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​It's been a while since our last blog so we thought it was about time to give you an update on happenings here at Invite in a Bottle. 

Firstly this summer marked our 1st Birthday and we would like to thank all our brides, grooms, party planners and other customers for using our services. We've had lots of positive feedback and it's always nice to hear how much people have enjoyed our invitations. 

With our first anniversary in mind we thought it was about time to update some of our invitations. We've had great fun designing custom-made invitations for our customers and whilst we were busy creating these we have had an overhaul of our save the date, wedding invitation and wedding favour paper scrolls.  

​As always we are more than happy to create custom made invitations if you have a particular style in mind for your wedding/event. 

In the not to distant future we will be launching a brand new range of baby shower and christening/name ceremony invitations so watch this space...

​So I wanted to share a little story about one of my recent clients, Arthur, who has just recently got married to his beautiful bride Viktorija. We got chatting when he placed an order for a bottle to give to his bride to be on New Years’ Eve and we discussed that he wanted to do something special for their wedding.

Hey folks, 

I hope you are all well! The start of the year has seen a big boom in wedding orders and customer queries so apologies for not putting our blog out sooner.

So today I would like to discuss Table and Seating Plans- oh my word I never knew until I did one of these how political table planning can become. Do you sit the estranged families together? Who gets to be on top table? Who gets to be nearest the top table? Do you sit friends together or put strangers on a table to mix? What do you decorate the tables with? Nightmare!

Fortunately I have had a browse and found some helpful hints and considerations for you to mull over when embarking on this ridiculously important mission- trust me you do NOT want to get this wrong…

​1. OK so let’s address the top table (after all, you’re the most important!)
Traditionally you are sat on a long table so that everyone in the room can see your happy smiley faces. The standard layout is pictured below.
Consult your venue for specifics on the table plan layout, it stands to reason that they know best. They may have large round tables to use or long bench style tables- this will be crucial to you getting it right. 

First impressions are always important, since they set the tone and expectation of all that follows.
 
It is the same for your wedding! Your wedding invitations do not just notify guests about your wedding day, they also offer the first impressions of your wedding. Hence, you must choose them with care. 
 
The variety of options available today allows you to customize your invitations to the last detail and have one that is unique. Best for Bride,  the bridal experts from Canada, discuss how you can personalize your wedding invitation and match it to your wedding day. 

​Plan your wedding theme first
 
Wedding invitations have to be sent out months before the wedding. So, designing your invitation is one of the first wedding planning tasks. It is easier to make most wedding design decisions after you finalize a theme. If you are unsure about the finer details of your wedding when planning your invite, focus on capturing the essence of your wedding. Will it be classic or casual? What colors will definitely be in the wedding? If the wedding will be held at a unique venue or if it will have interesting aesthetic elements, consider how you can reflect this factor in your stationery. 

​Aim to capture the mood
 
This is when you do the research. Everything from the colors, design, wording and font affect the impression the invitation creates. So set aside time to choose the right elements that can capture the mood of your wedding. For instance, soft colors and colors with low contrasts are romantic, while bold colors are dramatic. Your choices should also reflect your personalities and tastes. Look online or turn to wedding magazines for inspiration. Collect all these little details and proceed to the next step. 

​Identify what you like
 
Once you have a general idea of how your invitation should be, you can plan the rest of the details. Your wedding invitation can be as simple or as sophisticated as you choose. Simple custom invites allow you to add your message to a given template. You may also be able to personalize the colors, font and other details. You will also find templates with an option to add photos or change design motifs according to your preference. Take a look at the available choices and find one that suits you best. 

Decide on the uniqueness factor
 
Identify the extent of customization you want in your invitation. Look at the overarching factors in your wedding. This could be the venue, wedding style, theme or even things you love as a couple. Then find out ways to cleverly incorporate these elements in your invitation, and highlight the mood of your wedding. You can reflect the chosen aspects through hand-drawn sketches, smart imagery, simple drawings or photos in custom invitations. 

​Consider bespoke options to make it truly yours
 
One-of-a-kind, personal invitations create a stamp of their own. If you really want your wedding invitations to stand out, choose a signature style invitation like the message in a bottle option from Invite in a bottle! Such invitations instantly impress and stir up excitement. Your guests will be eager to see how the rest of the wedding unfolds, when the invite is as unique. If you want a personalized invite but aren't sure you can do it yourself, you can contact a professional to assist with the design.

