Wedding Planning Archives - Page 2 of 2

There’s a lot to think about when choosing your wedding venue. First, you need to find a setting that suits the style of day you’d like, whether that’s glamorous, timeless or rustic. Second, you need to make sure it comes within budget and third, you need to ensure your Cheshire wedding venue will wow your guests too.

At Combermere Abbey, it’s simple. We want to make sure your special day is filled with smiling faces and happy memories. That’s why we work hard to ensure this wedding venue, with wedding accommodation on site, is as perfect for your guests as it is for you. Here’s how we can make your day special.

A-Maze Your Guests

One of the best ways to impress your guests is to show them something they’ve never seen before. This might be easier said than done, especially when it comes to weddings, but we’ve got a trick up our sleeves.

Invite your guests to toast to your marriage and clink Champagne flutes in the fruit tree maze. With fruiting vines all around and the Edwardian Glasshouse for your backdrop, your guests will love this stunning setting.

Wander, socialise and sip prosecco as you find your way to the heart of the maze from nine different entrances. This is a great way to keep children entertained, too.

Let The Games Begin

When you say ‘I do’ at this Cheshire wedding venue, your package includes a selection of garden games. You also enjoy exclusive use of Combermere Abbey’s Glasshouse, Pavilion and Walled Garden, giving you plenty of space for fun and games.

Challenge your guests to a game of giant Jenga on the lawn. Take on your wedding party in a sack race. Or, for a more peaceful pace, set up a game of croquet in the garden. The choice is yours and with this much variety, there’s something to please every guest.

Party Time!

Combermere Abbey’s Pavilion isn’t simply a fairy-tale setting for your wedding breakfast. When you’re ready to swap dinner for dancing, draw back the reveal curtain and open up the dance floor. There’s plenty of space for a live band or DJ, who will have your guests hot-footing it onto the floor in no time.

Even better, because the bar is also in the Pavilion at this Cheshire wedding venue, your guests can stay together and socialise. There’s a stylish chill-out zone at one end and the dance floor at the other. This ensures guests can rest their party feet while the celebratory atmosphere lasts into the night.

Sweet Dreams

What really sets this venue apart is the wedding accommodation it offers. When the last dance comes to a close, you’ll retire to the North Wing for a luxurious night, waking to lake views and butler service. The experience is no less lovely for your guests, who have the opportunity to stay in Combermere Abbey’s Courtyard Cottages.

This self-catering wedding accommodation sleeps up to 49 of your nearest and dearest, just a short walk from the Pavilion. Each cottage has a unique charm and is exquisitely furnished, promising a perfect night’s sleep and an unforgettable stay. There’s no need to book a taxi or travel between venues here.

In a nod back to their former life as stables, the cottages open onto a picturesque courtyard. From something as small as a nightcap to something as big as a barbecue, your guests will love the chance to socialise in this charming outdoor space.

With the ability to celebrate every second of your day all in one place, Combermere Abbey makes for a magical wedding for both you and your guests. Find out more about our wedding accommodation here. At this Cheshire wedding venue, you can enjoy your wedding for the whole weekend with family and friends!

For many couples, the wedding ceremony location is the deciding factor when it comes to choosing their Cheshire wedding venue. After all, the entire reason you’re planning a wedding is so that you can say “I do”. On the day of your dreams, you deserve to make those promises in the most romantic of settings. And in Combermere Abbey’s Edwardian Glasshouse, you can.

Setting The Scene

The jewel in the crown of this Cheshire wedding venue, the Edwardian Glasshouse is an exquisite setting for your ceremony. Combining period elegance with a modern, light-filled finish, this ceremony venue offers the best of, quite literally, everything.

You can marry in a light and bright but atmospheric space. You can personalise a blank canvas, while still treasuring the Glasshouse’s timeless backdrop. And best of all, you can feel the benefits of an outdoor wedding ceremony, whatever the weather, thanks to your views across the fruit tree maze. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that this Cheshire wedding venue is fit for royalty.

The Moment Arrives…

Picture the scene. You’ve spent the morning in your bridal suite, Stone Lodge, getting ready for the big moment and experiencing excited butterflies. Then, the time comes and your dedicated Crossley car arrives to drive you to the Edwardian Glasshouse. Your short journey takes you through the idyllic estate and into the romantic Victorian Walled Gardens.

