“But Ellingham Hall isn’t like that. We knew the venue and grounds were exclusively ours for the duration of our stay and we’d never see another wedding party arriving or departing. It really felt special to us and meant we could settle in and make ourselves at home.” 

Rachel adds, “We could really picture our wedding day from the emotion Ellingham Hall gave us during our viewing. It was so special and had a lovely feeling.” 

Notes from the Bride

Did you always dream of a Traditional Wedding?

Rachel: I wanted something timeless, that I could look back on and still love. That was the vibe I was going for, and it really tied in well with Ellingham Hall, with it’s mix of timeless and modern. I didn’t want it to be too trendy, just elegant and a look that wouldn’t become dated over time. 

Luke wasn’t exactly traditional with his Suit, was he?

Luke: I chose to wear a tuxedo rather than a morning suit. But that’s because I like bow ties and think they look good, especially as you can untie them in the evening for a more casual cool look!  

Rachel: We’d thought about a morning suit, but a tuxedo still has a bit of a traditional but classic look. And it tied in nicely with our traditional wedding vibe. 

Luke: Yes, it looked great and the black suits were a nice contrast to the white bridal gown and fitted perfectly with our spring green colour theme.  

Why did you choose Ellingham Hall?

Rachel: We’d looked at about 6 venues and booked a few viewings in one day. Ellingham Hall was the first of the day and it just had that immediate ‘wow’ factor. We viewed the others, but Ellingham Hall was our dream wedding venue. It kind of felt too good to be true because it was just so special. 

Luke: We had seen images online and I wasn’t sure how much I liked Ellingham Hall. But then we arrived and drove up the driveway, and it felt so grand. The outside is stunning and as we were shown around, I could imagine all our guests staying there. 

Rachel: It really matched our idea of a traditional theme. It has real Bridgerton and Downton Abbey vibes and the photo spots are really pretty. 

What was the appeal of a Two-Night Wedding?

Luke: It wasn’t something I was aware of until we came to view Ellingham. Then I thought it would be great with our guests relaxing the night before and then we would be effectively extending our wedding. It really makes the most of your celebration and time together. 

Rachel: Although I’d thought about a two-night wedding, I didn’t think it was all that important until we viewed Ellingham Hall. But the idea of all our guests enjoying food the evening before and then enjoying games in the den sounded perfect.  

What were your Highlights from your Traditional Wedding?

Rachel: There are so many because everything was perfect. One thing was having everyone there over two nights. It was the feeling we wanted to capture. It also made everything even more special as we were able to see everyone having a good time. Another thing I loved was the many little built-in quiet moments. Our wedding team at Ellingham held us back to let us sit down and just soak up every moment. It was very special! And the food was a big highlight for us and our guests. Everyone kept commenting about how good it was, including the canapés and the breakfast the morning after. 

Luke: I think feeling at home was special, too. We were able to relax and feel comfortable on the day of our wedding as we’d already settled in with our guests the night before. One special memory for me was on the wedding night when Rachel and I were able to relax in the Ellingham Suite hot tub, decompress and chat about the amazing day we’d had. We sat in there for about an hour and chatted about how good everything was. I remember that vividly. 

What Advice would you give to Couples planning a Wedding?

Rachel: Wedding planning is such an exciting time, so soak it all in. Get a vision of what you want and the important things you want to be part of your wedding day. Stick to what you want. It’s your day and it’s about you two and your relationship. 

Luke: Yes, I agree. Don’t get influenced by others. We almost fell victim to that, but we pushed back. For me, too, I’d say get the right photographer. I was lucky to see first-hand how good ours was at producing the laidback look we wanted at another wedding. Get to know them and then you won’t feel uncomfortable on the day. We look back and we don’t look too stiff or choregraphed. It was exactly the look we wanted. 

If you are looking for a Traditional wedding in Northumberland, contact our Ellingham team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

Wedding Day Suppliers

Photographer: LSM Photography 

Registrar – Northumberland Registrars 

Bridal Gown – Sisters of Grace  

Gown Alterations – Diva Designs for You 

Suits – M&S 

Bridesmaids Dresses – Six Stories & Azazie  

Hair & Makeup: MUBYLEIGH 

Florist: Floral Grace 

Stationary – Elle Bee Design 

Pianist: Jane Gray Pianist 

DJ & Photobooth: AG Events 

Cake: Bake Make Eat 

One part of the Hindu blessing that concerned Remy, was trying to find a venue that would allow a sacred fire – a central element of a Hindu ceremony.