​Pay attention to the message
 
The content in your invitation is just as important as its looks. Choose your wording based on how formal or casual your wedding style is. The message should also reflect the tone of the wedding. All the information your guests need should be available in the invitation, but it shouldn't look too cluttered. Choose a suitable font that is the right size and complements the style of the invitation, to do it right. 

​Put the idea to work
 
It is now time to decide on the final design, either by yourself or with professional help. Create a rough draft with all the elements you wish to include. Then finalize the layout. If there is a monogram or motif in your wedding, incorporate it into the invitation as well. Once all the relevant items are in their place, you will obtain a clear idea of the final look. For alternative invitation ideas, you will have to decide on the print based on the surface shape, color, size and other aesthetic factors. 

​Decide on the size
 
Whether it is an invitation card or an alternative signature-style invitation, the dimensions decide it's functionality. With paper invitations, you can either pick standard envelope sizes and shapes or custom create one. Standard size invitations are budget-friendly when you have to pay for postage. For invitations like bottles, fans or frames, we recommend that you try to keep it compact and practical. 

Place the order
 
Make sure you are entirely satisfied with the sample you created, before placing your order for all the invitations. Cross-check and confirm that every detail is correct, as it will impossible to implement changes if you find errors later. Customized orders usually take more time to make. So, place your order early and you will have sufficient time to send it to the intended recipients. 

​Markets and Fayres.
 
Hello folks and Happy New Year! Thanks for taking a minute out of your time rushing around for those January Sales to pay us a visit!
So today I want to talk about market stalls and what they can do for you as a business, what to look out for and do’s and don’ts following our first ever set of market stalls. A lot of the pointers are going to be transferable to wedding fayres but I am drawing purely off our own personal experiences which I feel may help you if you embark on such an event.

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Coming up to the Christmas period we had a large back stock of some really funky bottle lights- if I could have kept them all I would’ve but that wouldn’t have made very good business sense now would it!? We decided we needed an outlet to get them under the noses of potential customers and hopefully make a healthy profit. Our bottle lights are merely a sideline to our main business of message in a bottle invitations but we felt that we would go with our most suited product targeting customers wanting to give something a little different this year.

What to bring. We have since done two markets now and both of them were very different in their approach to paperwork. Both of them demanded that you had valid Public Liability Insurance for up to £5million, I was however not asked for this on the day! You’ll need to bring your confirmation and also (if appropriate) your trading license- if you are planning to serve any foodstuff then you may need to delve ​
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Set Up. I found it so much more beneficial as a new starter to get there very early, if they said 7am I was there from around 6.40 just to survey the area. Some people were even earlier than me! Once you have been designated your stall you can calmly begin to set up. A point to note is that some stalls require you to use their own stands whereas others insist you bring your own- if you have to bring tables, gazebos, generators etc make sure they are in keeping with the requirements of the market. 

​It’s important, especially for us crafty people and our wares to discuss the layout of the stand. I saw some people just rocking up with a gazebo and nothing else but a floor to stack their boxes on and use the concrete as a table. Not a good look. Take time to think about how to present your products, keep the decoration seasonal and in the style of your product- I really found it beneficial to set up a “mock” stall in my garage to see how if would all look on the day. Remember that people are going to be leaning over and picking stuff up all day so you don’t want anything too crowded or indeed too near the edges! Think about lighting too- we had no lighting with one of our stalls so we’d bought our own but you don’t want to come unstuck here!

It is super important to be respectful of other market traders and the owners of the market itself. They set rules out for a reason- so that everyone gets a fair shot at achieving a profit! Other market traders have a wealth of knowledge and tips to be successful, it helps to listen to them! 

Marketing Material. Take some promo material for people to take away and read- although I was selling upcycled bottle lighting I was having several conversations about weddings and people took our card to see our other items on the website. Clearly display your prices, descriptions and throw on the business name/logo too- it makes you look more professional!

It will help you to have a float to keep in a pouch on your person- we priced everything so that it was only notes to take but you will need to have a think about this. Make sure you have some sort of a deal on- people love a bargain and if nothing else it will bring some interest to your stand.  
You may want to think about bringing someone along with you for the day- friend or family! It can get a little tedious (and cold!) at times so it helps to have a stall mate- this is also very helpful when nature calls!

