October at Sutton Bonington Hall

This Autumn has been incredibly beautiful, we love seeing the trees in the garden change colour.  It creates a fabulous setting for our events.

This October Sutton Bonington Hall hosted a Christening Lunch and a corporate event as well as the weddings each weekend. 

We hosted a wedding that had been organised from New Zealand on the 5th, our Groom saw Sutton Bonington Hall for the first time just a few days before his wedding!

The following day our couple brought an Asian theme to their wedding.  The cake they had chosen was really colourful - a real taking point. It matched the bridesmaids saris too



For the evening, instead of the usual evening buffet we served a variety of curries in hand sized bowls.  It's a perfect warming supper for a chillier autumn evening, all the guests really enjoyed it.

October also say Michele Gledhill return to the Hall to dress the conservatory for a wedding.  Michele created a fantastic look for our couple, it really came alive as the sun went down!

Towards the end of October we hosted one of our most intimate weddings for a lovely group of 14 guests.  Those privileged enough to be invited had a truly special day and were treated to a fantastic menu including a pan-fried fillet of Derbyshire beef, wild mushroom gratin, roast garlic mash and seasonal vegetables.

We also opened our doors for an Open Afternoon - with lots of visitors, some who have already booked their wedding for 2013 and some who we hope will choose Sutton Bonignton Hall

The 2013 Wedding Industry Awards

We are absolutely delighted to inform you that Sutton Bonington Hall has been shortlisted within our East Midlands region for a Wedding Industry Award for best wedding venue. 

Lots of our Brides and Grooms who were married at Sutton Bonington Hall in the last year took the time to vote for us, for which we are very grateful.  The next step is for the judges to choose a regional winner in each category.  Hopefully Sutton Bonington Hall can be officially named as the best wedding venue in the East Midlands!

Within the wedding venue category are 10 fantastic venues from all over Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, all offering unique but exceptional services to their couples so we will have to wait until the end of November to discover whether Sutotn Bonington Hall has what the judges are looking for!

September in Sutton Bonington

September is always a busy month at Sutton Bonington Hall, and this year was no exception. 
Throughout the month we enjoyed a variety of different musicians entertaining our wedding guests.  Live music always adds a brilliant atmosphere to a wedding day.

Eleanor has played at the Hall several times before, and on a sunny Sunday afternoon she played through the civil ceremony as Hollie & Luke got married and then as the guests enjoyed a glass of Pimms on the lawn.



 

Later in the month after a civil ceremony Mango Acoustic had been booked to entertain the daytime guests prior to the arrival of their evening guests.  Luckily enough the weather was beautiful and Will and Charlie were able to set up in the gardens.

 

Our chefs as always served a wide range of delicious treats for our wedding guests.  A particular highlight being a fabulous white chocolate and raspberry tart - it's a perfect summer wedding dessert!

 

 

 



Incredible Winter Wedding Offer

If you are recently engaged or if you have been putting off wedding planning for a while now, why not consider a Winter Wedding.  Sutton Bonington Hall is running a fantastic offer currently whereby weddings booked now for January or February 2013 will not pay a Venue Hire Fee.  This is a saving of up to £960.  Just think what you could do with that extra cash!

Weddings in the Winter months are so well suited to Sutton Bonington Hall.  We have two working log fires that create not only fabulous warmth but also a really cosy atmosphere

We regulary served Mulled Wine and mince pies on arrival from the church, or after your civil ceremony at the Hall.  Or perhaps you would prefer a warm winter Pimms.

It would obviously be fabulous if it were to snow on your wedding day, it turns the grounds into a fabulous winter wonderland and would be an incredible backdrop for your wedding photographs.

To take advantage of this wonderful offer contact the office on 01509672355 or email enquiries@sutton-bonington-hall.com.  We would love to arrange a time for you to view the Hall and see for yourself how perfect it could be for your forthcoming wedding.

Planning for the big day? Plan for a great day!

Planning a wedding can be extremely stressful. Asides from wedding jitters, there is much to consider, including managing the budget and the expectations of extended family.

 

Some couples have a clear vision of where they want their wedding to be. Others are more relaxed, simply wanting an idyllic location that will look stunning on photos and ensure everyone has a great time. When it comes to making big decisions it is vital that the bride and groom are armed with as much information as possible. For example, when looking at where to have the wedding reception they should look around a number of venues, comparing the wedding packages available.

 

Whatever the choice, whether a country house or a lighthouse; there are factors to consider when choosing a wedding venue. For one, is it the right size for the wedding party? Too big and the wedding will feel empty and too small and it will feel claustrophobic for guests. Next, whether it is easy for all the guests to get to, and for those having to travel, can it offer overnight accommodation?

