Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
To facilitate planning, we would appreciate it if you could RSVP as soon as you have worked out if you are able to attend.
Due to limited bus and rail services on bank holiday, the most practical and affordable method of transport for UK guests is likely by car. If you are planning to drink alcohol, then booking nearby accommodation, or arranging drop off/pick up from family/friends is probably the best option. Taxis are likely to be more expensive being bank holiday and we appreciate the venue isn’t very close by for a lot of guests.
The closest most affordable accommodation option that doesn’t require a taxi that is available at time of writing is £200 for a two-night stay Sun 24th-Tue 26th August for two people at The Pack Horse Inn, a 5-min walk from the venue (£50 per person per night). However, this accommodation does have limited rooms. Another affordable option with current availability is the Premier Inn at Alnwick (15-minute taxi ride from the venue), currently £88 for a double room on Monday 25th August (£44 per person).
There is currently availability for the on-site cottages but these are best shared between ~6-8 people
SHARED TRAVEL:
Some guests when asked did express an interest in buses to/from the venue from the Tyneside / Chester-Le-Street areas for local-ish guests for day and evening if we were able to arrange this. However, we obtained a number of quotes and due to the bank holiday it was unfortunately not feasible to arrange.
We hope guests are willing to car pool, or arrange larger taxis from similar areas. We have set up a website / app page to make this easier for guests to identify other guests planning to travel from nearby. This is the link to the car sharing app:
The Wedding of Gemma & Matt - Caroster
https://app.caroster.io/e/6cf38674-0839-431a-8903-1433c45b5dc9/
If you are a guest planning to drive and have space in your car, we would really appreciate it if you were able to offer those spaces to local guests. To do this, click on the link, click on “Add a Trip” and put in your details. Other guests from your area will then be able to contact you by whatsapp/text/phone on the number you’ve provided to take those spaces, and if you agree, they can be ‘allocated’ to your vehicle in the app.
If you are a guest looking for space/spaces in another guest’s car to travel to/from the venue, click on ‘Waiting List’ on the website and enter your name, email address and indicate your preferred departure location. When a car near you becomes available, you should be alerted and you should be able to contact them.
You can contact one of our wedding party points of contact (/guest liaison) below, or one of the wedding coordinators at the venue itself. Their contact numbers are below.
Bride’s Side:
Charlotte Simpson (Chief Bridesmaid): 07975 925699
Gillian Wilson (Stepmum of the Bride): 07986 279759
Peter Wilson (Father of the Bride): 07392 300050
Groom’s Side:
Mark Howard (Groomsman): 07432 566809
Ellingham Hall contacts:
Beth Heslop or Wendy Scott (Wedding Coordinators): 01665 568118 or weddings@ellingham-hall.co.uk
Beth or Wendy will be there on the day of the wedding to help coordinate the day and will act as master of ceremonies.
For resident guests with problems through the night, the night porter can be contacted on 01665 568 117.
Only those formally invited should attend, as these are the people who have been specifically catered for. If you’re unsure about your invite and who this is specifically for, or think there may be a mistake, please speak with us. We will be happy to clarify.
The wedding is an adult-only celebration, with the exception of the bride’s nephew as part of the wedding party. We respectfully request that no children are brought to the venue.
Weekend guests:
Check-in is from 4pm on Sunday 24th August (night before the wedding) and dinner is served at 7:30pm.
Day guests:
Around 11:15am-11:20am is an ideal time to arrive. It’s advised that you arrive between 11am-11:30am, but you can arrive any time from 10:45am-11:45am.
We kindly ask you don’t enter the hall any earlier than this as staff will be turning the room around from breakfast.
The reception bar opens at 11am and you are welcome to purchase a pre-ceremony drink should you wish. Guests will start to be seated for the ceremony from around 11:30am, and all guests should be seated by around 11:45am. Drinks should not be taken into the ceremony room.
Evening Guests:
Around 6pm is an ideal time to arrive. It doesn’t matter if you’re a little earlier or later than this. Day guests will have been finished eating by 5pm and will likely be mingling indoors (and outdoors, if the weather is nice!), you are welcome to join them when you arrive. Its recommended you arrive before 6:30pm as we anticipate the newlyweds will be formally welcoming you to the venue at this time, followed by the First Dance at 7pm.
Yes, and the bar accepts both cash and card (except American Express). The bar is open from 11am – last orders 11:40pm and closes at midnight. Its venue policy that all guests must leave by midnight (except for those staying). After guests have left at midnight, the bar will reopen for residents until 2am.