Sales patter! Some of you may have never even had to do this to a real life person before, especially if everything of yours is bought online. Have a think about how you are going to introduce your product, how you will promote the unique selling points and ultimately why this customer should buy the product! Be prepared for some out of the ordinary questions, some valid ones and some downright ridiculous!

Targets. How much would you expect to take on a market? Well this is going to come down to some shrewd budgeting. If a market stall is £30 it will take you a lot less time to make your stake back on a market that was £200 to attend. Also think about what you are selling- it’s ok to sell stickers or paper aeroplanes for £1 a go but you’ll have to sell a lot in order to get in the profit margin, similarly you do not want to overprice yourself as you could end up with no sales at all! Maybe a range of products may help you get underway and maybe do multiple deals once you’ve reeled them in. 

I hope this helps those who are new to the market scene and are looking to promote their product either there or at a wedding fayre. Planning definitely pays off, it’ll make the most of your time and you can hopefully end up financially better off!

Have a great Christmas and New Year and I’ll be in touch later on this month with more exciting developments!
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See ya!
 
Pete

Hello fellow wedding fans!
I hope you all are well and have been enjoying our blogs- please feel free to take a browse through our previous topics at www.inviteinabottle.co.uk/blog and let us know what you think.
Today we will be looking into alternative wedding invitation ideas- a thought that sparked our inspiration and also led to us setting up business. We had sat down and were discussing what to do in regards to our invitations- having a slightly “piratey” themed wedding we knew we had to incorporate this into our invitations so we set about looking. On our travels across the web we noticed a lot of cool ideas which really are impressive, we’ve put together a top 10 of our favourites and we hope you like them too!

​1. Message in a bottle Invitations.

​So having unsuccessfully searched high and low for a style that we liked that wasn’t “kid’s party” orientated or just generally sub par we thought let’s design our own! The "message in a bottle" planning took a while and we went through a variety of designs before coming up with our final masterpiece, you can see the finished design on our website as the “Signature” bottle invitation. It was incredibly well received by our guests, many of whom have still kept their invitation as a display piece in their homes. We wanted to move away from the run of the mill paper invitations and give the whole process some theatre- from the coconut scent to the burned edges we wanted our guests to know that we had gone the extra mile for them. Check out our full range at www.inviteinabottle.co.uk.

2. Record Invitation.

​This is a must for all the music lovers out there! This was a complete new one to me as I had never seen anything like it before, the picture in question comes off Etsy and the link is https://www.etsy.com/listing/41909753/record-with-sleeve-wedding-invitation. I guarantee people would be impressed to receive this!


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​3. Cinema Ticket Invitations.

Perhaps you, like many other couples around the world, took to the cinema for your first date- memories of popcorn and figuring out how to slide your arm over your dates’ shoulder are now a distant memory! Immortalise this moment with some excellent ticket style invites- there are many vendors of this product but the one in the picture is from ​https://www.etsy.com/listing/110005075/movie-ticket-wedding-invitation. 

​4. View Master Invitations.

This maybe a bit retro for some but for me I think it’s awesome. Every kid I hung around with at school had one of these at some point in their lives- they are on the pricey side for invitations but definitely worth it if you are looking to wow your guests! The displayed picture is from one specific provider at http://petapixel.com/2011/08/08/digital-photos-turned-into-view-master-wedding-invitations/

​5. Camera Film Invites.

Love these, I’m always a fan of anything alternative and these are certainly quirky! The featured picture is from http://www.boho-weddings.com/2013/04/29/film-strip-invitations/  and if you have a creative flair you can actually make these yourselves- saving your hard earned money for other aspects of the wedding! If I had any kind of talent with a camera this would have been a consideration for me. 

​6. Fortune Teller Invitations.

​Again this is a nod to the retro (I have no idea if kids still use these nowadays!) but I think these are a great alternative way to display your invitation information. If, like me, you could never physically make one of these then you can visit the people who made the one in the picture http://amberplansa3bottomlinewedding.weebly.com/cootie-catcher-diy-template.html. 

​7. Jigsaw Invitations. 

What a novel idea! Give your guests a little jigsaw to complete and keep them entertained for a while- this would also make a great keepsake! The link for these invitations is below- well worth a look! http://www.classicweddinginvitation.com/quirky-wedding-invitations-million-piece-puzzle

​8. Festival Pass Invitations.

