After visiting lots of venues we finally decided on The Reid Rooms
Image from The Reid Rooms website
Info from their website:
Built nearly 200 years ago as stables for the working horses on Marks Hall Farm, The Reid Rooms provide a unique rural setting combining the best of modern facilities with timeless charm. The attractive weather boarded buildings are set in beautiful countryside and back on to the moat of the Grade II Listed 15th century farmhouse and its superb gardens.
Inside, there is a wealth of exposed timber beams and fittings reflecting the long history of The Reid Rooms as working farm buildings. Now, tastefully renovated and converted to the highest standard, they have been furnished with fine antique pine and rural paintings.
The Reid Rooms offer wedding guests a linked series of rooms surrounding a landscaped courtyard. This gives great flexibility, giving guests the option to gather for quiet conversation in the drawing room, while others enjoy an evening disco in the bar.
We arranged a meeting with the wedding co-ordinator and took the scenic route (through country roads)...found it no problem with the sat nav. Good start!
When we arrived it was a little confusing as to where we were supposed to and park, so we drove straight down through some gates and parked the car, (made mental note to make a car park sign!) then wandered around trying to find the person we needed to see... we ended up going "round back" and all H2b could say, "this isn't good, it looks awful here, I don't like it...". I was like, "lets give it a chance ffs!!" Especially as it had everything going for it from the brochure...
- a bridal suite for me and my girls to get ready in
- on site accommodation
- option to have our own catering
- option to bring our own alcohol and no corkage fees
- large enough for our guest numbers
- ability to have ceremony and reception in one place
Eventually we found the co-ordinator who proceeded to show us around. As we walked round I was falling more and more in love with the place and started imagining elements of the wedding.
First off we paid a visit to the Ceremony Room...
Info from their website:
The Ceremony Room. With an exposed timber framework, this cleverly converted room can accommodate up to 100 guests and provides an intimate and very special setting for all civil ceremonies. From the Ceremony Room, a paved walkway leads between raised planting beds to The Courtyard.
It was a little dark in there, even with the lights on, but it was a fairly grim day so not much light was shining through the (small) windows. But I loved the beams and the chairs and the almost chapel-esque feel of it (closest I'd get to being in a church!)
To get to the Ceremony Room we had to walk down a zig-zag path which started with a lovely archway (photo op!) and had raised beds along the sides with lots of shrubs, bushes and flowers.
Below is the entrance to the Ceremony Room with my son peeking inside!
The room is licensed to hold up to 100 people for a civil ceremony (although I imagine, at a big squash!) but it holds 65 seated - perfect as our numbers were just under that (more on that later). We were told we'd need approximately 5 pieces of music for the ceremony and could play them on the CD player at the back. Or if we wanted a musician there was space at the back of the room for them to sit/stand.
I personally was sold on the ceremony room!
We then walked out to the Courtyard which is where (weather permitting) we would hold the champagne/canape reception immediately following the ceremony. These photos were taken over two different visits (hence umbrellas in some!)
Info from their website:
The Courtyard. This attractive, landscaped area is sheltered on three sides, and provides views over the moat and 15th century Marks Hall Farmhouse. Tables, chairs, parasols and a “minstrel’s gallery” above provide a delightful setting for drinks in fine weather.
As well as the seating in the courtyard, there is also a "Minstral's Gallery" with seating. You get up there via a spiral staircase (more photo ops!)
We then we shown the Reception Room which is where we would hold the evening reception with a bar and DJ. At one end is the dance floor and the end "closest" to us is the bar area.
Info from their website:
The Reception Room. A spacious, tasteful reception area complete with a bar hand-built by local craftsmen. There is also a dance floor for evening entertainment. For larger ceremonies, the bar may also be used as an alternative ceremony room for up to 120 guests.
Where I'm blogging about the venue and re-looking at the photos we took I'm getting all excited over our venue again!
The Reception Room leads throw a small hallway (where the loos are) into the Dining Room which is where we would have the wedding breakfast....
TTFN xx
