my dorset - sunninghill weddings & events · 14 jacky's top planning tips 16 a rainy day...

MY DORSET

at Sunninghil l I S S U E T W O | 2 0 2 0

Your wedding, Any seasonFIND OUT WHY SUNNINGHILL REALLY IS THE VENUE FOR ALL SEASONS

Expert Planning

AdviceWEDDING EXPERT

JACKY SHARES HER PRO TIPS FOR

PLANNING YOUR DAY

Going GreenHOW YOU CAN BE MORE MINDFUL WITH YOUR WEDDING

Above Photo by Dan Roads Photography

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C O N T E N T S

Front and Back Cover Photos by TP Photography

3sunninghillweddings.com

C O N T E N T S

4 All About Sunninghill

8 Ceremonies by Candlelight

10 A Year Round Wedding Venue

14 Jacky's Top Planning Tips

16 A Rainy Day Plan

Thank you for discovering Sunninghill, Dorchester’s “hidden gem” for your wedding ceremony and ongoing wedding celebrations.

We hope you like our new magazine-style wedding venue brochure which we have packed full of interesting styling options, photoshoot features at the venue showcasing the possibilities for your wedding, and, of course, information about our venue hire fees and catering options.

To see more from us, you can follow our social media for ideas, tips and news throughout the year.

Enjoy the read and please get in touch to book a show around!

JackyJacky Walker

Event Manager for

Sunninghill Weddings

Welcome to SUNNINGHILL

WEDDINGS

17 Your Wedding Itinerary

18 Enhanced Tablescapes

20 Mindful Wedding Dressing: An Introduction

22 Living Greenery Styling

23 Extending The Growing Season

24 British Flowers by Season

26 Let's Meet: Whitestem

28 No Floral Foam

29 Reusing & Repurposing Wedding Flowers

30 Contemporary Outdoor Wedding Breakfast: A Photoshoot

34 Rituals for an Alternative Ceremony

36 Family Friendly Weddings

38 Our Hire Fees

40 Food & Drink Options

42 Complimentary Wedding Planning

Front and Back Cover Photos by TP Photography


SUNNINGHILL IS a Grade II listed building built in a

Victorian Gothic style by local architects G.R Crickmay. This company is recognised today as one of the major influencers in historic Dorchester’s development as the town

centre moved westwards, away from its Roman origins. A blue plaque is found on the main entrance to the house reflecting its historical importance.

South Court was built as a family home for Alfred Pope, founder of the town’s

renowned Eldridge Pope Brewery and leading benefactor including donations made to the Dorset County Museum.

Set within its own walled garden, the grounds are laid mainly to lawn and framed by mature trees including Walnut, Ginko Biloba, Cyprus and avenue of Limes.

Both the house and its grounds provide the perfect backdrop for your wedding, including unique features such as:

Above The South Court in summer

Right Inner Entrance Arch Photo by Wimborne Photography

The double height stained glass oriel windows which places you high in the tree canopy. The intricately carved inner entrance arch.

The working fireplaces ornately decorated in brass and wooden carvings.

The Grand Staircase

The Portland Stone and glass conservatory with vaulted roof.

WELCOME TO SOUTH COURT, THE HOUSE AND GROUNDS OF SUNNINGHILL WEDDINGS VENUE AND HOME TO SUNNINGHILL PREP SCHOOL ON SOUTH WALKS IN DORCHESTER TOWN CENTRE.

H I S TO R I C , R O M A N T I C

Charm


Above The Oriel Window

Photo by Jim Johnson Photography

Left Historic Significance

Below

Wood Carving Photo by Hedgehog Video

“Sunninghill is

a hidden gem, a

venue steeped in

rich history but

with a modern

approach”

A WEDDING LIKE NO OTHER

Sunninghill is a hidden gem, a venue steeped in rich history but with a modern approach. Here you have the best of both worlds.


Photoshoot Photography by Jennie Barker Photography

C E R E M O N I E S BY

Candlelight

1 0 sunninghillweddings.com

THE HOUSE and grounds at Sunninghill offer a perfect wedding backdrop whatever

time of year you want to get married.

We can’t guarantee the snow on your wedding day however we can assure you of a very warm welcome!

Our wedding rooms are all south facing which means they are light, bright and airy throughout the year making the most of the natural sunlight. These rooms provide guest access to the main lawn and terrace; perfect for an outdoor drink and canape reception.