It’s hard to think of festivals in the wintertime (especially with the adverse British weather!) but for the thousands of festival fans out there this one may be right up your street! Maybe you met your spouse here or the events remind you of good times with your close friends? Check out the link for more details https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/255720085065789906/

​9. Cracker Invitations.

Who said that crackers are just for Christmas? With these individual invitations you can wrap up a good sized message and put a small gift in there for your guests- what more do you need! More details and differing styles/colours can be found at http://www.cracker-box.co.uk/wedding-crackers.htm

10. Fan Invitations.

Since our visit to Japan in 2014 me and missus love a good fan, this idea is really cool and would look great displayed around the home. If you’re having a summer wedding your guests could even bring it along to cool themselves down! More details are found at http://www.fantastica-uk.co.uk/ourshop/prod_865909-Paper-Bamboo-Wedding-InvitationProgram-Fans.html 


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So hopefully we’ve opened your eyes to a few alternative invitation styles that you may want to consider to prevent you falling into the generic “card” format- your guests will certainly appreciate the extra effort you go to! 
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Happy planning and I will be in touch with more helpful hints soon!
 
Pete
 
Inviteinabottle
 

So you’re sat in your home on a cold winters’ night in England dreaming about your perfect wedding and the fact that the chances of picking a dry day is getting more and more remote. Suddenly the realisation hits you that a destination wedding may be on the cards and that would be the answer to your prayers!
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Choosing a destination or abroad wedding is getting more and more popular but does take a lot of planning. We have put together a few pointers that you may want to consider before you embark on all your preparations to see if it is indeed feasible, both financially and physically!

• First things first - if you've already decided on which country you want to get married in check out the legalities on the UK government website  www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad. This will give you information on whether you can get married in that country, what paperwork you'll need and who to contact. 

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• Research! Take ample time looking into hotels in your desired country to make sure they can offer exactly what you want. Check that your venue can accommodate your party size (there may be a minimum as well as a maximum).  Check TripAdvisor for comments from people who have actually stayed at the hotel or possibly even got married there. Contact the hotel you're interested in - they should have an events coordinator who will be able to help you and answer any questions you may have

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• Keep your guests in mind when deciding upon the location. You may want to get married on a beach in Australia but if it’s important for you to have your family there then factor in the cost and the flight duration for your guests!

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• Remember to let your guests know your plans as soon as possible so they can book flights and accommodation and time off work! Send save the dates early on and Request RSVP's in advance  to help with planning. 

• Give your guests an in depth itinerary of your wedding day/weekend/week so that they know how to budget, what to wear and what to expect! You may want to give them information on the location such as recommended restaurants or points of interest. 

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• Have a plan B! If your idea is to have a beach ceremony next to the hotel it may be worth asking them if there is an alternative venue just in case the weather doesn’t hold up!


• ENJOY!!!! This is going to be the best day of your lives so enjoy every moment!!!

Hello again! 
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I thought this week I'd cover the tricky issue of the all important speech!

Ok so if you are anything like me this was one of the biggest worries on the day- as a former Butlins Redcoat and Professional Entertainer it was not so much the standing up in front of everyone that had me worried but rather the fact that it was looming over what was already an emotionally draining day. I’ve put together a few points that I think will certainly help future grooms with their speeches, there is always a certain amount of expectation so I wanted to help out where I could!

• For starters don’t try to be too funny, unless of course you are a professional comedian, in which case it is expected so go nuts. There is nothing, and I mean nothing worse than a speech packed full of Google search jokes which are then badly read and land on deaf ears. Terrible, don’t do it. If you get the sense your best man will be doing any of the above, clip him round the ear.​

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• Thank everyone for coming- even though you are paying for them to get drunk and fed they do need to be recognised! People may have travelled a long way so it is nice to give them a mention.

• Thank your new in-laws. Careful here, you don’t want to get off on the wrong foot! Mention some happy events that they have been a part of and be respectful, for after all you are looking after their daughter for the rest of your life so emotions will be high.

• Thank the bridesmaids, comment on how beautiful they look but keep it clean!

• Speak about your family, the support they have given you and maybe remember those who could not be with you on the day. This also may be the last opportunity for you to get a dig at your best man before he humiliates you in front of the whole congregation .

