Pictured: Leighton Hall owner Camilla Corrie (left) and
Hannah Hall celebrate the start of Historic House Weddings
It's definitely old and it is a novel idea - to borrow a
historic Shropshire house for the bride and groom's big day.
Some of the counties least known stately homes but with
centuries of history between them are joining together to open
their historic front doors for top class bespoke wedding
celebrations.
Historic House Weddings is a brand new concept for couples
hoping for a true fairytale wedding.
Wedding parties can dance their way through a grand hall with
13th century oak panelling and a spectacular stained glass ceiling
in the imposing Leighton Hall, between Ironbridge and Shrewsbury.
With an original Queen Anne style dining room and a second dining
room renovated to Victorian splendour, the hall even has a pretty
parish church in its grounds which is available for marriage
ceremonies.
For the first time, wedding couples have the opportunity to dine
in elegance at Grade one listed Mawley Hall, near Cleobury
Mortimer, an imposing Georgian country home with one of the finest
Baroque interiors in England. It has been beautifully restored
after falling derelict in the 1950's. Mawley Hall is offering just
five couples the opportunity to stage their wedding celebrations at
the historic venue in 2012.
"The idea is to borrow these homes for the day. They are stately
homes but still lived in by families and not normally open to the
public," said director of Historic House Weddings Hannah Hall, who
with husband Ed, also runs The Wroxeter Hotel, between Shrewsbury
and Telford.
"This will be a unique experience for brides and grooms who will
have a dream wedding day with the most beautiful backdrops for
photographs. At each location there are exquisite grounds to wander
in and magnificent entrance halls with centuries of history."
Hannah said that she found that many exclusive country homes
were available for hire but couples had to organise the whole
event themselves.
"How many couples want the anxiety of arranging catering,
furniture hire, outside bars and so on? What we're offering is the
professionalism and expertise of a full time wedding venue team
with the level of exclusivity and unique surroundings that only a
stately residence can offer.
"Because they are private homes, the number of weddings we are
able to offer each year will be very limited," said Hannah who has
worked closely with the owners in preparation for the new
venture.
"These are exclusive events for the discerning in magical
surroundings with gourmet food of the highest standard. People can
escape the feel of a full time "venue" yet retain the benefits of
professional planning, catering and attention to detail."
Leighton Hall owner Camilla Corrie said that Hannah and
her team had the professionalism, management and "personal touch"
to make a perfect dream wedding.
"Couples will be able to feel that this home is their own on
their very special day. The backdrops and the views will belong to
them too."
Hannah's team of chefs recently laid on food at a top society
event at Upton Cressett Hall, near Bridgnorth, where actress Liz
Hurley said she loved the food when she was a guest of her Old
Etonian friend, William Cash, son of MP Bill Cash.
A number of other county homes have expressed an interest in
partnership with Historic House Weddings in 2012.