Wedding FAQ's

Q. Are there B&Bs and hotels in the area for my wedding guests?

A. Yes, this area is a holiday destination and has a very wide variety of B&Bs, hotels, self catering cottages, camp sites and camping barns. The details for accommodation can be found on the wedding guest information page of this website.

Q. Will there be taxis available on the night to take wedding guests back to their accommodation?

A. Guests will need to have pre-booked their taxi for their return journey. Guests will normally book the taxi they came in for the return trip. There is a list of taxi, mini bus and coach hire companies on the wedding guest information page on this website.

Q. We are not local residents; can we still get married at your local church?

A. Our local vicar, who looks after four local churches, is happy to marry people from outside the area. Just meet up with him and ask.

Q. My partner has been married before/ has a child by a previous relationship/ is not Church of England, can we still get married in your local church?

A. Our vicar is delighted to meet all couples wishing to marry in one of his churches. He is very friendly, you just need to meet up with him and talk over your request.

Q. Can we have a wedding with just the two of us?

A. Yes,  we have a link from the Brides information page for a special package for guest free weddings.

Q. Are you licenced for civil ceremonies?

A. Yes, there are several rooms at the Lodge to choose from which are licensed for civil wedding ceremonies, these include the marquee, a designated wedding room overlooking the gardens and the drawing room of the Lodge.

Q. Can we get married outside?

A. We have two outdoor areas - the archway in the garden and the stone temple on an island on one of our lakes - which enable couples to marry in a civil ceremony "outside". The Bride, Groom and Registrars have to be in the licensed structure but the guests are seated outdoors.

Q. Can we have our dog/cat present at the wedding ceremony?

A. We are happy to have pets at the ceremony but the final decision lies with the Registrar.

Q. Can I book any Registrar to come to the Lodge to conduct a civil ceremony?

A. Only a Registrar from the Penrith Registrary Office can conduct a ceremony here. You will need to telephone them to book the ceremony date and time.

Q. Do I get to meet in advance the Registrar who will be conducting the ceremony?

A. It is unlikely. Having booked the ceremony with the Penrith Registrars you will then be asked to attend an appointment at your local Registrars Office, they will ask you to bring certain documents with you. The legal paperwork is then processed at your local office.You will be sent a written copy of the ceremony wording. On the wedding day the Registrars arrive at the Lodge half an hour before the ceremony and meet both the bride and groom separately.

Q. What happens if I am running late before the ceremony?

A. If you are having a church ceremony then no one will mind if you are five or ten minutes late, much later than this and the Grooms stress levels will soar and guests will become fed up waiting. Civil ceremonies have to run strictly to time though, the Registrars cannot arrive late for their next ceremony. If you aim to be ready half an hour or more before you actually need to then you will be able to relax and enjoy getting ready and should have plenty of time to spare. Your photographer can then start taking photos of an excited, not frantic, bride before the ceremony.

Q. How many cars can park at the Lodge?

A. We have parking for an unlimited number of cars. Cars park near the stables so there will be no cars in the background of your wedding photos.

Q. If we get married in one of your local churches is it easier if our guests arrive at the Lodge and get taken to the church and back again by coach?

A. It will take the same time if they drive or go by coach. The coach - especially if it one of the vintage coaches - is much more fun though and is great for photos. Guests coming in taxis will find it much easier with a coach. Guests who are driving can simply park their car in the car park at the Lodge and have a drink before going to the church. The vintage coach company we use has lots of coaches and buses for hire, you can choose from a variety of vintages and colours.

Q. If guests want to drive to my wedding but take a taxi back at night can they leave their car at the Lodge until the following day?

A. Yes.

Q. Can we throw confetti at the Lodge?

A.Yes, as long as it is outdoors.

Q. Should I ask the Registrars to stay for a drink after the ceremony finishes?

A. Its a kind thought but the Registrars are normally on a tight schedule with many ceremonies a day to conduct. As soon as the ceremony is finished they leave immediately to go to the next one.

Q. Should I ask the vicar to come to the reception and wedding breakfast, should I ask his wife as well?

A. I'm sure they will be delighted to be asked and they just may be free to attend for a while.

Q. If we choose a set main course can there be an alternative vegetarian option?

A. Of course. It would be very unusual if there were no vegetarians in a group. All we need to know is how many vegetarians there will be.

Q. Can we change a buffet menu and have some items from other menus?

A. Certainly. Feel free to give us a list of what you want and we will price up your own individual menu for you.

Q. We have a number of children coming, what do we do about food for them?

A. Children under ten are half price, if you are choosing a buffet main course you will not have to worry about what they will and will not eat.

Q. What meal do you personally recommend that would suit everyone?

A. A served starter, a buffet main course, a served pudding, followed by coffee. This means that you do not need to enquire about guests dietary requirements and you do not need to worry about what they do or don't like. The buffet can be tailor made to suit you and your guests and can provide hot and cold food. The served starter and pudding make the wedding breakfast very smart and the buffet main course keeps the meal relaxed and friendly.

