice and gives you a sense of confidence. Do not over-shop or look elsewhere once you’ve found the one. I think that’s important, as once I’d found my dress, I stopped looking as it’s so easy to keep doubting the choices you’ve made. Don’t look at any more images of other brides, be confident with what you’ve chosen and enjoy your special day.

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!

NOTES FROM THE BRIDE

Why we chose Ellingham Hall

We were first drawn to the two-night wedding experience when we were looking for our wedding venue. We loved the idea of having all our family and friends together for more than just one day.

There were other venues that we’d visited in Northumberland but Ellingham Hall was by far the best that we’d seen. Shaun knew as soon as he walked in that it was where we were getting married.

I was very particular about what I wanted to do. Ellingham Hall just seemed to tick all the boxes. From all the different bedrooms to how the venue looked, both from the outside and inside. And there was the exclusivity, too! We liked the fact that there would be no one else getting married at the same time

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.

Advice for Brides-to-be

Everyone will have an opinion before your wedding – like family, friends – but it’s your wedding at the end of the day, so think about what will make you happy.

We literally did everything that we wanted, and we had opinions about it being so far away for some people. But in the end, everybody loved it. Everyone who we speak to, even months later, go on about how good the wedding was and it was just faultless.

I’d also say be prepared. We wrote everything down, every little detail, all the money that we were spending and just kept track of everything to make sure that everything was sorted in time for the day.

If you’re looking for the perfect Northumberland Wedding Venue, contact our wedding planning team today and let us make your wedding dreams come true!

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!

NOTES FROM THE BRIDE

Why we chose Ellingham Hall

We were first drawn to the two-night wedding experience when we were looking for our wedding venue. We loved the idea of having all our family and friends together for more than just one day.

There were other venues that we’d visited in Northumberland but Ellingham Hall was by far the best that we’d seen. Shaun knew as soon as he walked in that it was where we were getting married.

I was very particular about what I wanted to do. Ellingham Hall just seemed to tick all the boxes. From all the different bedrooms to how the venue looked, both from the outside and inside. And there was the exclusivity, too! We liked the fact that there would be no one else getting married at the same time

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.

Advice for Brides-to-be

Everyone will have an opinion before your wedding – like family, friends – but it’s your wedding at the end of the day, so think about what will make you happy.

We literally did everything that we wanted, and we had opinions about it being so far away for some people. But in the end, everybody loved it. Everyone who we speak to, even months later, go on about how good the wedding was and it was just faultless.

I’d also say be prepared. We wrote everything down, every little detail, all the money that we were spending and just kept track of everything to make sure that everything was sorted in time for the day.

If you’re looking for the perfect Northumberland Wedding Venue, contact our wedding planning team today and let us make your wedding dreams come true!

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 two night wedding celebration in Northumberland, contact us today and discuss your ideas with our award-winning weddings team!

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!