• Don’t forget the toasts- if you want to thank someone, finish it with “raise your glasses, to * and *”

• Nerves and emotions can and probably will get the better of you, this isn’t a bad thing! In fact if you are nervous, you can even mention it- a lot of people have never done any form of public speaking let alone been given a live mic. If you err on the humble side you’ll win their sympathy.

• THE BIG ONE- speaking about your bride. Try to add in funny times, sad times and just generally special moments which you have shared. How you got together is always a good one to talk about. Finish it off, no matter how funny or soppy, with a heartfelt message so your bride knows you are sincere!

• Personally, I think it is better if you are not reading it word for word off a piece of paper. By all means have the notes as you’ll be surprised how much you forget on the day but don’t make it look like you have just received it for the first time.

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• Don’t forgot to hand out flowers or presents to those who have helped out or who have been integral to the wedding ie mothers, bridesmaids, special people who helped with the organisation etc. If you think this will ruin the flow of your speech you can always do what I did and give them out beforehand and just mention it during.

Simple right?! Well a grooms speech is meant to last for more than 10 minutes and believe me talking for that long will take planning! No one will judge you for having it shorter- remember when it is done, the party can start!!!


Pete


inviteinabottle

​Hello once again and welcome to our blog! Before we get started we wanted to say a huge thanks for all those who have read, shared, liked and bought from our website- it’s really helping us get the word out there.

So quickly recapping on what we have already discussed in this series of blogs- we have researched and found our top 5 UK wedding venues in their respective categories. There really are some awesome venues out there for you to hold your special day in and they are sure to impress your guests!

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This week we are erring on the quirky side and looking at our top 5 Alternative UK Wedding Venues which caught our eye on the web. These will give you a different take on venues and hopefully give you some inspiration if you want to do something original.

Enjoy!

The Submarine, Hampshire
 
What a marvellous vessel! The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is situated on the waterfront with magnificent views across Portsmouth Harbour to the Spinnaker Tower and Portsmouth’s historic Dockyard.  Whether you arrive at the venue in style by speedboat, classic car or horse and carriage, you can pull up in front of the majestic HMS Alliance and start your truly unique day on the only World War 2 era submarine in Britain. If you prefer to have a larger ceremony why not have your photos taken in HMS Alliance as well as on the waterfront and enjoy the rest of your day in The John Fieldhouse Building. The architecture has a futuristic feel and with a historic submarine inside to provide another great backdrop for your day you get to enjoy the best of both worlds.
 
Whether you are looking for an intimate wedding ceremony with a difference, a large ceremony or would like a unique place for your wedding reception then The Royal Navy Submarine Museum is a great place to wow you and your guests and have a day you could never have imagined! I can imagine our message in a bottle invitations floating alongside this marvellous venue! 
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For more information visit www.submarine-museum.co.uk  or call 02392 510354 ext 240.

​The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland
 
Designed to be bold, The Alnwick Garden is one of the most contemporary gardens anywhere in the world. It stands apart from traditional restoration projects as a tribute to what had been before, while reviving and reenergising a forgotten landscape for the 21st century.
Nestled beneath their enchanting woodland canopy, The Treehouse offers exclusive evening ceremonies complimented by delicious locally produced food, hand selected wines and decadent cocktails. Hosting ceremonies on the decking for up to 85 guests or intimate indoor ceremonies for 60 guests. With a licence to hold marriages and civil partnerships, The Treehouse is perfect for ceremonies as well as celebrations.
 
The Treehouse can be hired privately in all seasons for a fresh spring wedding surrounded by trees bursting into leaf, a relaxed summer wedding with dancing on the decking, a twilight autumn wedding amidst a cascade of falling leaves or a cosy indoor winter wedding wrapped in thousands of tiny lights and warmed by a roaring log fire. Why not take a peek at our upcycled bottle lighting which would fit this venue perfectly! 
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The private decking bar facilities and aerial walkways provide intimate reception and entertainment areas, as well as picturesque settings for photographs.
 
For more information visit www.alnwickgarden.com   or call on 01665 511852.

​Café De Paris, London

The West End's No1 celebrity hotspot nightclub! Cafe de Paris is where London's elite gather every Friday & Saturday to party the night away till the early hours! London’s most iconic & famous nightclub
This venue in London's Piccadilly is one of the most famous entertainment venues in the world.