 

Another very important consideration is the cost of the venue. Many wedding venues will work with the bride and groom to try to reach a compromise, within reason, on their budget, but for those on a shoestring budget hiring a castle is probably out of the question.

 

The final, and perhaps most important factor, is whether the chosen venue has a date available! Some wedding venues get booked up months and even years in advance. However, for flexible couples who are willing to get married on a weekday or during the winter season there may be more flexibility over dates and discounts available.

 

To help with the stress of planning a wedding some venues are able to offer the services of a wedding planner. The wedding planner will take on board all of the wedding party’s wants and needs and ensure they are actioned, including helping to plan menus and decorate the room.

Afternoons in August

The weather might be turning chilly and Autumnal but let's reminisce on the events that took place at Sutton Bonington Hall in August.

Afternoon tea was incredibly popular this August, instead of a more formal wedding breakfast we served afternoon tea.  Three-tiered cake stands piled high with cucumber sandwiches or a delicious selection of cakes for guests to enjoy.  This style of wedding seems a very English style of wedding that really suits Sutton Bonington Hall, an English Country House with games of croquet taking place on the lawn!  The couples below even hired in vintage crockery and table cloths from Lily & Rose China hire to really add to the theme.

 

 

As lovely as Afternoon tea is, it is worth mentioning that throughout August our chefs created many fantastic three course wedding breakfasts.  The quality of the food they produce is very high, and so a real treat for all the guests who attended the weddings.

 

 

 

 

August also gave us one of the more unusual bands that were booked to entertain guests in the gardens after the wedding ceremony.  These were the ski band, their colourful shirts and fun music created a brilliant atmosphere.  Even people living in the village had commented on how brilliant it was to hear on a sunny summers day.

For us it was even funnier to watch them rehearsing in our office (which isn't huge!) while MJ was trying to catch up on the emails!!!



July at the Hall

We have a a brilliant, yet busy, summer - hence why I'm writing about July now!

Sutton Bonington Hall hosted several weddings throughout July but also a Ruby Wedding Anniversary lunch.  It was really special to see a long and happy marriage celebrated.  There were photos dotted around the Hall of their wedding day, and the Best Man had to do another speech! 

Of the weddings that took place at the Hall I have listed a few highlights below to give you an idea of the variety of the different weddings we have enjoyed this summer.

We were in awe of Gemma, one of our brides, who organised her wedding in just 2 months, while caring for her 3 year old son and twin baby daughters.  It was a fantastic day, and thankfully she did hire a nanny to help!

Rebecca's Aunty Pam had a busy time in the lead up to her niece's wedding as she had been tasked with making the wedding cake.  As you can see below we think she did a fabulous job and deserved the glass of champagne ...

 

July also saw one of the more unusual wedding themes we have seen - Squirrels!  This was a really fun idea to tie different aspects of the wedding together.  There was a message tree for guests to tie there messages to in the shape of acorns.  But to top it off here is the fantastic wedding cake!

 

 

We have also seen an unusal mode of transport to take the bride to the church in Sutton Bonington.  Luckily the bridesmaid owned a fun beetle

 

Getting hitched in style...

Wedding receptions are a great opportunity for friends and family to come together to celebrate. However with the average wedding costing £15,000 couples can feel the pressure to get everything right.

 

After the dress, where to host the wedding reception is probably the most agonised over decision. Finding a venue which can cater to the wedding party’s needs and help create the dream wedding is essential.  For many a bride and groom the wedding reception is the time when they start to relax; the nerves and jitters of the ceremony and speeches behind them.

 

When choosing a venue to host a wedding reception there’s a wide choice; everywhere from pubs to hotels to castles are available to hire. Before choosing, the bride and groom should consider whether the space available will work for their party; too large and the reception will feel empty; too small and guests will feel overcrowded and cramped.

 

For many the main consideration when choosing their wedding venue is costs. The price to host a wedding reception can vary wildly from venue to venue, though many places offer an ‘all-in’ package deal which includes catering, evening entertainment (such as disco) and bar staff included. For places which don’t have package deals, the bride and groom should be sure they know exactly what is included and the associated costs with any extras.

 

For some a deciding factor when choosing a venue is the location itself; beautifully manicured lawns and borders create a stunning background for wedding photos and help create cherished memories. For this reason many couples choose locations such as country houses, stately homes or other grand buildings to host their wedding.

The bride and groom may also want to consider whether their chosen venue offers accommodation; some guests may have travelled to attend the wedding and therefore need somewhere to stay overnight.

Our Ice Cream Tricycle

We have had brilliant fun preparing for our first outing of our Ice Cream Tricycle!  Our chefs enjoyed test driving it around the car park on a lovely sunny afternoon.  On the wedding day we set up the tricycle in the gardens here at Sutton Bonington Hall, complete with large sun umbrella and straw boaters for the staff.