Q. Would there be a long queue for the buffet?

A. No. The head waitress invites just one table at a time to the buffet table, starting with the top table. It takes no longer to serve the meal this way and is much more relaxing.

Q. What happens if we choose a BBQ meal and it rains?

A. The food would be cooked under cover.

Q. How many weeks in advance do you need to know the final guest numbers?

A. The caterers need to know numbers no less than two weeks in advance to put in their food order. Once their order has been made you cannot reduce the number of meals you have ordered, however they will do their best to provide extra meals ordered right up to the last day.

Q. Should I book a Master of Ceremonies?

A. Master of Ceremonies is not expensive and you get his services throughout the whole day and evening. He makes all the announcements you need and adds a lot of style to your day. At night he will help your guests into their taxis. The master of Ceremonies we recommend, John Dawson, will meet you the day before the wedding to run through your plans and will rehearse with guests who will be making speeches.

Q.Why do I need insurance?

A. When you book the venue (and services such as musicians, a photographer, horses and carriage etc.) you are entering into a contract. If you found that for a genuine reason you needed to cancel you would need insurance cover to either recoup money already paid or pay out monies that you were liable for. On the wedding day the liability cover and marquee cover protects you incase you or a guest had an expensive accident. Insurance cover will also cover you for all sorts of other things which occasionally proves invaluable.

Q. Should I book a band or a D.J?

A. The choice is yours but find out what you will get and how much the total cost will be to help you make up your mind. Most bands play two forty five minute sets and are often five times the price of a D.J. who will normally play for around four hours. Bear in mind also that a band normally has a set list of what they are going to play and will play this regardless of whether it is going down well with the guests or not. A D.J can quickly change the music if guests aren't dancing.

Q.What happens if it rains?

A. The marquee is central to the reception so guests will be able to enjoy themselves just as much inside. The photographer will take just as many photographs and will have more time to take photos of family groups inside the Lodge. If the garden is not an option. All the horses and carriages and vintage Rolls Royces we recommend have a roof. We have a lot of huge white umbrellas ready and waiting!

Q. What time do we have to check out by on the Sunday?

A. There is no set time that guests need to have left by. If  any bedrooms are needed for new guests that night then the occupants of the bedrooms will be notified in advance but they may still enjoy the reception rooms and garden.

Q. Do you think I should bother with a seating plan?

A. Definitely. If guests know where to sit you will avoid arguments and a mad scramble for a place. Be prepared that a few guests may discreetly change their name cards round though!

Q. I'm not sure if I like the idea of a long top table, can we use a circular one instead?

A. Of course you can. However the long top table does have great advantages - you get to sit and relax looking out at all your guests and can enjoy every moment, if you sit at a round table you can only see the guests on your table. The bridal party look fantastic at a long top table and it is simple for anyone making a speech. Your guests may like to take a few photos of you sitting at a long top table when you first sit down but during the meal no one is watching you eat, they are all in conversation with the guests on their round table. Everyone on a long top table is an important person who has had a busy day, by sitting in a line you can happily enjoy your meal without feeling obliged to continually chat to the person either side of you. On a round table you feel that a conversation needs to be kept going and you don't get a break from a day of non stop talking! By the time you get to sit down for the wedding breakfast you will not feel self conscious, you are looking your best, everyone will have been looking at you all day and you will have had hundreds of photographs taken of you, you will have got used to being the centre of attention and a top table will seem a natural choice.

Q. Who sits next to who on a top table?

A.The traditional seating plan is as follows, sometimes the Bride's and Groom's parents prefer to sit next to their own partners:

Best Man
Groom's mother
Bride's father
Bride
Bridegroom
Bride's mother
Groom's father
Chief bridesmaid

However the traditional family rarely exists and you may find you need a very different arrangement. If you have problems with divorced and remarried parents I would advise each set of parents with their new partners to host their own table and have a top table of brothers, sisters and best friends.

Q. How many guests sit round a circular table and how many on a top table?

A. The circular tables are five feet in diameter. The standard number a hotel seats on these tables is ten. However if you have 120 guests or less then you are better having eight guests per table and using more tables. We have fourteen circular tables and lots of rectangular tables seating either eight or ten. The long top table can be made to seat the number you require, eight or ten is the average number.

Q. Do we have to have speeches?

A. No, although speeches are traditional there is no obligation to have them. However it is a good idea to still have someone make a short announcement thanking guests for coming etc. and then toasting the Bride and Groom.

Q. Do we have to have a cutting of the cake ceremony?

A. No, the cake can simply be on display during the reception and then taken away to be cut up at an appropriate time. However it is the only time that your guests will have to take a photo of the Bride, Groom and the cake. It makes a feature of the cake that may have cost quite a lot of money and may have been made by one of the guests present. It is normally the the best man who simply announces that the cake is to be cut, no further speeches follow. The Bride and Groom only have to stand by the cake holding the cake knife we provide and wait until everyone has all the photos they want. They are so used to having their photograph taken by this time they are quite at ease. The cake is later taken away to be cut up. 