With a glittering history, spanning more than nine decades, Café de Paris has consistently played host to a wide variety of powerful & absorbing performers and guests, members of the aristocracy, eminent political figures, dazzling pop stars, captains of industry, superstars from the silver screen and even royalty.

A dazzling and opulent event space, Café de Paris never fails to leave a lasting impression on guests. With many original features including the grand sweeping staircases, glittering chandeliers and stunning ballroom floor, Cafe de Paris makes for the perfect space to host a wedding which is out of this world!
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For more information visit www.cafedeparis.com or call 020 7395 5807.

The National Aquarium
Plymouth 
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Well look at that for a setting!
The National Marine Aquarium is a first-class venue. Their underwater world promises to add something special to your event, catering for everything from corporate events, private parties and weddings to children’s parties, sleepovers and day delegates.

Once again, a nautical inspired wedding would fit right in here - check out our variety of bottle invitations to keep your invites and save the dates in the theme! 

Their scientists have proven the therapeutic properties of aquariums, so why not relax in the grandeur of the UK’s largest and add a stunning £22million backdrop to your event or special occasion. At the same time, you can rest easy that your booking will help to support marine conservation efforts.

For more information visit www.national-aquarium.co.uk or call on 0844 893 7938

​​Little Theatre
Cinema, Bath
 
Hidden away in Bath’s spa quarter is a unique little venue full of 1930s character and charm – the Little Theatre Cinema!
Offering a range of packages from vintage extravaganza to a more simple and modest affair, their experienced wedding team will guide you through every step of the way to help you create a truly unforgettable day.

One of the most exciting reasons to have a Little Wedding is the use of their projection and sound facilities to add that personal touch. From starring in your own short film to walking down the aisle to your favourite piece of music, your guests will experience a wedding like no other.

They have comfortable cinema seating for up to 110 guests in the Screen One Auditorium, a generous stage area for the main performance decorated with beautiful white draping, fairy-light adorned bay trees, ornate Victorian bird cages & a dressed table with lighting & flowers for the signing of the register. There is also Screen Two which offers a more modest venue.

This is a great little venue and could help theme your invitations and save the dates- why not use cinema ticket stubs!?

For more information visit www.littleweddings.co.uk or contact 01225 330803


So this concludes our section on UK wedding venues for the time being, I think you'll agree there are some sensational buildings out there that deserve consideration. We'll be back next week for more wedding tips and pointers, until then my friends I bid you adieu! 

See you next week

Pete

inviteinabottle.co.uk 

​Hello and welcome again to our blog! Time certainly does fly and we are on part 3 of our UK Wedding Venues section discussing our top 5 venues in their respective styles. We’ve covered Castles and Barns (see http://www.inviteinabottle.co.uk/blog for the others!) and now we are uncovering some really impressive venues in the UK in the form of Stately Homes.  These awe inspiring buildings date back centuries and are a huge part of British History, luckily for us many now accommodate weddings which lead to some sensational photographs!
As usual we’ve hand picked our top 5 which really caught our eye, enjoy! 
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​Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire 

 Hoar Cross Hall is a magnificent Grade II listed stately home set in picturesque gardens and has everything you need to make your special day truly memorable.
 Commissioned by Hugo Meynell Ingram as a family home, Hoar Cross Hall is a 19th century Elizabethan stately home with lofty gables, turreted water towers, 48 chimneys and mullioned windows which conveys a beautiful blend of tradition and grandeur. A stunning backdrop to your wedding day.​
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• They can cater from 2 to 120 people 
• Their designated wedding coordinator will help you bespoke a day to remember
• Choose their onsite Meynell, Halifax or Joynes Suite to hold your wedding ceremony
• If your heart is set on a traditional church wedding, the beautiful Church of the Holy Angels sits on a wooded ridge just outside Hoar Cross Hall’s grounds
• Bride to Be Pampering- with tranquil pools and soothing water therapies, their state-of-the-art spa is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy a pampering range of spa treatments

For more information visit www.hoarcross.co.uk or call them on 01283 576 520.
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​St Audries Park, Somerset
  
Situated within 100 acres of tranquil deer park, overlooking the rolling Quantock Hills and the Bristol Channel beyond, this fairytale manor house provides the perfect exclusive use venue for your special day and was voted ‘Best Wedding Venue’ in 2013 by the readers of Wedding Ideas Magazine.