Stepping from the car, you’ll enjoy the rare opportunity to share a moment with your bridesmaids and father in private, before the ceremony begins. Meander through the magical fruit tree maze as you make your way towards your soon-to-be spouse, who waits in the Glasshouse, at the centre of the maze. There can be few ceremony entrances as dreamy as this.

Then the moment arrives. Your guests stand, gasp and smile as you walk down the aisle. Beautiful, effortless, emotional… your wedding ceremony at Combermere Abbey will be everything you dreamed it could be.

Toasts With A Twist

But the magic of this Cheshire wedding venue doesn’t stop with the first flutter of confetti. After exchanging vows, throw open the glass doors and you and up to 120 guests will spill out into the heart of the fruit tree maze. In this truly unique setting – the only one of its kind in the world – you’ll raise your first toasts to married life. We’ll raise a glass to that.

After your wedding ceremony comes to a close, it’s time to celebrate! Find out more about our beautiful reception space, the Victorian Walled Garden Pavilion.

Dreaming of a wedding fit for royalty? With 1,000 years of history to Combermere Abbey’s name, this Cheshire wedding venue has the wow-factor and provides a fairy-tale setting for your love story and wedding day. In fact, an Empress of Austria even once proclaimed that Combermere Abbey was ‘the most romantic place’. With its exquisite Gothic façade, walled gardens and mile-long driveway, it’s easy to see why!

Exclusively Yours For The Day

When you say ‘I do’ to this Cheshire wedding venue for your dream day, every part of Combermere Abbey is yours for your celebrations. The entire estate, along with its ancient woodlands, beautiful gardens and even the UK’s largest private mere, will be yours to explore and enjoy. With this level of privacy and peacefulness in such a picturesque location, Cheshire brides and grooms can feel like they’re celebrating their very own royal wedding here.

An Experience Fit For Royalty

From the moment you begin your chauffeur-driven journey up the mile-long driveway, your wedding day will feel as special as a royal wedding. Stepping from the car, you and your bridal party make your way through the walled gardens. Wind your way through the fruit tree maze and into the idyllic 19th-century Edwardian Glasshouse. There aren’t many walks down the aisle as fairy-tale as this.

Exchange vows with the love of your life against a panoramic backdrop of the beautiful gardens. Then, it’s time to raise a glass as newlyweds in the fruit tree maze. A great talking point for guests, this maze is the only one of its kind in the world!

This Cheshire wedding venue’s purpose-built Pavilion sets the scene for a brilliant reception. The Pavilion offers Cheshire brides a blank canvas to bring to life with their personalities and theme.

Combermere Abbey also boasts a dedicated and welcoming team of wedding coordinators. These lovely ladies will be on hand to offer as much or little guidance as you like. They work tirelessly to bring your dreams to life, giving you the bespoke service your dream day deserves.

As the celebrations draw to a close, newlyweds will fall in love with their honeymoon suite in the North Wing. With a personal butler service and opulent rooms, you’ll start married life in luxury.

A Setting With Royal Connections

Having served as an abbey since the 16th-century, King Henry VIII chose to dissolve it. The Abbey then became property of Sir George Cotton, before later being sold to the Crossley family, who remain the owners to this very day. Few Cheshire wedding venues can rival Combermere Abbey’s heritage and history.

Even better, Combermere Abbey remains a hidden gem for Cheshire couples. This means that, when you tie the knot here, your guests will be blown away by their first impressions of the Abbey.

To see how our couples have celebrated in style, take a look at Hayley and Umesh’s Vibrant Wedding At Combermere Abbey.

When you’re basking in the glow of your engagement, all the elements of planning your wedding won’t quite dawn on you right away. But as you float down off your proposal cloud, the reality of wedding planning materialises. What flowers, food and outfits will you choose? More importantly, who would you like to attend your wedding and share your most special day with you?

The first port of call would be to draw up a list of your immediate family and close friends that you’ll have absolutely no doubts over inviting. Starting with your nearest and dearest will always help to kick start invitation process and will give you an initial idea of the size of your celebrations. But, of course, life isn’t so simple – it’s time to decide whether you will be giving guests the option to bring a plus one.

Friends and Family Only

If you have your heart set on keeping your wedding small and intimate, or perhaps looking to keep the budget down, there’s no reason why you couldn’t have a ‘no plus ones’ policy with your invitations. Having one blanket rule for all guests will prevent any complaints of bias, and will also ensure that no plans will be put in place for very early relationships which may not see it to the wedding day itself! Few things are more frustrating on the run up to the big day than a budget and table plan ruined by friends or family suddenly announcing that their plus one will no longer be attending.