The Guests loved the Ice Creams, choosing from Choc Chip, Vanilla, Toffee Crunch and Raspberry sorbet.  We found that Toffee Crunch was the most popular flavour! 

We will be using the Ice Cream Trike again on Tuesday and have since had several enquiries for future weddings. 

Latest News from Sutton Bonington Hall

Sutton Bonington Hall has entered The 2013 Wedding Industry Awards and so we are hoping to receive lots of votes from past couples. Couples who were married or held their wedding reception at Sutton Bonington Hall since 1^st November 2011 are eligible to vote.  You might also find that your other suppliers (i.e. your photographer) have entered.  Last year we were shortlisted in our category, and we would really like to do one better this year.

Sutton Bonington Hall is now on Facebook (www.facebook.com/suttonbhall) and Twitter (@suttonbhall), this is a fantastic method for us to keep everyone up to date with what’s happening at the Hall.

We are planning two Christmas Dining Evenings at Sutton Bonington Hall on Wednesday 19^th and Thursday 20^th December 2012.   Further details and menus will be released in the Autumn, but we are hoping to create two really special fine dining evenings that we hope you would enjoy.  To book tables please email us enquiries@sutton-bonington-hall.com

Dining Evenings 2013 – We will be holding Dining Evenings in the New Year.  The dates are still to be confirmed although one of these will be Valentine’s Day Thursday 14^th February.  These events are a perfect opportunity for you to return to the Hall for a romantic meal for two, or a special family dinner. 

Special treats at Sutton Bonington Hall

Over the last few weeks we have had several new and different ideas that our brides and grooms have brought to the Hall to make their wedding day special.  We always love to see the different ideas people have, it means each wedding here is different to the last.

For the jubiliee weekend our couple were lucky enough to have a very talented violinist in the family, who entertained wthe guests while they were on the lawn having photographs and drinking Pimms.

More recently in June we have a fantastically pink wedding, where the conservatory was decorated with lots of Pink Pom Poms and beautiful flowers from Fleurs en Fleur based in Loughborough.

Finally, last weekend our bride and groom had ordered an absolutely fanstic looking #weddingcake from Your Unique Day The cake fitted in perfectly with their 'Tea' theme and was a real talking point

April Showers

The gardens at Sutton Bonington Hall have been throughly enjoying the rain we have been having this April, although it definitely makes Will's, our gardener's, job a lot harder!

This last weekend we were delighted to host the wedding reception for Louise and Steve.  Fortunately they were able to dodge the showers and even had photos taken in the garden.

On Sunday Deana and Jim celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at Sutton Bonington Hall. They invited 50 of their closest friends and family to attend, and they all struggled through the rain to reach us.  It was raining so much we lit the log fires in the Library and Drawing Room so the Hall was warm and welcoming.

Weddings in March

We were honoured to host the weddings and/or wedding receptions of five lovely couples in March 2012.  Each wedding being very different, but all starting out married life together with hopefully lots of happy memories of their special day.

Early in March we welcomed Eamonn & Claire to the Hall, after the ceremony in the Drawing Room they were able to head into the gardens for canapes and photographs by FirstHand Photography.  We were delighted when Peggy informed us that our cups of tea were to her liking!

Throughout March we have seen some fantastic creativity from our brides, one of our brides, Ruth, had even taken the time to make paper flowers for her bouquets and the table centres.

We always enjoy seeing the various themes and colour schemes, including The Beatles, Fondant Fancies and a lovely springtime yellow wedding.

We were delighted to work with Martin Neeves for the first time at Sutton Bonington Hall, and we love to see as few of the photos he took at Valerie and Richard's wedding on his blog

Our chef Neil also served our new assiette of desserts for the first time in 2012 for Ian and Vicky's wedding. 

Assiette of desserts:

Classic ‘strawberries & cream’ shortbread

 Dark chocolate torte

Lemon & blueberry posset

Who could resist!!!!!

Mother's Day Lunch

We welcomed 7 families to Sutton Bonington Hall for Mother's Day Lunch.  We were delighted to see past brides and grooms return to the Hall with their families, and in one case as new parents bringing their son to their wedding venue for the first time.

The adults enjoyed a three course meal seated in the conservatory.  The most popular meal our guests chose is below - a delicious Sunday Lunch -

Warm goats cheese with a hazelnut crust, beetroot salad

Roast sirloin of Beef, béarnaise sauce, Yorkshire puddings with roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables

Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla ice cream

The children enjoyed chicken goujons followed by ice cream, then in between the rain showers let off steam running around the gardens.

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