Planning your Wedding

Your ceremony at the hotel

We suggest your guests arrive 20/30 minutes prior to your ceremony. Your guests will be ushered into the ceremony room prior to the arrival of the bride. Following a short interview with the registrar (either individually or together) the bridal party can prepare for their entrance into the ceremony room to your chosen music. After your ceremony and the signing of the register the bride and groom leave the ceremony room together followed by their guests for drinks and canapés in the garden.

Your Drinks reception

On your arrival at the hotel or following your ceremony, drinks and canapés can be served while photographs are being taken

The wedding meal

Once you have completed your photographs we would ask the Best Man to usher your guests into the Restaurant. If you would prefer a formal greeting, you may assemble a Receiving Line (this usually consists of Bride and Groom, their parents, Best Man and Bridesmaids). When you have greeted your guests they will be shown to their seats.

Suggested layout for top table:

When all your guests are seated, the Best Man asks your guests to be upstanding to receive the Bride and Groom, usually accompanied by applause. If required, the Best Man may call upon the Minister or nominated guest to say Grace.

Speeches

After the wedding meal we will ask the Best Man to announce the cutting of the cake. The cake will then be removed for cutting. The cake and coffee will be served after your speeches.
The usual order of speeches is as follows:

• The Bride's Father (relative or close family friend) proposes a toast to the Bride and Groom.
• The Bridegroom replies and proposes a toast to the Bridesmaids.
• The Best Man replies on behalf of the Bridesmaids and finishes his speech by reading out the cards and telegrams.

Departure for honeymoon

Normally the Bride and Groom retire to change about 30 minutes before their departure.

Evening function

If you are continuing into the evening we would ask that your guests move to the lounge or garden to enable us to clear the restaurant and reorganise the tables ready for your evening reception.