Distance was no issue to find our Dream Wedding Venue
Jack & Jordan
25th March 2025
Distance was no issue when Jordan and Jack Thompson-Foster travelled to Northumberland for their dream wedding venue.
The couple, who live in Derbyshire, headed three hours north to Ellingham Hall for their two-night spring wedding. But Jordan says it didn’t phase his family or Jack’s, who had a six-hour journey from Suffolk!
“All our friends and family loved it. Some made a holiday out of it because they hadn’t visited Northumberland before,” says Jordan. “Having our wedding at Ellingham Hall made a long-lasting impression. Our neighbours, are going back to Northumberland in a couple of months to visit, because they loved it so much.
Special Memory
As well as finding the ideal venue, Ellingham Hall was able to host Jordan and Jack’s wedding the day before the second anniversary of Jordan’s grandma’s passing.
“She really wanted us to get engaged and we were sad she couldn’t see us get married,” Jordan explains. “But we wanted March to have happy memories and the dates aligned perfectly. It was a lovely tribute to my grandma, too. ”
Notes from the Couple
How did you find Ellingham Hall?
Jordan: We came across Ellingham’s sister venue Lemmington Hall on Instagram and loved it, so we went for a viewing. While we were there, the team asked if we would also like to view Ellingham Hall as it is only a 10 minute drive from Lemmington. We were so set on Lemmington Hall, but we went to view Ellingham while we were in the area and we absolutely loved it.
Jack: It had a nice vibe. I loved how all the guest rooms were different. The staff were just kind and helpful. It was just amazing!
Jordan: We wanted a home from home, where we felt like the venue was ours. Ellingham Hall was unique because other venues hosted up to three weddings in one day. But Ellingham is exclusively yours for two nights!
Why did you travel so far for your Venue?
Jordan: We were considering getting married abroad, but there are not a lot of places that offer legal gay weddings. So, we decided a stay-at-home wedding was better for us. We wanted a venue with plenty accommodation as most family members would be travelling.
Did you view many venues?
Jordan: We viewed about 10 wedding venues before going to Lemmington and Ellingham Hall. But none took our fancy as some looked dated and had old fashioned carpets etc. We loved Ellingham, especially as it was it has modern touches but also has the original features of the building.
Why did you choose a Spring Wedding?
Jordan: We chose a spring wedding because we wanted a shorter engagement. March marked almost two years since grandma’s passing, we thought it would be nice to remember her as part of our wedding celebration. It was perfect because we were able to get married the day before her anniversary.
Although the UK weather is unpredictable, we looked out at blue skies on our wedding morning. It was so warm that some of our guests were taking off their extra layers during the photos!. We opted for a weekday wedding as you do not need to get married on a weekend anymore and it does save money for the same experience. Our guests made it part of a holiday. Some guests stayed in Northumberland after our wedding too.
How did you find Planning your Wedding from so far away?
Jack: We trusted the team at Ellingham Hall for the planning and recommended suppliers. We really enjoyed the food tasting evening and made a bit of a holiday out of that! We love the beaches in the area and visited Holy Island because we love watching the TV show Vera.
Jordan: The staff were very helpful. They didn’t just deal with suppliers; they came up with ideas to support our vision. They couldn’t have done more. We also went to the venue’s open day, which really helped and gave us the chance to chat face-to-face with suppliers.
What did you all think about your Two Night Wedding?
Jack: With a lot of our family and friends meeting for the first time at our wedding, our guests all said they loved the night before celebration. It was a perfect icebreaker to get to know each other before the big day, so when the ceremony commenced, everyone was really relaxed.
Jordan: We also loved the variety of photo spots available at Ellingham from the iconic Chapel window to the bridge over the stream, the locations gave us some incredible photos.
You also had Four-Legged Guests…
Jordan: We did. It was amazing that our dogs could join us. We didn’t know if we would be able to, but when Ellingham Hall told us they are a dog-friendly wedding venue, we were so happy. Their Dog Parlour was a game-changer. Other venues wouldn’t let the dogs stay overnight, but at Ellingham, they were part of the whole experience and acted as ring bearers during our ceremony. They were also able to run around and enjoy the grounds while we were having our photos taken. A highlight for us was taking them for a walk around the grounds the morning after the wedding, before we relaxed in our private hot tub, just the two of us taking in everything that had happened. The rest of the time the dogs were looked after by our superb dog chaperone. It was amazing!
Have you any advice for Couples planning a wedding?
Jordan: Try not to stress. Hannah operations manager at Ellingham Hall offered us great advice – your guests don’t know what you have planned and what to expect, so don’t worry about the details and just enjoy every moment.
Jack: If you choose Ellingham Hall, I’d recommend you go to their open days. You get some great ideas from their recommended suppliers. That’s how we found our dog chaperone.
If you are looking for your dream wedding venue in Northumberland contact our team today to arrange a viewing appointment.
Wedding Day Suppliers
Photographer – Dru Dodd
Videographer – DGM Productions
Registrar – Northumberland Registrars
Rings – Beaverbrooks
Suits – Slaters Menswear & Moss Bros
Make Up – Carly Michelle Make Up and Hair
Hair – Hairbydiinsta
Groomsmaid Dresses – Wed4less
Event Stylist – Made Simply Perfect
Dog Chaperone – Walk & Woof
DJ – Steven Maddison
String Quartet – Andrelli
Wedding Cake – Bake That and Party
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