Q. Do the musicians and photographer expect to have a meal provided for them?

A. This will very much depend on what was agreed at the time of booking. If they are working long hours and meals are served whilst they are at work they are likely to expect to be provided for. It is best to clarify meal arrangements with them early on. A platter of sandwiches and nibbles can be provided for them rather than a four course meal, they can sit in the room adjoining the marquee. They should definitely not be drinking alcohol whilst working so you should not have to offer any drinks package to them. It might seem that it is pushing the price of their services up but providing a meal for them does create a lot of good will in return.

Q. How long in advance should I book a photographer?

A. It is never too early to book a photographer or any other service provider such as musicians, cake makers etc. The nearer you get to the date of your wedding the harder it will become to find someone that you really like that is available. Booking the service providers you require early on gives you plenty of choice and takes the stress out of planning your big day. It is always easier to cancel someone (and loose a deposit) if you find someone even better than to try to find anyone available at the last moment.

Q. Some friends of ours might be able to provide a band for the evening would this be O.k?

A. If they are a professional band, have public liability insurance, will not be drinking alcohol until after they have finished playing in the evening and won't let you down at the last minute then it sounds a great idea. We have found over the years that friends who do the wedding cake / flowers / wedding favours / hand made place cards and other things that are done in advance of the wedding day normally try really hard and do a great job. Although they may not always be quite as good as a professional they can add a great personal touch to a family occasion. Unfortunately much of our experience of friends helping out on the wedding day itself such as providing the musical entertainment or being the photographer has not been good. Often someone has dropped out quite near to the wedding date (maybe they got a well paid booking that they could not refuse), casual bands have often fallen out with each other and are no longer together, they decide that they would rather come as a guests and enjoy the day without having to work or their services on the day are nothing like as good as when someone has been paid to do it. If you book and pay for a professional to do a job on the day you can expect a high level of service, you can ask for exactly what you want and not feel awkward about it and on the day they will not be distracted by wanting to sit down with a drink and chat to other guests. On the wedding day I think you are either a guest or you are working.

Q. Do I need a flower arrangement for each table?

A. We provide bay tree decorations and pretty silk flowers (which match the marquee) in terracotta pots for the table centres. However you might have another colour theme or other ideas you want to do. Often brides use our decorations for the guest tables and their own decorations for the top table.

Q. Are dried rose petals or metallic confetti shapes a good idea to scatter across the tables?

A. They are a popular decoration nowadays. They do look good on a white tablecloth laid with just glasses and cutlery. But be warned - as soon as guests arrive and start putting drinks, cameras, bags etc on the table the scattered decorations can make the tables look quite messy and they soon start going all over the floor. When the food is served it looks a lot nicer if the table still looks tidy. If buying rose petals I would definitely recommend testing to see what happens if they get wet, if someone spills a drink on the table in the middle of a meal the petal dye can make the table look really awful.

Q.When should I throw my bouquet?

A. When the evenings entertainment finishes the singer or D.J can announce that the Bride is about to throw the bouquet and they ask all the unmarried girls to gather on the dance floor. After the bouquet has been thrown is the ideal time for the Bride and Groom to make a grand exit and retire for their wedding night. Staying on after this will entail trying to say thank you and goodbye to everyone, this is best left to the parents.

Q. Can we bring a high chair?

A. Yes, please bring any baby equipment you need.

Q. I've booked a mobile hairdresser and make up artist to come to the Lodge on the wedding morning. When do you think I should I have the trial done?

A. Ideally about four o'clock in the afternoon the day before the wedding. By this time you can have finished with any decorations and place names in the marquee. You can then relax and be pampered. By the time guests arrive you will be looking fabulous. By being the last appointment that afternoon and the first appointment the next day the make up artist and hairdresser will not forget exactly how you want to look.

Q. On the evening before the wedding there will be about twenty of us who want an evening meal together, where do you suggest we book ?

A. The Fox & Pheasant is a wonderful country pub serving great food. There is a spectacular walk along the river in front of the pub if you have time. They do B&B as well so some of your guests will probably be staying here overnight. The Platinum Chinese Restaurant in the centre of Penrith is also a very good choice. On Fridays you have the option to order as much as you like from an extensive menu for a set price per head.

Q. Does the bar serve real ale?

A. Real ale can be very popular with some groups but not drunk at all by others, as it does not keep we do not stock it all the time. However you can order it in advance, please see the wedding drinks link on the Brides information page of the web site.

Q. There are quite a few of the younger guests that would like to party to dawn, any suggestions?

A. Let me know in advance how many guests might like to continue partying and I will either get them VIP passes or put them on the guest list at one of Carlisle's top clubs.

Q. How should I decide who to invite to stay overnight at the Lodge?

A. Parents normally get asked first. Elderly relatives and children also appreciate being able to stay at the  Lodge, they can have a nap during the course of the day and then be able to enjoy the evenings entertainment.

Q. Once I have booked the venue can I change the date if necessary?

A. A lot of dates get changed as Brides find that the original date does not suit the honeymoon plans or a favourite relative or service provider cannot attend that day. As long as the new date is available you can swap your date as often as you like, there is no charge.