A Unique Wedding in Winter at Ellingham Hall
Hannah & Ryan
22nd February 2025
A unique wedding in winter in beautiful Northumberland with a horse-drawn carriage was the order of the day for Hannah and Ryan Fletcher. As was the decision to choose TWO dresses for the big day!
And the reason for a winter wedding in February was equally unique. Forget Valentine’s Day. The reason for a wedding during the most romantic month was that Hannah really wanted to wear a long-sleeved wedding dress!
“I feel I would have been too hot if I’d chosen to wear a long-sleeved dress in spring or summer. So, we thought a winter wedding would suit us best” said Hannah. “And as there was a date in February available, we thought that would be perfect for us.”
The couple tied the knot at Ellingham Hall’s nearby St Maurice Church, which was also something that featured on the couples dream wedding shortlist.
Notes from the Bride
Why did you opt for a Church Ceremony?
We wanted to get married in a church, and as Ellingham Hall is so close to the village church, this really helped our decision. It played a huge part as to why we chose the venue, and the location was perfect as our guests only had to walk a few minutes to the church. I arrived at the church in a horse-drawn carriage, which had always been my dream.
Tell us the Main Reasons for choosing Ellingham Hall?
We loved the venue; it’s a gorgeous house and the fact it’s exclusive use is a huge bonus. There are many wedding venues which host multiple weddings each day. I didn’t like the idea of that at all. Ellingham Hall is totally private for your friends and family, and the team were amazing too. As soon as we walked into the Hall, we felt at ease, and everyone was so helpful. The Ellingham Team offer a personalised service, and they really listen to your vision. We had viewed a lot of wedding venues and we’ve been guests at many weddings too, but we hadn’t been to a wedding at Ellingham Hall. So, as well as the amazing service, privacy and closeness to the church, the idea of getting married where no one else we know has been married was also special for us.
Had you looked at other Two-Night Wedding Venues?
No, it was totally new to us and no other venue we viewed offered that experience. We loved the idea of stretching out our wedding, because the day itself flies over. It was nice for me and Ryan because we had the chance to chat with our guests the Friday night before, so we felt less pressure to mingle on the wedding day. We visited quite a lot of wedding venues across the North East and Ellingham Hall was the first one we’d come across that offered the Two Night Wedding.
Tell us why you opted for Two Wedding Dresses?
One of my best friends told me one of her biggest regrets on her wedding day was that she couldn’t relax on the evening because she didn’t want to spoil her dress. So, I thought a second dress would be a great solution. Also, I knew that with a long-sleeved dress, I’d probably feel too hot on the dancefloor, so I wanted a shorter dress that I could easily move around in.
My main bridal gown was from Sorella Bridal boutique in Northallerton, and my evening dress I’d spotted online on Knutsford Wedding Gallery in Cheshire.
What Unique Elements did you include in your Weekend Wedding?
We really wanted to put our own stamp on our wedding. We booked an acoustic singer to perform the night before, to make it more of a cocktail party vibe. We enjoyed delicious food, the beef was gorgeous, as were the chocolate brownies.
In the church, we booked a string quartet to play, which created a nice atmosphere for the ceremony. We had personalised newspapers designed, which we laid out on the pews so guests could take a look while waiting for the ceremony to begin. The newspaper was full of fun details about our relationship over the years.
We hired a big glitter wall with neon sign, where lots of our friends and family had their photos taken. On the evening, we hired a DJ along with a saxophonist and bongos to get the party going and everyone on the dancefloor.
How was your Wedding Morning?
I recall looking out the window in Lady B’s Wedding Suite and the weather was gorgeous, so I was over the moon. It was so exciting, and I didn’t really feel nervous at all. I think, because we had been planning our wedding for two years and the wedding planning team at Ellingham had every detail captured, it really helped. Before the ceremony, me and my bridesmaids enjoyed pre-ceremony drinks in the wedding suite which was lovely. I also got a mention on BBC Radio 2 as they were doing a piece on their show about Saturday weddings. My mum wrote in when they mentioned it, and we were both live on the show.
Any Advice for Couples Planning a Wedding?
Just don’t stress, it will all come together in the end. Don’t worry about all the little things and just enjoy the planning as much as you enjoy the wedding day. Also, let people make a fuss over you!
Wedding Day Suppliers
Photographer – Stephen Beecroft Photography
Videographer – Ryan Etherington
Content Creator – Your Moment Captured
Church – St Maurice, Ellingham
Bridal Gown (day) – Sorella Bridal Northallerton
Bridal Dress (Evening) – Knutsford Wedding Gallery
Mua – Beatrice Hollie/Samantha Henry
Hair – Bridal Hair by Kayleigh
Groom Suit – Dandy Threads
Bridesmaids’ Dresses – Bridesmaid by JB
Groomsmen Suits- Moss Bros
String Quartet – Amici Musical Trio
Singer – Glen Roughead
DJ/Sax/Bongos – House of Sax
Horse & Carriage – North East Carriage Company
Cake – Batesman’s Bakes
Cold Spark Fountains – AG Events
Balloons & Glitter Walls – ALF Events
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