During the cooler days the house also benefits from working fireplaces to the main entrance and Drawing Room which will be lit for your wedding.

A V E N U E F O R A L L

F R O M G L O R I O U S S U N S H I N E T O F R O S T Y D AY S ,

O U R W E D D I N G S A LW AY S H A V E A S T U N N I N G B A C K D R O P.

Seasons

Entrance Fireplace Jennie Barker Photography

Main Image Sunninghill in Snow

1 1sunninghillweddings.com


Spring

In spring, Sunninghill is alive with budding flowers and trees. Picture a riot of colour; raspberry pink blossom trees, the deepest yellow daffodils, soft cream narcissi and tulips of many colours, all framed against a pale blue sky.

Summer

Thanks to the wonderfully maintained grounds, outdoor weddings at Sunninghill have proven popular. From non-traditional wedding ceremonies to receptions on the lawn, the space is perfect for entwining nature with your special day.

Autumn

When the days start to get shorter and the light takes on a golden hue, you can plan a wedding that incorporates all of the things that makes autumn magnificent. Opulent tones echo throughout the grounds and lend themselves to a bold, rich colour theme.

Winter

Frost may lay on the ground, dusting the estate in glistening white but inside Sunninghill it’s cosy and warm with hearth fires lighting up the rooms. There is no better venue for weddings held in the colder months.

SUMMER USED to be the most popular for weddings and we still see plenty of summer brides and grooms, however, as we aren’t bound by ‘out of term time’ requirements, we’re delighted to host weddings throughout the year.


Far Left Photo by Originally Lauren Photography

Bottom Left Photo by Dan Roads Photography

Top Right Photo by Sunninghill Weddings

Bottom Right Photo by Originally Lauren Photography

JAC K Y ’ S T I P SF O R P L A N N I N G YO U R

Wedding

IMAGE: JACKY ‘ IN ACTION’


There’s one thing that all the weddings at Sunninghill have in common; a well-planned

itinerary. It ensures that the day has a clear running order, so everyone, from the couple to the

suppliers, knows what to do and when. In-house wedding co-ordinator Jacky is an expert in

creating a wedding day plan that works for you. Here are her top tips for planning your day.

Main Image Photo by Dan Roads Photography


WHEN YOU have the main pieces of your wedding day ‘puzzle’ booked, you’ll need to start thinking about timings and the day’s

running order. Having a clear idea of what happens and when it happens means that not only can you relax, but your suppliers can too. But where to start?

THE CEREMONY

An obvious one, but since this is one that you CANNOT be late for, it stands as the pin to your day. What time you tie the knot will dictate what time you need your makeup and hair done, what time you need your photographer, what time you eat - it really does form the keystone of the day. So taking that time, allow at least 30 minutes between finishing getting ready and leaving for the ceremony. You want to feel relaxed and ready, not rushed and anxious, so building in pockets of time means you will make the most of the day.

Ceremonies vary in length, depending on the type and what you’re including, but rule of thumb is an hour for a religious service and about half an hour for a secular one. From there you can plan what time your guests arrive at the reception. At Sunninghill there is ample parking for your guests' cars at the venue.

THE RECEPTION

This part of the day can be tricky to schedule- there are lots of things to account for - when you plan to hold your speeches, the cutting of the cake, to when you take your first dance together.

To keep on top of the time for photography, it’s best to have already given your photographer a list of the images you’d like. It’s the group photos that take the most time, especially when friends and family get distracted by each other and aren’t easily found! Ask the ushers to round up the relevant people a few shots ahead, so they can happen in quick succession. It means that there’s less hanging around and more time for some private couples shots in the grounds.

The wedding breakfast typically follows the post ceremony drinks and photographs. Traditionally, this is a sit-down meal but nowadays there are so many options to choose from. We’ve had buffets, afternoon teas, hog

roasts - you name it! If you are planning a sit-down meal allow 90 minutes for two courses and two hours for three.

Whenever you plan to hold your speeches, at the start or end of your meal, you will need to allocate time for this. Allow at least 30 minutes, unless you already know that there will be a lengthy one! Add a further 30 minutes to make sure the speeches are finished before your evenings guests arrive. If they finish earlier, take advantage of this time to chat with your guests.

