COUPLES getting married are going for extended weddings with celebrations lasting a few days says one award-winning Somerset venue this month.
Dunkery Beacon Country House Hotel near Dunster, which is a boutique hotel with a multi-award-winning restaurant, says it is seeing an increase in interest for three-day celebrations.
Jane Bradley, who co-owns the business with her husband John, explained: “Newlyweds wishing to spread the fun are going for an extended party. It’s getting very popular for couples to want the event to go on for a few days, rather than just focus on one BIG day.
Couples now want weddings that extend over a few days
“Brides often say that it all went so fast they forgot to enjoy it and they get a bit fed-up afterwards because they really wanted some time to just live in the moment. Many couples these days pay for their own weddings too and are the host and hostess of the event, so they say it’s hard to relax. Lots say it’s very much like Christmas, when the build-up is phenomenal and you have to cram too much into one day, so by extending the celebrations everyone gets to enjoy everything much more.”
Built originally around 1900 as a hunting lodge, Dunkery Beacon Country House is now a 21st century award-winning hotel that caters for highly fashionable bijou weddings, which involve the party taking over the whole establishment.
“Being based in Somerset, very often our weekend weddings are booked by couples who live elsewhere and are travelling to us. Many of the guests may well already have arranged to have at least two nights away for the event, so extending the wedding isn’t often too much of an issue. But equally for locals, we find many have the Friday off work before the wedding, particularly if there are rehearsals to attend, so if the party lasts from Friday to Sunday it doesn’t upset things too much.
“The beauty of our set up is that we have enough rooms so most of the main wedding party can stay in the hotel and it’s like having a house party with everyone together. It’s great fun!”
The hotel has eight twin and double bedrooms with bathrooms, all with modern décor and furnishings, which still retain the character of the property and its period features.
The wedding couple can check into the romantic Premier Four Poster suite, with a bay window, while other guests can book into the rest of the hotel’s luxury rooms.
“We provide the perfect setting for a country-style wedding with lovely backdrops for photos. We have a pretty garden that is a picture in the summer.
“We are happy to discuss menu options with wedding groups such as canapes and a drink reception followed by a formal sit-down meal, or a more informal buffet style offering. We’re able to suggest a local musician to provide some entertainment too.
“But we’re also great as a honeymoon hideaway. Newlyweds can cuddle up in front of the hotel’s log burning stove, sleep in a four-poster bed, dine by candlelight, star gaze, walk hand-in-hand on a sandy beach and even take a trip on a steam train.”
To find out more about Dunkery Beacon Country House, please call 01643 841 241 or visit www.dunkerybeaconaccommodation.co.uk.
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