It's not an open bar unfortunately, but the bar stocks a range of drinks for purchase. The reception bar will be open 11am-11:45am then open again following the ceremony, until 11:40pm for non-resident guests, and until 2am for resident guests. The chapel bar will be open during the wedding breakfast and again for the evening reception, with last orders at 11:40pm and the room being closed by midnight.
Day guests will receive 4 drinks on us;
A reception drink as you leave the ceremony room (prosecco or peroni – please take only 1 so no one goes without)
A glass of prosecco for the speeches with the wedding breakfast
A small glass of red or white wine with your meal at the wedding breakfast
A drink of choice as a favour to you. We will be in touch with you for your selection.
If you don’t drink alcohol or would prefer a non-alcoholic alternative to any of the above, then please let us know and we’ll arrange non-alcoholic / soft drinks.
You can find the venue’s current bar menu and prices here:
We’ve been informed the bar now also sells Espresso Martinis (£8.95), Pornstar Martinis (£9.50), and Strawberry Daiquiris (£8.95)
The menu is outlined below. All allergies and dietary requirements will be catered for, so if you have any concerns about anything you can’t eat and haven’t already told us (we collected this information from you when you RSVP’d), then please let us know.
MEALS:
Day guests:
A 3-course wedding breakfast at around 2:30pm, served seated after the ceremony and drinks reception.
Starter - Starter - Salmon Fishcake, Micro Herbs, Cucumber Ribbons, Sweet Chilli Sauce (Gluten Free)/ Parmesan & Wild Mushroom Arancini with a Sun-blushed Tomato Sauce (vegetarian option, to be made vegan for vegan guests)
Main course - Daube of Beef, Stock Jus, Buttery Mash & Roast Root Vegetables (gluten free) - please note this meal will be served to everyone unless they have made us aware of allergies/dietary requirements. If you haven’t told us of a dietary requirement but prefer the vegetarian option, please let us know.
/ Red Lentil Spinach Dahl with Tempura Vegetables (for vegans, vegetarians and pescetarians. This is also gluten free.)
Dessert - Sticky Toffee Pudding & Toffee Sauce (vegetarian and gluten free) - please note this meal will be served to everyone unless they have made us aware of allergies/dietary requirements that means they can’t have this.
/ White Chocolate Mousse, raspberry compote and chocolate crisp (made vegan)
Evening guests:
Around 8:30pm Succulent Slow Cooked BBQ Pulled Pork Bun with French Fries will be served.
(Or Spicy Vegetable Ragout with Salt Roasted New Potatoes for vegetarian / pescetarian / vegan guests)
We expect this will be followed by cake or brownies, this is not yet confirmed.
SNACKS:
All guests:
If you are feeling peckish at any time from your arrival on the wedding day until the end of the night, you are welcome to help yourselves to as many packets of crisps (different flavours available) as you would like from the crisp wall situated in one of the reception rooms.
We expect there will also be a pick and mix stand available for you to enjoy some sweets whenever you wish.
Residents:
We expect there will be a hot snack served at midnight or soon after for guests staying at the hall.
The ceremony and reception are indoors but there are both indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy throughout the day. There should be a few times throughout the day to enjoy the sunshine (if there is any!).
We are planning to hire a few lawn games to have outside which you are welcome to use. Hopefully the weather is nice to be able to enjoy it!
We are likely to be outside for a short while after the ceremony for the confetti and some photos. The venue have some big umbrellas they can put up outside if guests wish to be outside during the rain (to smoke / get fresh air). We are also planning to do sparklers (60 available) outside by the firepit at 10pm in the evening if the weather is nice.
There is no smoking or vaping indoors. There are pots and wall-mounted bins outside to stub out cigarettes. These are strategically placed outside the front and back doors.
For residents, three of the hall bedrooms (ellingham suite, kitchen maid’s room, and laundry maid’s room) have balconies which you are permitted to smoke on. Smokers have been allocated to these rooms.
The courtyard bedrooms open to the outdoors for easy access for smoking also.
You can sit anywhere you like except the first ~3 rows! (reserved for the wedding party)
Traditionally the bride’s guests would sit on the left (as you walk into the room) and the groom’s guests would sit on the right. And this will be the case for most of the wedding party except for a few bridesmaids. However, as you are guests of us both, we encourage you to sit on either side to fill up the space equally, irrelevant of whose family or friend you are.
Due to a health problem that prevents the bride standing up still for a long time, the bride, groom, and registrar will be seated for most of the ceremony.
The bride and groom are likely to also sit on non-traditional sides (bride on right and groom on left rather than vice versa) so they are facing their nearest and dearest rather than being on their traditional ‘side’ with their backs to their nearest and dearest.
