We spoke with Bonnie Williams, the director of Alrewas Hayes, a picturesque 100-acre country estate nestled in the heart of rural Staffordshire, to gain her insights on the key questions to ask when booking a country estate wedding venue.
If you are embarking on your wedding planning journey, one of the first jobs is to find the perfect venue. There's a lot of incredible wedding venues throughout the UK from city hotels and restaurants to country estates and barns. So, shortlisting your options is no mean feat! However, if you have set your heart on a country estate wedding venue, we suggest having these questions in mind when searching for your perfect wedding venue.Â
How Long Can We Have the Venue For?
One of the first things to consider is whether you would like your wedding celebrations to last a day or a weekend. Some venues operate a strict 24-hour turnaround, whereas others offer the flexibility to rent the space for a full weekend.
Weddings at Alrewas Hayes vary in length; some of the couples prefer to keep the celebrations to a day, while others hire our venue for the full weekend. Then, they can invite guests back for brunch followed by a BBQ with lawn games the next day.
Can We Exclusively Hire the Venue?
This leads on to the question of exclusivity. If you envisage your wedding to be a private event exclusively for you and your guests, you will need to ask whether the venue will be provided on an exclusive-use basis. Some venues will host more than one wedding a day! So, it's important to ask what the terms are for hire, how much of the venue you will have access to and also the timings for arrival and departure, including late night licenses.
All Alrewas Hayes weddings are hosted on an exclusive-use basis. This includes use of the Great Barn, Lakeside, The Orangery, Williams Bar, Lobby and The Courtyard, as well as all 11 of the bedrooms.
What are the Facilities and Amenities Like?Â
With the unpredictable British weather, it's important to know about the facilities and amenities, such as parking and access, at the venue. This is particularly important for country venues where parking facilities are likely to be in a field that could become boggy in wet weather. Your guests certainly won't want to get wet and ruin their shoes!
Alrewas Hayes has pathways to all car parks and festoon lighting along the pathway from the paddock car park to the main event spaces. The team are on hand with brollies to ensure guests stay dry and once inside, all the spaces are interlinked and accessed by covered walkways.
What is Allowed at the Venue?
When it comes to décor, there may be some rules and restrictions that you will need to adhere to. Many country houses are period buildings with highly valuable artefacts, so it's recommended that you ask what you can and can't do in terms of décor. Also ask what, if any, furniture and décor elements that will be included within the hire fee.
The spaces at Alrewas Hayes have been designed as a blank canvas for the couples to decorate as they wish. They also include tables, chill out furniture and chairs within the hire fee.
The use of fireworks is also something they often get asked about. They allow both traditional fireworks and indoor pyro fireworks! They provide the same thrill but are kind to local wildlife and pets.
Is Your Venue Eco-Friendly?
Sustainability has become a key concern for couples in recent years. So, wedding venues have a responsibility to give back to the environment, wherever possible. For example, cutting down on plastic use, optimising recycling efforts and using the surrounding land for renewable energy sources.
Alrewas Hayes are constantly working to reduce carbon footprint, across every aspect of the business. All the surrounding land is used for renewable energy crops and the Great Barn has solar panels on the roof. They are implementing strategies to cut down on plastic use and we have introduced Bramley toiletries throughout the venue. The menus also use locally sourced, seasonal produce to ensure they are both more environmentally friendly and support local suppliers.
Does the Venue have Accommodation?
It's likely many of your guests will be travelling from far and wide. Therefore, you will need to find out what accommodation is available either at the venue or locally. They have 11 beautifully appointed bedrooms on site that are available for guests. They also offer boutique glamping within the grounds through the supplier network! There are also several hotels in nearby villages as well.
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