Distance is no object when planning a Spring Wedding
Rachel & Jordan
6th April 2024
When it came to organising their spring wedding, Rachel and Jordan Chapman thought that the 300 miles between their home and their wedding venue may be an issue.
However, they need not have worried as the team at Ellingham Hall had everything under control. And it made planning their wedding from London’s Camden very easy and enjoyable.
Rachel said, “My parents live in Ponteland, and we were struggling to find the right venue down south. It’s hard to get good value for money in London.
“When my mum suggested finding a wedding venue in the North East, I thought that it would be a nightmare to plan and organise.’
“But when we saw Ellingham Hall, it was absolutely stunning. I loved the fact we could do what we wanted during our wedding, rather than sticking to a set package. Our wedding planner said the team organise weddings regularly for couples from all over the UK and overseas, so we felt completely reassured.
“Ellingham’s events team has won numerous awards for service, so that immediately gave us confidence that this would all be possible.”
Notes from the Bride
Why did you choose a Spring Wedding?
Spring is just a lovely time of year. You get longer days, and a beautiful colour palette. You get warmth without the heat or stickiness of the summer months.
How did the wedding planning go?
After we had chosen Ellingham Hall as our dream North East wedding venue, it was clear it was going to be well planned. Everyone in the team was just amazing. There was a lot of regular communication, and they even facilitated the conversations we needed with suppliers. That level of organisation was really important to us. They didn’t mind that our meetings were via emails and phone calls.
So, you felt confident that everything would be OK?
Obviously, we’ve never planned a wedding before. But the wedding planners at Ellingham Hall have done it many times. When we were talking to other venues before we visited Ellingham, they made it feel like we should know about all the aspects we had to think of. But the team at Ellingham broke things down and went through everything in such detail, which really helped us both to ensure we covered everything.
When did you visit Ellingham Hall?
We booked a visit after mum’s suggestion, and it was everything we wanted. The Hall is stunning inside and out and it was perfect because it’s very elegant and traditional. But it also has the modern quirks of the interior. We wanted the atmosphere to be relaxed as some weddings can feel very serious and formal, and we didn’t want that.
After visiting the first time, we only visited again for the menu tasting which was great. But the team at Ellingham Hall allowed both parents to visit at different times to view the Hall, which I thought was a lovely touch.
How was your Wedding Day?
Everything went so smoothly and without a hitch, which was all to do with the seamless organisation, which was something I didn’t expect when planning from 300 miles away.
All our guests commented how amazing the night before celebration was. It eliminated the issue you get with a single day wedding, when everyone is thrown together and no-one really knows who’s who. It was one of my friend’s birthdays the night before and the Ellingham Team even helped me with organising a cake. That was a big standout moment.
The wedding day itself was a perfect mix of elegance with fun and laughter. The morning was amazing, and Lady B’s Suite with its dressing room was perfect as I had six bridesmaids, my mum and mum-in-law getting ready in one room. I don’t know any other place where so many ladies could comfortably all get ready and have hair & make done in the same space!
I was a bit late walking down the aisle in the ceremony room because the wedding nerves set in, but the team again were amazing and helped to calm me. They said, “It’s OK. Everyone can wait for you and allowed me to take my time!”
The food really was amazing too – the sticky toffee pudding was particularly sublime!
Tell us about your Personal Extra Touches
We had a couple of readings, and my sister sang for us. We had an order for our songs to play us in and out of our ceremony. We hired Paul Lytton magician who was excellent and had our guests thoroughly entertained throughout our drink’s reception. We also played beer pong which was fun and had sparklers, an audio guest book and a photo booth.
We requested our speeches before the wedding breakfast, so everyone could enjoy their food and not worry about speaking at the end. Everyone said it was a lovely sequence.
We also booked the After Dark Experience. It’s such a unique experience and one that our guests said they really enjoyed as they carried on partying into the early hours. It all added to a relaxed atmosphere.
What is your Advice to anyone Planning a Wedding?
Be organised. We were lucky that we had the Ellingham Hall team to help. If you’re in the North East, don’t worry about the weather. We had strong winds to cope with, but it was still a beautiful day.
Do what you want to do – I put cookies in everyone’s room before they arrived to add a personal touch.
If you are looking for a Spring Wedding Venue in Northumberland, book a viewing appointment here.
Wedding Day Suppliers
Photographer – Amy Lou Photography
Videographer – Rue Rose Films
Registrar – Northumberland Registrars
Florals & Décor – Made Simply Perfect
Bridal Gown – Accent Original
Grooms Suit – Moss Bros
Groomsman Suits – Marks & Spencer
MUA – Nuala Mclaughlin Makeup & Make Up by Gabrielle
Hair – Hairhouse Sunderland
Bridesmaids Dresses – JJs House
Pianist, DJ & Band – Groove Allstars Band
Magician – Paul Lytton
Photobooth – Blush Booth
Audio book – Freddie Douglas Events
Lighting – Low Fell Hire Co.
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