Planning the rest of the evening is simpler: if you have a live band playing, what time will they be playing (usually two sets)? A DJ - what is their start and finish time? What time will you open the evening festivities by taking to the dance floor for your first dance? What time will your guests depart?

Help will be available to keep your wedding day on track. There are a number of wedding specialists who can help keep your big day on track. Some couples choose to hire a Master of Ceremonies (MC), others employ a Wedding Planner or 'On the Day' wedding co-ordinator. At Sunninghill, we offer complimentary wedding planning and an on the day wedding co-ordination service to help your day run smoothly and leaving you and your guests free to enjoy your special day.

This is intended as a guide only, your wedding should be as you

want, so we can help you make a plan that suits you!


OUR EXPERIENCE tells us that even the month of August can still be unkind with mother nature presenting us with cool, dull days and, of course,

the dreaded rain. For example, in early August last year our social media followers saw us share a post showing the fires being lit for a summer wedding!

Our best advice is to run with whatever happens and try not to stress about it. This is how the Sunninghill Event Team can help make the best of the rainy day.

OUTDOOR WEDDINGS CAN BE

MOVED INDOORS

The Sunninghill Events Team are dab hands at changing rooms in double quick time: our record is 45 minutes to change over a wedding ceremony room into a wedding breakfast space for 70 guests. Moving an outdoor wedding ceremony indoors? No problem!

UMBRELLA-ELLA-ELLA

Most professional photographers carry a selection of umbrellas, however just in case, we have an umbrella stand full for guests to borrow together with a large white umbrella for that private couples shot. It's pure romance.

INDOOR CONFETTI SHOWER

Picture your guests winding around our Grand Staircase with you at the base and on the count of three you are showered with confetti!

LIGHT THE FIRES

At any time, the Sunninghill Event Team can light a fire in our main entrance and Drawing Room assuring your guests a warm welcome whatever the weather.

FLEXIBLE TIMING

You hire Sunninghill on an exclusive use basis, so in most circumstances we can be flexible about the timing of key parts of your day so you can take advantage of any breaks in the weather.

For example, one of our August brides had her heart set on an outdoor wedding, but mother nature didn’t play ball. Heavy rain fell throughout the bridal prep. However, in the middle of the grey, cloudy sky a chink of blue appeared, this is what happened next:

• The Dorset Registrars agree to hold off on the ceremony until the skies cleared

• The Groomsmen and guests helped to dry off the chairs

• Our caterers adjusted the cooking schedule to accommodate a slightly later wedding breakfast

• Our couple married outside on our verandah.

OPEN UP OUR EVENING BAR FOR

DAY GUESTS

No need to worry your guests will be cramped in one small space; our evening bar area is already set up; we just open the doors to our comfy lounge area (typically opened in the evening when more guests arrive).

ALL WEATHER PITCH FOR

OUTDOOR PLAY

Young or old we have this covered with our all weather pitch; great to run off excess energy.

Rains?THE ONE ASPECT OF YOUR WEDDING WE CAN’T CONTROL IS THE WEATHER. WE CAN HOWEVER HAVE A ‘PLAN B’ FOR A RAINY DAY SO NO MATTER WHAT THE FORECAST, YOUR WEDDING WILL BE STRESS-FREE AND BEAUTIFUL.

W H AT I F I T


YO U R W E D D I N G DAY

ItineraryBRIDE & GROOM GUESTS SUPPLIERS

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A Growing TrendE N H A N C E D TA B L E S C A P E S :


TABLESCAPES OR table styling to the lay person, have undergone a total transformation in recent years, a trend set to continue for those wedding

couples looking to ‘prettify’ their table, add a WOW factor or build on their wedding theme.

This growing trend seems to coincide with couples choosing to spend more on how their table looks instead of providing wedding favours for their guests, many of which never leave the venue!

Here are a few tips from Mandy at Swingletree Vintage on how to enhance your wedding breakfast table.

CROCKERY & GLASSWARE

An easy way to update the look of your wedding tables is to consider changing the shape of the crockery and glassware used; there are lots of choices available from contemporary to vintage and they are not too expensive to hire if your venue standard items doesn’t match your vision.

For example, think about the glass used for your wedding toast, this can be one of three shapes: The Flute (think tall skinny wine glass); Tulip Shape, similar to the flute but rounder at the bottom of the bowl, and The Coupe, often referred to as a champagne saucer that looks a little like a cocktail glass as seen below.