The seats should be in rows of 5 on each side. We request that seats are reserved at the front for the wedding party and grandparents (31 seats). Please leave 3 rows free on the right (traditional groom’s) side and 3 and a half rows free on the left (traditional bride’s) side. Reserved seats should be made clear to you on the day.
No, thank you. We will provide confetti as it needs to meet certain requirements such as the venue requiring it to be biodegradable.
There is no specific dress code but we welcome you to dress up (as though you’re attending a wedding)!
We love the venue for its elegance, which has inspired a choice of more elegant styles and colours for the wedding party attire. But as a guest you can wear anything from a more smart casual look, to semi-formal, to formal, and anything in between. Although we kindly request that you please avoid wearing a black tuxedo or champagne dress so as not to be confused with the wedding party.
Although a wedding is a somewhat formal event, we want to promote a fun, relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, so most importantly, please choose an outfit that you feel comfortable and confident in! It’s a long day - we hope you make it to the dance floor…and that your outfit isn’t too uncomfortable or restrictive for you to dance in!!
Anyone wearing high heels or uncomfortable shoes, if your feet are prone to discomfort after a while, we welcome you to bring a second more comfortable pair of shoes to change into later. There is a cloakroom where these can be stored. We aren’t providing bathroom baskets of flip flops, hairspray etc. (although there are sanitary products), so please bring everything you need for your comfort with you, as there is a cloakroom to store your belongings in.
So as not to be mistaken as part of the wedding party, we would advise you to AVOID wearing:
a white, ivory, or cream coloured dress / women’s attire
a champagne/gold coloured dress or champagne/gold coloured tie
a black dress
a black tuxedo
Yes, there is a cloakroom, which is through the reception room towards the main staircase, turn left and it's a door on the left on the long corridor.
You can hang up a coat, leave a bag, your comfy shoes for later, or any items you don’t wish to keep on your person.
We request you don’t leave significantly large items in the cloakroom as it isn’t huge.
If you do need to bring a large item (like a suitcase) and don’t have a car to store it in, please speak with us as there is likely somewhere else we can store it for you.
Please be aware the cloakroom is not staffed and will be left unlocked for you to access your items whenever you need. While this is brilliant for access to your belongings at your convenience, please be aware we cannot assume liability for any missing or damaged items.
However, we do have exclusive use of the venue so all guests attending the wedding are friends and family of the bride and groom so we do not expect there to be any intentional damage or theft of belongings.
There is a ramp access to the venue. Everything needed can be accessed from the ground floor, there is a ramp to the reception breakfast/evening room.
As well as female and male toilets on both the ground floor and the mezzanine level, there is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor.
Please note the hall has a private sewerage system with septic tank so please nothing other than natural waste and toilet roll down loos. Small bins and bags are provided for sanitary wear etc.
Bedrooms for guests staying at the venue are upstairs. You can access these by the main staircase, a back/side staircase, or by lift. Only bedrooms on the first and second floor can be accessed via the lift. The tower room is on the third floor and can only be accessed via its own staircase from the second floor.
Courtyard bedrooms are ground floor level. These are accessed not via the hall, but have their own entrance. These bedrooms also have their own car park.
We want you to feel comfortable for your stay so please let us know if you have any special requirements or there is anything you need to help make your stay more comfortable.
If you wish to familiarise yourself with the venue and where the toilets are prior to the wedding, there is a map and 360 virtual tour on the venue website.
360 tour: https://www.ellingham-hall.co.uk/luxury-north-east-wedding-venue/360-tour-ellingham-hall/
Floor plans: https://www.ellingham-hall.co.uk/luxury-north-east-wedding-venue/floor-plans/
Cragside National Trust site is amazing to explore and a favourite of the couple, but entrance costs can be pricy if you’re not a National Trust member.
The Northumberland coast is beautiful. We would recommend walking along some local beaches such as Beadnell Bay, Almouth, Seahouses, Budle, and visiting castles such as Bamburgh Castle or the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle. Craster Harbour is well known for its fresh seafood and you can enjoy fish and chips at Seahouses.
Holy Island and Lindisfarne is definitely worth a visit but you can only drive over to the island when the tide is low as the sea covers the road at high tide – you need to check the tide times before visiting so you don’t get stuck there!
You can also take a boat trip from Seahouses to the nearby Farne Islands, which is known for its wildlife, such as puffins, atlantic grey seals and various seabirds.