The More the Merrier

On the other side is an open plus one policy for all guests. Although it may add a little element of uncertainty with new relationships, it will ensure that all wedding guests will be kept satisfied. If you and your guests are travelling for your wedding, guests may be more inclined to attend with a plus one as they could share the journey and save money on accommodation with a friend or partner. If you opt for an open plus one invite, you can still keep the ceremony and reception intimate and invite plus ones to the evening celebrations.

Keep it Flexible

A policy made popular by Pippa Middleton and James Matthews for their 2017 wedding, this rule only allows plus one guests for those who are married or engaged. Although this may feel a little outdated in 2018 with many couples in stable relationships simply choosing not to be wed for a variety of reasons – it has made the idea of having a flexible plus one guest policy more fashionable. It’s certainly easy to see why, as your plus one policy is completely tailored to you and your partner. You could only extend plus ones to those who you know are in long term, serious relationships; or only for family members; or only for those guests who won’t know anyone else there! It’s completely up to you…

Our main advice from all of us here at Combermere Abbey is to plan your wedding your way, to create the most magical day surrounded by all of your favourite people. No matter which plus one policy you opt for, it will be a day that will be remembered forever – so be sure to cherish every moment!

If you’d like to learn more about how Combermere Abbey can make your wedding dreams come true, get in touch with our wedding team today.

Updated 20.12.2022

Choosing the right wedding photographer for you is one of the most important decisions you have to make in your wedding planning journey. Your wedding photographs are the single best way to guarantee that every magical moment of your day is captured for you to remember, and look back on, forever.

But how do you select the right photographer for you?

How to select the Right Wedding Photographer for You

Style

Identifying your preferred photography style is one of the most important things to consider, so it’s time to start researching.

Some of the key styles of wedding photography you’ll come across include:

Documentary photography – this is where your photographer takes photos as candidly and naturally as possible, documenting your day as it happens. This style is great for those who hate having to stand, smile and pose when they’d much rather be mingling with a drink in hand!
Traditional photography – expect more typical, styled wedding photographs and portraiture which will include group photographs and posed photographs around your wedding venue and grounds.
Fine art photography – this is where each photograph is creatively crafted, with a focus on lighting, angles and composition.
Black and white – think about whether you’d like a mixture of colour and / or black and white photography, as some photographers will specialise in one or the other.

Normally one of the styles above will jump out at you once you start to build a shortlist of the photographers you like.

Budget

Set a realistic budget (the average is £1,600 – £2,000 – Hitched) to ensure you’re searching for the right calibre of photographer.

While £1,500 does sound like a lot of money, your photos are one of the most important things to invest in. You’ll have them for the rest of your lives.

Review portfolios

Once you have your shortlisted photographers (ideally between two and five), explore each of their portfolios to see which of them stand out to you as being most aligned with the vision you have for your wedding day photographs.

Arrange a meeting

Finally, the most important factor when deciding upon a wedding photographer is the relationship. Try to meet your preferred photographer/s in person.

Your photographer is going to be spending a whole day with you so you need to make sure that you gel. Meet them face-to-face, ask questions, discuss their portfolio and see how you feel around them. Do they put you at ease? Do you feel that they understand what you want? The more relaxed you are around your photographer, the more natural and at ease your photos will be.

Start exploring a selection of
Combermere Abbey’s preferred
wedding photographers today

If you want to make sure that all the little details for your wedding are done right, use our Planning Your Day and find the perfect suppliers.

It’s the biggest day of your life; your wedding day. Months of planning, saving and prepping has gone into making your big day the best ever, which you have chosen to share with your closest friends and family. After planning outfits, food, drink, music, speeches and so much more, the next question that the modern age of technology forces the wedding party to ask is: should there be a social media blackout?

There are many reasons for asking guests to not post pictures of your day on social media. Firstly, you’ve spent so much effort, time, and money to make your wedding look spectacular: you’ve spent weeks finding the perfect dress and suit, you’ve picked the colours and the flowers, and agonised over all of the little touches to make the day uniquely yours – only for a guest to try to take a quick snap on their phone at an inopportune moment! You pay a professional photographer so that the pictures of your wedding reflect how truly beautiful it was, a professional who knows how to take a great shot. As well-meaning as guests might be, they’re never going to be able to take as nice a shot on their smart phone, particularly when you aren’t expecting a picture!