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• There are 39 luxury bedrooms reserved exclusively for your wedding night ensuring the perfect end to your perfect day.
• A hidden cottage in the grounds can also accommodate the Bride and Bridesmaids the night before the wedding and Peregrine House can accommodate the Groom and his party the night before the wedding too.
• St Audries Park can now sleep up to 40 guests for the night before and over 100 guests for the night of your wedding.
• The Victorian Orangery offers a unique setting for your wedding ceremony and the stunning banqueting hall can seat up to 130 guests for the wedding breakfast. As we offer exclusive use of the entire house you can also invite up to 250 guests for the evening wedding reception and party.

 
For more information visit www.audries-park.co.uk or call on  01984 633 633.

 Warren House Surrey
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Warren House sits in a peaceful and secluded area of the exclusive Coombe Estate in Surrey, between the historic town of Kingston upon Thames and the commercial districts of south west London. The house is Victorian, Grade II listed, and set within four acres of peaceful landscaped gardens and was originally built for banker, Hugh Hammersley and his large family. With a rich and varied history spanning 150 years of distinguished owners and important guests, its timeless elegance makes it the perfect venue for corporate meetings and events as well as private celebrations and weddings.

• The venue is licensed to hold Civil Marriage Ceremonies and offers a wealth of elegant rooms, including a stunning Ballroom, for you to choose from and create the perfect ambience and setting for your wedding day
• Warren House can be hired exclusively, or they can provide some bespoke suggestions to accommodate your wishes
• 46 Bedrooms are available for your guest party, these are divided into three categories to suit a wide array of budgets, requirements and preferences. Their bedrooms incorporate modern amenities into both traditional and contemporary designs.
• They have their very own wedding co-ordinators to help you plan your special day.

For more information check out the website www.warrenhouse.com or call 0208 547 1777.
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​Penshurst Place, Kent

​Penshurst Place is a stunning award-winning and exclusive wedding venue in the heart of Kent. For centuries it has been the backdrop to acts of chivalry and romance and a long tradition of sumptuous hospitality, hosting royalty as well as inspiring poets to write some of the most beautifully romantic verse. The House, once the property of King Henry VIII, was left to his son King Edward VI and granted to Sir William Sidney in 1552. 

•  Choose how you will host your day in the three beautiful 14th century banqueting rooms licensed for ceremonies. This includes the stunning medieval Baron’s Hall built in 1341, complete with open fire pit and Minstrels' Gallery, the impressive panelled Sunderland Room and the more intimate, stone Buttery.
• Their private Inner Courtyard also provides an outside space for ceremonies or receptions
• They work closely with their appointed caterers Leith’s, famous for their impeccable standards of cuisine to give you the very best quality in food
• The team have personally visited hotels and B&Bs in the surrounding areas to make their recommendations, ensuring they offer brides and grooms to be a personalised service to the very highest exacting standards.

For more information visit www.penshurstplace.com or call them on 01892 870307.

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Boconnoc, Cornwall

Boconnoc is a country estate in South East Cornwall tucked down two miles of private roads. It is a little slice of heaven where you have the freedom to create whatever you have always imagined for your wedding day, whether in the main house, Stable Yard or around the estate.

• Your drinks reception can be on the lawns in front of the house or in the Drawing Room, 100 can be seated for your wedding breakfast, or 240 with an extension marquee
• A marquee can be put up on the lawns or on another site on the estate.
• There is a civil ceremony room in the Stable Yard, an outdoor Humanist Ceremony space in a beautiful stone swimming pool built in 1804 and a church next to the lake.
• There is accommodation onsite for up to 40 guests in the main house and holiday cottages so whether you want to hire the house as your own or on a B and B basis anything is possible.
• Guests can arrange fishing on the lake, a cricket match in the deer park, dinner the night before your wedding in the Stable Yard or a brunch in the house or by the lake the day after.

 
For more information visit the website www.boconnoc.com or call them on 01208 872507.
 


There is a certain amount of British pride in these buildings, you guests would surely be astounded walking around the gardens or enjoying the splendour of the buildings. I really enjoyed looking through these, I certainly think if you are looking to make a bold statement at your wedding then a Stately Home is the way forward.

Well that’s all for this week folks, thanks for all the recent likes and follows and I’ll be sure to post a new blog next week!
 
See ya!

Pete
Inviteinabottle