THE BOTANICAL ‘GREENERY’ TABLE

The easy way to update the 'Classic White' look is by changing the colour of the napkins and to add living plants as your table décor - think succulents, ferns and grasses. Other options include the use of a coloured-charger plate and place mat made from natural materials such as rattan. You can even change the colour of your cutlery with silver, gold, rose gold and copper readily available.

THEMED TABLES: THE BOOK LOVER (BLUE & WHITE COLOUR SCHEME)

Coloured napkins, layered crockery and charger plates add both interest and colour to the table. Don’t be afraid to add meaningful items as your centrepiece, yes they might seem a little unusual but its your wedding so decorate your tables your way. A book lovers passion is reflected here in the three Jane Austin books with blue covers which act as the base for glasses draped with lustrous pearls. Coloured candles in glass holders to match the wedding colour scheme complete the look. Don’t worry if your venue doesn’t allow naked flames, the candles look just as pretty un-lit.


ADD A TABLE RUNNER

The humble table runner has undergone a bit of a facelift in recent years; once laid flat along the table centre, today’s modern look is to use softer, more textured materials such as chiffon, cheesecloth or lace and to casually place the runner in an unstructured way.

MIX & MATCH CROCKERY

Don’t be afraid to mix and match different patterned items on your wedding table; this is a great way to add colour and interest. Whilst contemporary crockery such as black or blue work well mixed with classic white, traditional vintage patterns really come into their own with this look. Cups don’t have to match saucers and individual place settings can be combined in a riot of colour.

MOODY OPULENCE

Your wedding table doesn’t have to be light and bright in colour; dark tablecloths, contrasting napkins, coloured glassware and candles can be combined to create an opulent tablescape.

Botanical Greenery, Table Runner & Book Lover Tablescape Images by Katy Brothers Photography


Inset Image Floral Meadow Arrangement Photo by SCB Photography

Main Image Photo by Hedgehog Video

MINDFUL WEDDINGS


AN INTRODUCTION

Two years ago, we adopted a mindful approach to our wedding venue styling: where possible we want to reduce the carbon footprint of our weddings, commission items that can be re-used throughout the wedding day and later repurposed for ongoing pleasure.

A key trend for 2020 is wedding couples taking a greater interest in the sustainability and ecologically friendly nature of their wedding. This trend is set to continue and we are proud to be part of this growing movement.

What does this mean for our wedding couples?

MindfulWEDDINGDRESSING

StylingL I V I N G G R E E N R Y


OUR BEAUTIFUL venue is now decorated with living (potted) trees, shrubs and plants.

A popular option is the magnificent Star Jasmin arch used as the backdrop to the wedding ceremony together with a mix of three olive and bay trees either side of the arch to encapsulate the wedding couple as they exchange their wedding vows. A multi-sensory experience, seamlessly woven through the planting are twinkling fairy lights which creates a truly magical atmosphere.

MINDFUL WEDDINGS

Top Image Dorset Registrars

Bottom Image Star Jasmin

Left Image Dorset Registrars

“In joy or sadness,

flowers are our

constant friends."

Okakura Kakuzo

THROUGHOUT THE year, we extend the British flower season by preserving and drying blooms and foliage at their peak, as seen used on our

floral hoops and throughout the bridal changing area.

Growing SeasonE X T E N D I N G T H E


B R I T I S H F LOW E R S BY

Season

WhitestemL E T ' S M E E T:


MINDFUL WEDDINGS

W

HAT DREW you to

offering sustainable

wedding venue

decoration?

We have been gardening, and interested in growing organically and sustainably, for as long as I can remember and when we were able to retire from our ‘office based’ careers about 10 years ago we decided to follow our passion and become professional gardeners offering garden design, build and maintenance with organic growing and sustainability at the heart of everything we did. Our daughter’s wedding 2 years ago was the catalyst for our new passion. We decorated her church and wedding venue with a few of our big Olive trees and our gorgeous Jasmine Arch, and received such wonderful compliments about them we thought we’d see if any other wedding couples might like them at their weddings too … and our dream became a reality. We created our new business – Whitestem (the name inspired by white stemmed birch trees, one of our favourites!) offering absolute top-quality living greenery, especially trees and arches, for events. We really love the idea that our trees will be used again and again to decorate the venues for all of our couples getting married. An incredibly sustainable décor option!