Secondly, few people would want their image put out there on the internet without their consent. You wouldn’t be happy if your friend uploaded to Instagram a picture of you mid-mouthful at dinner, or a colleague Snapchatted a shot of you with a furrowed brow, hard at work at your desk, without checking with you first if it was okay to put your image out there onto the web – it feels invasive. So why should it be any different at a wedding?

Finally, once an image is out there on social media, you just don’t know who’s going to see it. If your school friend shares an image of you and your new spouse, it won’t just be going out to all of your mutual friends, it will be going out to all of their friends, and their friends of friends. Many couples want to keep such a special day just for themselves and their guests – not for their guest’s uncle’s ex-dog sitter to have a look at!

However, a social media blackout isn’t for everyone. Some couples actively encourage their guests to take and upload pictures, as it means that they can see images of the big day before the long wait for the photographer’s images to come through. Another reason why a couple may not want a social media ban is that they’re proud of the effort that they’ve put into their wedding, and they’re more than happy for the world to know how great it was! Some are even giving guests a hashtag to use, so that they can easily find all of their guests’ photos.

Another argument for not enforcing a blanket ban on social media is the potential difficulty the couple might encounter when enforcing the rule. Some people may not take kindly to being told what they can and cannot do with their own devices on their own social pages. If it’s a worry that some guests won’t comply, what can be done? If guests can’t be trusted to follow the couple’s wishes, should the wedding party ask all guests to give up their phones for the ceremony and reception, and can retrieve them at the end of the day? This seems a little extreme, and may affect the mood of the day if guests are disgruntled at having to give up what has become a lifeline to many people.

At the end of the day, your wedding is yours, which you are choosing to share with a selection of your nearest and dearest. Couples are completely within their rights to ask guests to keep it intimate and special by not having the day publicly broadcast to the world, and any guests worth inviting should understand and support this privacy. But if social media is something you’re keen to be a part of, make the most of it and encourage your guests to try to take the best photos they can of the day for you all to share and remember!

If you’re looking for more tips to make sure your wedding day is the best it can be, take a look at Planning Your Day and see how we can help you.

There’s something undeniably romantic about garden weddings. Set in the midst of nature, often no amount of indoor décor can match the natural beauty of the great outdoors. That’s why more and more couples are choosing to have their nuptials outside, shunning the more traditional churches and town halls.

Here at Combermere Abbey, you can find yourself lost in an abundance of gardens, an outdoor world that features a mile-long walk through the ancient oaks and parkland to the walled gardens, the world’s only fruit tree maze, the pleasure gardens and carpets of bluebells.

Nestled at the heart of our historic estate lies the natural lake of Comber Mere. As the largest private English lake it covers 140 acres and is a truly breathtaking backdrop for any wedding photography. Herons and swans glide gracefully across the tranquil water which sparkle with romance in the setting sun.

The walled gardens are reminiscent of the old way of life and each has been lovingly restored to reflect different aspects of the grounds. Covering over five acres, they provide a perfect break out area whether your wedding is indoors or out. The 20-foot canopy of cherry blossoms provide an enchanting photo opportunity as the satin petals billow down like nature’s confetti.

Our magical fruit tree maze – the only one in the world – was created by respected international designers and surrounds the beautifully restored Victorian Glasshouse, which boasts a 180-degree view of this unique maze. For a truly individual and intimate day, we offer marriage ceremonies right in the centre.

Having an outdoor wedding provides an abundance of ways to add your own personal touches to your day and allows you to tailor the grounds to your own theme; adorning the trees and grounds with fairy lights adds an enchanting feel, whilst lanterns, bunting, candles and confetti helps create a truly magical setting. For those looking for inspiration, have a look at some of our garden wedding Pinterest boards.

Whether you want to say ‘I do’ outside or want an extension of your reception area, garden wedding venues have something for all with amazing photo backdrops, breathtaking landscapes and the simple joy and glory brought be being in the fresh air of the English countryside.

Get in touch with us today and let us help you create your perfect garden wedding at Combermere Abbey.

