Huddersfield venue Woodman Inn offers roadmap-proof weddings
Credit: Anna Beth Photography
The recent government update to its roadmap, while disappointing for many, is good news for weddings. However, with so much uncertainty, The Woodman Inn, Thunderbridge, has come up with an iron-clad, roadmap-proof plan to make sure the only hitch to the perfect day will be that of the couple.
The Woodman Inn is a family-owned country inn with rooms, a well-stocked bar, fantastic menu and a reputation as one of West Yorkshire top wedding venues. Events director and wedding planner extraordinaire, Jordan Lee, spent lockdown talking to brides and grooms offering online viewings, and Instagram Live's 'meet the expert' masterclasses: from choosing the perfect dress and floral arrangements to designing the ultimate wedding breakfast.
This dedication for future couples to choose The Woodman Inn as the place to seal their nuptials has paid off. Following a year of disappointment, weddings are filling the diary once again. As we watch the roadmap stages with bated breath, Jordan and his team have developed a number of wedding packages to successfully navigate any sudden alterations to guest numbers, social distancing rules and the can-you-can't-you dance the night away queries!
Credit: Photography by Kathryn
The Country Room The small but perfectly formed wedding is a speciality for Jordan and the team. The Country Room above The Woodman Inn is just the right size for those more intimate affairs, perfectly accommodating between 20 to 80 guests, following a complete refurbishment during lockdown with the creative flair of local interior design team Hardy & Day. A contemporary and soothing Parson Stone, which complements the beautiful countryside surroundings of the Inn, nestling on the foothills of the South Pennines, cover the walls. They've focussed on bringing the outdoors in, with lots of delightful rustic touches, terracotta pots, greenery and plants, framed by gorgeous stone mullion windows and a spot for the baby grand piano (and player) to provide a romantic ambience.
Credit: Photography by Kathryn
The Garden Room Originally a white wedding and events marquee, as we moved out of lockdown, The Garden Room was transformed into an exquisite outdoor space – providing the perfect spot for outdoor cover to enjoy a pint and plate of something tasty to eat. It's now a wooden wedding space, complete with rattan lighting, lots of natural bamboo, hessian swags and olive trees, planting and herbs. We have learned to love the outdoors over recent months and the Garden Room perfectly captures the mood. It can comfortably cater for up to 150 guests, situated within its very own gardens, encapsulating the great outdoors. As restrictions lessen, the floor space can open up for more than just the happy couple's first dance.
Credit: Photography by Kathryn
Thunderbridge Gardens Set in the tiny hamlet of Thunderbridge, a conservation area nestling in the foothills of the South Pennines, Thunderbridge Gardens provides the perfect picturesque backdrop for wedding photos and videos. Surrounded by a beautiful canopy of ancient woodland, a babbling stream and an 18th Century Inn, it's really hard to take a bad photo with all of these ingredients at your fingertips and it makes for a wonderful and memorable setting.
Fully licensed to hold civil weddings it's not just the gorgeous setting and attention to detail that makes The Woodman Inn the perfect place to say, 'I do', Head Chef, Andy Lynam, and the talented kitchen team are on hand to create the most mouth-watering of wedding breakfasts. With a selection of hand-picked suppliers and using the finest locally sourced, seasonal produce, there's a menu to tickle the most discerning of tastebuds.
After such a long time and so many disappointments for those wanting to tie the knot, the flexible packages at the Woodman Inn mean happy couples can book with confidence as events director Jordan Lee explains: "We've kept in touch with couples during lockdown to help them decide how to create their perfect day. We've come up with a selection of wedding packages to give them the reassurance that they can book to book with confidence.
"We have certainly learned to be flexible and resilient over the last year, and we have designed the spaces so that they can be adapted, regardless of any roadmap changes, so that our couples can still enjoy a wonderful wedding. We're on hand to help make their dreams come true - so they can tie the knot without worrying about any future changes."
The Woodman Inn is holding a wedding open day on Sunday 4th July 12pm – 4pm, so prospective couples can see for themselves. Visitors are advised to book ahead to comply with current guidance by emailing events@woodman-inn.com or call 01484 605778.
New UK map reveals Brits’ favourite proposal spots according to social media
National family-owned jeweller, Beaverbrooks, has unveiled a new map revealing the 15 best places in the UK to pop the question, based on Instagram hashtag data. Whether it's against a backdrop of dramatic coastlines, rolling countryside or iconic city skylines, choosing the perfect place to propose is almost as overwhelming as choosing the ring. To help partners looking to ask the all-important question to their other halves, Beaverbrooks has created a new 'Proposal Map of the UK', making it easier than ever to find an idyllic location.
READ ARTICLE
Why more couples are letting the coast shape their wedding day
For couples planning a wedding, the setting is increasingly becoming more than a backdrop. Research from WeddingDates found that 78% of UK couples consider location an important factor when choosing a venue, with more than a third specifically influenced by the view. Rockwater, the UK coastal hospitality brand with beachfront venues in Hove and Branksome, says this is helping reshape how couples approach weddings by the water. Rather than simply choosing a coastal venue and then planning the celebration independently of it, couples are increasingly allowing the landscape, changing light and relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces to influence the day itself. Rockwater has identified four of the key considerations shaping modern coastal weddings.
READ ARTICLE
Something old, something gone: The British wedding traditions on borrowed time
New Aspall research reveals the wedding traditions that are being dropped - from the bouquet toss and choreographed first dances, to the father-of-the-bride speech - and the modern alternatives taking their place. Speeches given only by men (36%), a choreographed first dance (34%) and the formal receiving line (30%) are among the wedding traditions that couples are keenest to ditch, a new study reveals. Wearing a veil, the 15-minute father-of-the-bride speech with no speech from the bride, and the traditional tiered fruit cake are also increasingly falling out of favour as Brits tie the knot, researchers found.
READ ARTICLE
New app launches to simplify one of marriage’s biggest admin headaches
Changing your name after marriage can mean updating details with countless organisations, from banks and subscriptions to official documents and employers. New app Name Change Navigator aims to make the process easier, guiding newlyweds through each step from one platform. Founded by Rebecca Dainton, Head of Product at Flutter UK & Ireland, the app was created to reduce the stress and mental load associated with name changes. It supports a range of naming journeys, including traditional surname changes, double-barrelling, blended surnames and other choices following marriage, civil partnership, divorce or personal identity changes. The launch comes as younger generations increasingly rethink traditional naming conventions, with technology offering a more streamlined approach to this often-overlooked part of newlywed life.