How many different types of trees and plants do you

grow for hire?

We grow mainly evergreen plants (they don’t lose their leaves in the autumn) so that they can be used all year round for weddings, the only exception to this at the moment being our Silver Birch trees, which lose their leaves in the winter, but really do look just as beautiful with their bare branches festooned with fairy lights. We have mainly Olive, Bay, Eucalyptus and Silver Birch trees, Star Jasmine wedding arches, either curved or squared, topiary privet hearts and then our smaller table top stock of mini lollipop bay, olive and citrus trees and ferns. Our trees range from the largest at about 4m tall, down to our minis at less than half a metre and if our couples want it, they all come with fairy lights included.

How old are your trees?

Our large Olive trees are definitely the oldest at about 50 years old, but as you probably know, Olive trees grow to be absolutely ancient and incredibly beautiful gnarled old trees so we expect them to outlive us, very definitely!

What is your favourite tree or plant and why?

My personal favourite plant is our Star Jasmine which we use in all our wedding arches. I just adore the fragrance of absolutely all summer flowers and to be honest, I haven’t come across anything better than the scent of our jasmine arches in full flower, at the height of summer on a warm, still evening. Totally intoxicating and just incredible.

How do you take care of the trees and plants over

the colder winter months?

Luckily our winters down here in the south of England haven’t been that harsh over recent years, so our plants which are mainly British natives or fairly hardy


Left Image Jasmin arch and bay trees make a fabulous backdropto your wedding breakfast

Right Image Star Jasmin arch with Bay and Eucalyptus trees with fairy lights

Mediterranean plants, seem to cope quite well, however to conserve the top notch quality that we pride ourselves on, we have two greenhouses that we use to protect the smaller trees and plants and we also use fleece wraps through the harshest months protect our larger ones.Looking after our trees is really a full-time job and we’re constantly on the watch, all year round, looking for pests and diseases that might be lurking and ready to pounce so we can sort them out using tried and tested organic methods when we can.

Can you share any of your future plans?

2019 has been an absolutely amazing year for us with over 40 weddings under our belts, way over our target for the year. We have learnt a huge amount and have received so much fantastic advice from so many other truly wonderful wedding suppliers and we are now so excited to be going into 2020.

Our focus this year is very definitely on making sure that we provide an even better service for our wedding couples, but also to build on our sustainability credentials. We’d like to make sure that we use only renewable and recyclable pots for our plants and to use as much collected rainwater to irrigate our plants through the summer months as we can. We are also going to make sure that we use only organic methods for pest control and for feeding our plants where we can, whilst keep them looking as pristine and as beautiful as possible.

Living Greenery venue styling is included as part of the

Sunninghill venue hire fee.


MINDFUL WEDDINGS

Floral FoamN O

YOU MAY be familiar with the florist’s green block, sometimes called an oasis which is used to hold flowers and foliage in position and to keep

the stems hydrated for a long lasting display. However, did you know that the green block isn’t biodegradable?

With greater awareness of environmental impact at Sunninghill Weddings, we have taken the decision not to use floral foam in our venue flowers. We encourage florists to consider other more traditional methods including naturally growing moss and wire.

“What I stand for is

what I stand on"

- Wendell Berry

Image Meadow Flower Arrangement by Old Chapel Flowers


Wedding FlowersR E U S I N G & R E P U R P O S I N G

1. A Loving Gift

At the end of the wedding reception, the flowers can be removed from their vases and given to key family members as fresh flower posies.

2. A Keepsake

Dried flowers make wonderful, unique gifts; you can press them into a frame or leave them as an arrangement.

3. In Memoriam

Taking a bouquet or posy from your wedding to place on the grave of a passed loved one is a special way to include them in your day.

4. Spread the Love

'Sharing is caring' as the saying goes, and you can help brighten a local care or nursing home with your flowers. By taking your left over blooms, you'll put a smile on many faces.

5. Create

Did you know that you can embed petals in candles? Or even jewellery? If you want something that lasts, this is a wonderful way to reuse your flowers.

Image Photo by Aimee Joy Photography

E

VERY WEDDING at Sunninghill has new flowers commissioned by us to match the colour scheme

of our wedding couple.