Almost as exciting as the wedding itself is the planning of the honeymoon. We know it’s not always feasible to jet away immediately to the Maldives for two weeks and this is where the minimoon comes in. Long enough to provide that romantic escape, but short enough to not burden anyone with the dog for too long…

So whether your idea of romance is a stroll in the rural countryside or cocktails at sunset, the United Kingdom isn’t short of a romantic spot or two. Here are some of our favourites…

Guernsey

Guernsey has so much to offer whatever time of year you visit. Food and drink is celebrated across the island and you’ll struggle to find better seafood anywhere else in the world. Why not hire a boat and go island hopping? Nothing is quite as romantic as sipping Champagne on a boat at sunset. Fascinating historical sites and wild coastal countryside provide the perfect relaxing backdrop whilst offering plenty to explore. Why not stay at the Bella Luce, an independent and family run luxury small hotel set in a historic Norman manor house just minutes from Guernsey’s stunning coastline. Completing the ideal romantic setting.

Isle of Wight

Make the trip across the water and experience the sense of relaxation that keeps its visitors coming back year after year. Why not consider something a bit different and ramp up the romance, with luxury glamping. Staying in your own safari tent equipped with shower, comfy beds and cosy fires as you stargaze from your private outdoor hot tub.

Isle of Skye, Scotland

Undulant and unspoilt, the rugged coastlines of Skye boast some of Scotland’s most captivating scenery. The island’s main town, Portree, is a picturesque town of colourful harbour buildings, boutique shops and cosy, inviting pubs and provides the perfect base to explore from. Adventurers should head for the enchanting Fairy Pools near Glen Brittle – an unforgettable spot to try wild swimming. Skye is also home to the Talisker Distillery, their whisky tour is perfect for warming up after a day in the wild mountains.

London

A cultural hub with an edge, London provides the ultimate city break. Avoid the crowds at The Shard and book a table for sunset at the Duck and Waffle on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower. Follow with rooftop cocktails at the stunning Sushisamba or try Madison’s simply for the magnificent views of St Paul’s Cathedral. For a more casual dining experience head to Borough Market on the Southbank or pack the bubbles and take a quintessentially British picnic to Hampstead Heath.

Cheshire

One of the most romantic counties in the UK (although we might be biased), Cheshire provides the idyllic backdrop for a country escape. Here at Combermere Abbey we have a selection of beautifully historic and idyllically peaceful accommodation. A stay in the North Wing transports you to a place where history, beauty and luxury combine to create a truly unforgettable experience where you wake up to breathtaking views of the mere.

If you were lucky enough to be married at Combermere Abbey, the North Wing provides the perfect anniversary break, bringing you back to the enchanting place where it all began…

Find out about booking our luxurious accommodation by getting in touch with us today.

A Wedding Venue For Your Guests

A-Maze Your Guests

Let The Games Begin

Party Time!

Sweet Dreams

Setting Up The Ceremony – It’s All About The Glasshouse

Setting The Scene

The Moment Arrives…

Toasts With A Twist

A Wedding Venue Fit For A Royal Wedding

Exclusively Yours For The Day

An Experience Fit For Royalty

A Setting With Royal Connections

Plus one etiquette: saying yes to the guest

Friends and Family Only

The More the Merrier

Keep it Flexible

Why you should have a videographer on your wedding day

How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Photographer

How to select the Right Wedding Photographer for You

Style

Budget

Review portfolios

Arrange a meeting

Start exploring a selection of
Combermere Abbey’s preferred
wedding photographers today

Should you have a social media blackout on your wedding day?

The beauty of garden weddings

Romantic minimoon destinations in the UK

Guernsey

Isle of Wight

Isle of Skye, Scotland

London

Cheshire

A Wedding Venue For Your Guests

A-Maze Your Guests

Let The Games Begin

Party Time!

Sweet Dreams

Setting Up The Ceremony – It’s All About The Glasshouse

Setting The Scene

The Moment Arrives…

Toasts With A Twist

A Wedding Venue Fit For A Royal Wedding

Exclusively Yours For The Day

An Experience Fit For Royalty

A Setting With Royal Connections

Plus one etiquette: saying yes to the guest

Friends and Family Only

The More the Merrier

Keep it Flexible

Why you should have a videographer on your wedding day

How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Photographer

How to select the Right Wedding Photographer for You

Style

Budget

Review portfolios

Arrange a meeting

Start exploring a selection ofCombermere Abbey’s preferredwedding photographers today

Should you have a social media blackout on your wedding day?

The beauty of garden weddings

Romantic minimoon destinations in the UK

Guernsey

Isle of Wight

Isle of Skye, Scotland

London

Cheshire

Start exploring a selection of
Combermere Abbey’s preferred
wedding photographers today