She explains, “It’s only a small fire, but it is indoors. The fire is said to ward off evil, and I was unsure if Ellingham Hall would allow that. I was nervous to tell them because it is an integral part of the ceremony. But we were delighted when the Ellingham team were able to help.

“They said, they would have their team on standby by the fire alarm just in case the alarm went off during the blessing. They were so supportive with everything we asked.”

Notes from the Bride

As our first Hindu Wedding – How did it go?

I wanted to honour my culture, but a week-long celebration wasn’t possible. Instead, we held the Hindu blessing the night before our wedding with close family and friends. It was wonderful, and the Ellingham team were excited to be part of it. I was a little nervous because it was so different from the weddings they usually host, but it went really well. Afterwards, our guests enjoyed a drinks reception followed by a delicious masala curry served with naan bread, poppadoms and pickles, which everyone loved.

What is involved with the Hindu Wedding Ceremony?

I wore a red Lehnga with gold embroidery, which is a traditional dress for a Hindu wedding. Chris wore a traditional ivory Sherwani and was serenaded by drummers. We decided it would be nice to do that when he arrived so he could make a grand entrance. A Mandap was set up in the Ceremony Room, which is a canopy that represents our marital home. When Chris arrived at the Hall with his mum, dad, sister and brother, they greeted my mum and uncle, who was my dad-like figure. It signifies welcoming them into my family home.

Chris also had to break a little pot with his foot. He did that to symbolise whether he was worthy of marrying me. Then he was welcomed into the Mandap by my mum, uncle and the priest. That’s where the words are recited before I arrive. I stayed inside the Mandap for the rest of the blessing.

Did everything go well with the Hindu Wedding Blessing?

It really did. During the ceremony, we had to put a banana into the fire from some height, which represents abundance, fertility and the divine connection! I was nervous about it, but we got it in. The fire is almost like an altar along with the Mandap.

Did you have a traditional British wedding on the second day?

We wanted a two-night wedding as I always wanted to do the Hindu wedding ceremony the night before our traditional wedding. We looked at other venues, who were happy with us doing some aspects of the ceremony, but they didn’t work logistically. You did not have exclusivity at the other venues. You were put into a room with other people around who weren’t part of your wedding. At Ellingham Hall, we enjoyed exclusive use of the Hall and grounds. There was exactly the right amount of accommodation we needed for our guests that wanted to stay over both nights.

What was the Highlight of your Cross-Cultural Wedding in Northumberland?

I can’t pick one, everything was so good from the night before to our fabulous wedding day. The food was incredible. I have had so many guests come to me to say the wedding was insane. And the fact you had a choice for the wedding breakfast was amazing. Usually, it’s a set menu!

What Advice do you have for Couples Planning a Wedding?

Enjoy the planning! Don’t get stressed about it because on the day, if details go wrong, only you will notice it. Enjoy being engaged and planning the wedding as it goes by so quickly. And have faith in your wedding team and suppliers. They do it all the time so trust them.

If you are looking for a cross-cultural wedding in Northumberland or a Hindu Wedding Blessing, contact our Ellingham team today to arrange a viewing appointment.

Wedding Day Suppliers

Photographer: Sophotogenic
Videographer: Abigail Grace
Content Creator: The Bride’s Vision
Priest for Hindu Blessing: @hindupriest108
Registrar – Northumberland Registrars
Bridal Sari – @Sonascouture
Bridal Gown: Marrime Bridalwear
Hair: Charlotte Monoghan
MUA: Anna McClen and Giorgia Lucy
Suits: Slaters Menswear
Bridesmaids Dresses: Club L London
Hindu Ceremony Décor: Chai Events Pranali Amlani
Drummers for Hindu Blessing: @rhythmxinc
Wedding Day Florist: Flori and Fern
Pianist: Mark Thompson
Photobooth: Studio Social North (TOM)
DJ: Ian Conway Icon Entertainments
Cake: The Couple That Bakes