As part of our standard venue hire, we include flowers for the Register signing table; post ceremony these flowers are used as a floral centrepiece for the top table and guest wedding breakfast tables. We also provide flowers to adorn the wedding ceremony aisle chairs; post ceremony these are placed onto the wedding breakfast tables.


IDEAS FOR YOU C O N T E M P O R A R Y O U T D O O R W E D D I N G

Breakfast

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT

1) What about a stunning dried flower crown as an alternative bridal headpiece or veil?

2) A gorgeous feather bowtie will add a touch of glamour to the groomswear.

3) Wondering where to put your wedding cake? You suspend it from a tree of course!

4) How about swapping your wedding bouquet for this unique dried flower parasol?

5) The table seating plan is given a thoroughly modern makeover – have you thought about using the landscape

as part of your wedding venue dressing? The majestic Ginko tree at the entrance to Sunninghill can be used to display your seating plan, set out in individual frames.

THE FLOWER TABLE LAYOUT

6) The top table, circular in shape, places the wedding couple at the centre of their wedding guests who are seated on rectangular tables radiating outwards like the petals on a flower. THE TABLE DÉCOR

7) The waterfall edge table runner - created here from seasonal British flowers positioned along the table centre to cascade down into a waterfall edge.


MIX & MATCH COLOURS 8) Here we matched silk chinoiserie green chair covers with raspberry organza chair sashes and napkins. YOUR VERY OWN CONCERT: MUSIC ON THE

LAWN

9) Did you know you can hire a piano (and pianist) to play outdoors?

BE SPORTY

10) At Sunninghill you can entertain your guests with tennis, football, a game of swingball, our low ropes park area and even our swimming pool. We also have ropes for tug of war, stocks and table tennis tables.


The Team:

Photoshoot Organiser | Tasha Mae Eventstasha-mae.co.uk Photographer | TP Photographythurtlepower.com Dress & Groomswear | Wedding Time Dorchesterwedding-time.com Feather Bowtie | Wings Bowtieswingsbowties.com Flowers, parasol & flower crown | Old Chapel Flowersoldchapelflowers.co.uk Hair | Brideshairbrideshair.co.uk Make Up Artist | Model Makeoversmodelmakeovers.co.uk Furniture & Tableware | Hospitality Hire Ltdsmashingcrockery.com

Coloured Table Linen | Special Occasion Hirespecialoccasionlinen.com Piano Hire | Musicalous Ltd Wedding Cake | Mon Bel Amour Cake Craftmonbelamourcakecraft.co.uk Stationery | Pastel Designs Signature Stationarypasteldesigns.co.uk Models | Katie Jackman and Dan Pryke

“The highest

happiness on earth

is the happiness of

marriage.”

- William Lyon Phelps



IDEAS FOR YOU

HAVE YOU ever done a ‘pinky-swear’

to seal a promise, done a handshake to ‘seal a deal’, or ‘crossed your heart’ to tell the truth? The little rituals we perform in our day everyday lives send a message about the seriousness of our intention; I am worthy of your trust, and may the universe bear witness!

When we seal our wedding vows with ritual, we are embracing an extraordinary kind of alchemy; when words spoken upon the air are wrought into tangible promises, more precious than any gold.

There are many inexpensive and beautifully simple rituals you can use to bring your wedding vows to life, here are three to get you started.

Ritual one THE WARMING OF THE RINGS

Historically, the wedding band was placed on the third finger of the left hand because it was believed the vein in this finger ran straight to the heart; thus, circling this finger with a wedding band meant your heart was forever encircled by the love of your life. The ‘Warming of the Rings’ allows you to invite your family and friends to pour their love into your weddings bands too.

The gesture is simple; your wedding bands are offered to the wedding guest sitting in the outermost seat. After this guest has had a moment to hold your rings, and infuse the bands with their blessing, the rings are passed to the

T H E W E D D I N G C E R E M O N YO F A

LifetimeT H R E E S I M P L E R I T U A L S T O M A K E Y O U R D AY…

Ellie

Image of Ellie Originally Lauren Photography

Image of Spiral Wedding Ceremony Jim Johnson Photography


guest next to them, and so on, until all your guests have ‘warmed’ your rings with their best wishes.