Alnwick is worth a visit to see Alnwick Castle (seen in Harry Potter), Alnwick Garden, The Treehouse restaurant, Barter Books and cafe. Howick Hall and Gardens is also worth a visit.
And there are lots of places to explore in the nearby Northumberland National Park – many walks, waterfalls, and Hadrian’s Wall.
If you enjoy wild swimming then as well as the sea all along the beautiful Northumberland coastline, Linhope Spout waterfall and plunge pool is about a 40min drive west of the venue and has been ranked the 3rd best wild swimming spot in England!
We made a page for that already.....Guest Timeline
Absolutely, and we will likely have a QR code where you can upload photos to share photos of the day with us and other guests! However, we would ask that if you want to take any photos during the ceremony that you are discreet and limit phone/camera use.
There will be a photographer and videographer present who will be taking photos and ootage during the ceremony and all through the day until the dancing. Our photographer Graeme is 99% candid documentary style, but has said he is happy to take requests for photos from guests at relaxed points during the day if you would like one.
We kindly request that day guests don’t upload any photos to social media until at least after all evening guests have arrived.
There will also be a magic mirror photobooth that prints two instant photos – one for the guest book and one for you to keep. Please note the magic mirror is only available 6pm-11pm. Photo prints are unlimited so please make the most of this while it's there!
Yes, there will be a guestbook alongside the magic mirror photobooth which prints off two copies of each photo (1 copy for the guest book, 1 copy for you to keep). You can take multiple photos to keep as well, they don’t all need to go in the guest book.
If we receive any wedding cards we are also thinking about having the cards scanned and made into a book as a sort of guest book of any messages we receive from you!
Yes, we would love you to join us, but we would need to know in advance and would ask you to contribute towards this if you wish to join. We will be having a BBQ (burgers, chicken, vegetarian/vegan options and sides) at 7:30pm at the venue the night before the wedding. The cost to add on would be £22 per person for the food. We would need to inform the venue before the 14th July to be able to account for you in the numbers.
Yes, at a cost of £8.95. This is served 9:30am-10am, includes a sausage or bacon sandwich, possibly pastries and fruit, juice and tea and coffee. If you would like to be added on, we would need to know this in advance so please let us know.
If you are not adding on for breakfast we would appreciate if you didn’t arrive at the venue until after 10:45am in order to give the staff time to turn the reception room around.
I don't think they know about second breakfast
Yes, a full English breakfast at the venue the morning after the wedding is £18 per person and served at 9am. Again we would need to know in advance to inform the venue to account for you in the numbers.
Unfortunately not. We have queried this with the venue who have informed us anyone not staying at the hall itself must sadly vacate the hall by midnight.
The same way we contacted you with your digital invitation. If you don’t have our number / email address / home address and would like it, please just ask.
We will not be streaming the wedding. However, we have hired a photographer and a videographer so you will be able to see / watch highlights from the day in due course. We imagine there will likely be guest photos on social media from the day after the wedding also.
Magic mirror photobooth (6-11pm)
Retro arcade game (6-11pm)
Lawn games (all day and evening, night before and next morning)
DJ and dancing (7-9pm & 10pm-midnight)
Ceilidh band and Ceilidh dancing (9-10pm)
Sparklers and fire pit (10pm)
Downstairs in the underground den there is a pool table and dart board (available for guests to use but we would love it if you could minimise time spent in the den so you don’t miss out on socialising, key events, and group photos!).
We are already living together and have all household items we currently need. We appreciate it can be costly to attend a wedding. Your presence on our special day is the gift we hope for the most. We appreciate the expenses you have likely incurred in order to attend this event. Therefore we are really not expecting you to give a gift.
If any guests really want to give a gift in addition to their attendance, then a donation towards our honeymoon fund would be the most appreciated. We are currently prioritising our focus and resources on planning and hosting the wedding so haven’t yet planned or booked a honeymoon.
The venue provides a small white postbox on top of the piano in the reception room if anyone wishes to give a wedding card. If we receive any wedding cards we may look into having them made into a book.
We are planning to become Mr and Mrs Logan!
Yes there are a few things in the venue T&C’s we need to abide by otherwise we’ll be charged additional fees and/or ejected from the venue...
No smoking indoors. Vaping is also prohibited throughout the building due to sensitive fire alarms.
No property damage, theft, or threatening behaviour.
Guests checked out by 10am and vacated the hall by 11am on 26th August.
No alcohol to be consumed on-site that is not purchased at the bar.
No illegal drugs.
No camping, caravans, or motor homes on-site
Judging by the ridiculous extensiveness of this FAQ section, apparently not.