This ritual is particularly stunning when guests are seated in a spiral setting – also incredibly meaningful, as spirals appear infinitely in our natural world, and have been used throughout history to reflect the life giving force of our universe; what could be more perfect for a new beginning?

Ritual two

HANDFASTING CEREMONY

In the UK, our handfasting traditions are rooted in the enchanting practices of our Celtic ancestors, and it’s believed this is where we get the phrase to ‘tie the knot’ from.

There are many ways to practise a handfasting; but the simplest kind is to choose some ribbons of fabric, around two metres long, and ask your wedding officiant to wrap these cords around your hands in blessing, after you have exchanged your rings.

You could match the cords to your wedding colours, or use fabrics with special meaning; a piece of lining from your grandma’s wedding dress, part of a baby shawl – the possibilities are endless.

Ritual three

UNITY CANDLE

Fire is a life-giving source; our universe revolves around the sun, which is in essence, a great ball of starlit fire. And so fire has long been symbolic of life, passion and courage.

A ‘Unity Candle’ is a beautiful way to bring the symbolism of fire into your vows. One of the simplest ways to include this ritual in your ceremony is to source a ‘Unity Candle’ – usually a pillar candle – and two taper candles.

During your ceremony, your officiant can invite you to light your separate taper candles, and then to join your flames in unity to light your ‘Unity Candle’. Additional candles can be included for your relatives to light, to symbolise the joining of your families.

Whichever ritual you choose, may your wedding ceremony be infused with meaning and love!

Ellie Brooks, founder of Wildflower Ceremonies, is Dorset’s

only accredited Sacred Celebrant (IPHM). She weaves ancient

traditions with modern best practice, creating stunning

wedding ceremonies for free spirits. Ellie is a specialist

in full Celtic Handfastings, and is one of Sunninghill’s

recommended celebrants. You can find out more about Ellie at

wildflowerceremonies.co.uk.

Image of Handfasting Originally Lauren Photography

Image of Unity Candle Katy Brothers Photography

WeddingsF A M I LY F R I E N D LY


Children: Yes or No?

IF YES, a child-friendly venue is a must; check out our fabulous onsite facilities to keep the children happy

whatever the weather! The main lawns offer children space to be free, to run and tumble. Our wooden play park with low ropes course is a magnet for children of all ages. An all-weather Astroturf offers space for ball play including football or tennis. Happy children = stress free wedding guests

IDEAS FOR YOU

Top Image Photo by Dan Roads Photography


Fees

Couples can choose to hold their ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception at Sunninghill or any combination of the three.

When you hire Sunninghill the house and its grounds are exclusively yours for that ‘private house party’ feel. The Sunninghill Event Team are committed to providing cherished memories and will work hard to deliver a special day to remember. If you want something unusual, please ask! HIRING SUNNINGHILL FOR YOUR WEDDING

Living Greenery Venue Styling

Our full day hire includes exclusive use of the house from 12 noon until 11.30pm, which is decorated with Living Greenery venue styling:

• Simple and elegant ivory window drapes in the conservatory• Fresh flower chair back corsages (6) for the aisle seats later repurposed as wedding breakfast table centres • Register table floral arrangement colour matched to your wedding scheme• A Star Jasmine Wedding Arch with olive and bay trees either side all fitted with twinkling fairy lights • Potted ferns to line your wedding aisle

2020 £40002021 £4500 2022 £5000 2023 £5750

Ceremony only hire is available from £1200, subject to availability.

Think Hair Stylist, Make Up Artist and Photographer together with multiple shoe boxes and wedding suits, dresses and bridal gowns; add to the mix your bridal party members and it is easy to see how even a large family home can be swamped by wedding preparations on the big day itself!

A solution?

The Sunninghill Bridal Changing Suite.

Two large bright and airy rooms; one used for the prepping and the other for chilling out. We supply unlimited tea and coffee, pastries and a bowl of fruit to keep you sustained throughout the session.

Suitable for up to 8 people, the suite can be hired from 9am (earlier availability on request) for £350.

The suite is available to rent by external brides subject to availability.

A PLACE TO GET READY

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

Bride Image Photo by Dan Roads Photography

H I R E

3 9sunninghillweddings.comTop Right Image Photo by Dan Roads Photography

Chair Image Photo by Jennie Barker Photography

Couple of Stairs Photo by Originally Lauren Photography


Options

ALL INCLUSIVE WEDDING BREAKFAST PACKAGE

Our all-inclusive food and drink wedding breakfast package is a popular option with our wedding couples as it’s so easy to budget. Our caterer will be in touch to discuss your menu choices which can be either a formal plated wedding breakfast, or a more casual style of dining including sharing platters and bowl foods where guests serve themselves.

This includes the following most popular items: Post Ceremony Drinks Reception

Two or Three Course Meal

Wine (half bottle per person)

Tea/Coffee Service

Prosecco Wedding Toast

Evening Buffet or Hog Roast

Our all-inclusive wedding breakfast package includes

all tableware, tablecloths, linen napkins, glassware and

staffing.

All Inclusive Price Per Adult 2020 2021 2022

2 Courses £75 £82.50 £91.50

3 Courses £82 £91 £100

Option to serve wedding cake as third course £1.50 £2 £2.50

Bowls of strawberries & cream to accompany wedding cake

£1.50 £2 £2.50

Additional evening guest £10 £12 £14

Child price (under 12s) £25 £30 £35

Please f ind below a sample of popular catering options at Sunninghill. Our catering team are on hand to discuss your food and drink options to create a bespoke menu, please ask.


Bottom Image Photo by Wimborne Photography

Left page: Top Images Photo by Aimee Joy Photography

Middle Image Photo by TP Photography

Bottom Image Photo by Dan Roads Photography

F O O D A N D D R I N K


Our house buffet is a meat charcuterie platter, bread basket with butter, selection of local cheeses served with crackers, seasonal fruit and chutney, beetroot hummus and crudites. Other options are available, please ask.

We have contact with a wide variety of specialist food providers including:

• Hog Roast• Fish & Chips• Pizza Vans• Paella• Gourmet Burgers

Please ask for more information.

EVENING BUFFET

Price Per Adult (included in

the All Inclusive Package)

2020 2021 2022

House Buffet £10 £12 £14

DRINKS & CANAPE RECEPTION

All Inclusive Price Per Adult

2020 2021 2022

Drinks (2) £10 £12.50 £15

Drinks (2) & Canapes (3) £17.50 £22.50 £27.50

Canapes (3) £7.50 £10 £12.50

AFTERNOON TEA WEDDING BREAKFAST PACKAGE

A popular option for couples looking for an informal wedding breakfast option. Your afternoon tea will be served using vintage or classic style crockery and is inclusive of table cloth, linen napkin, crockery and glassware.

Afternoon Tea comprising:

Sandwich selection (Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese, Egg & Cress, Ham, Cheese & Pickle)

Savoury Quiche

Sausage & Onion Marmalade Roll

Scone with Jam and Cream

Mini Cake Selection (Macaroon, Victoria Sandwich, Chocolate Brownie)

Tea or Coffee

Prosecco Wedding Toast

Evening Buffet or Hog Roast

All Inclusive Price

Per Adult

2020 2021 2022

Package £50 £55 £60

Child price £20 £25 £30

Additional evening guest £10 £12 £14

*Based on a Pimms or wine drinks reception with Premium non-alcoholic alternative.

Other options are available.


Sunday, 17th May 2020

AT SUNNINGHILL the Event Team are on hand to offer help and advice throughout your wedding planning

journey: we are there for you as much or as little as you need.

We are on hand from the moment you first arrive at the venue until your last guest leaves. Together we will have created a vision for how your special day will unfold giving you the peace of mind that we are there for you, working quietly in the background to help make your day run smoothly.

Planning and Coordination

Contact Us

07815 429073

[email protected]

sunninghillweddings.com

@sunninghillweddings

C O M P L I M E N TA R Y


Join us for our annual wedding fair for an opportunity to view the house, meet the Sunninghill Event Team and also to meet some of Dorset's finest wedding professionals offering a wide range of products and services for your wedding.

Exhibitors including live musicians and a DJ performing throughout the day on our outdoor stage.

A romantic venue for your perfect day...

sunninghillweddings.com | South Court, South Walks Road, Dorchester DT1 1EB | [email protected]

Sunday, 17th May 202011 am - 3 pm

Wedding Fair

South Walks, Dorchester

South Walks, Dorchester

my dorset - sunninghill weddings & events · 14 jacky's top planning tips 16 a rainy day...

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