Meet the Wedding Team:The Mansion
Liam Warburton - Cheeseman, Sales & Events Manager - The Mansion, Leeds
Liam Warburton-Cheeseman (Sales & Events Manager)
The Mansion, Roundhay Park, Leeds LS8 2HH
Get to know the teams behind the dream weddings and find out all of their best wedding secrets!
Photo Credit: Barnaby Aldrick
Capacities & Spaces
Q What are your maximum guest numbers for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast?
A For ceremonies we can host up to 220; for a wedding breakfast up to 134.
Q Do you offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces?
A We have some wonderful indoor ceremony spaces- our Colonnades room has a spectacular view out over Roundhay Park. We're not able to host outdoor weddings unfortunately as we are in a public park.
Q Do you have on-site accommodation?
A No, despite being surrounded by 700 acres of parkland we are just 15 minutes from central Leeds - so there a selection of hotels just a short journey away.
Q Dog friendly?
A We allow dogs for Wedding Ceremonies and drinks receptions. However dogs and loud music are not a good mix, so we ask that dogs are taken home (or to their accommodation) before the wedding meal.
Venue Highlights
Q What is the one feature of your venue that couples always fall in love with?
A The Grand Staircase and Chandelier. The Staircase provides elegance for photos, bridal entrance, first look photos and the Chandelier, especially in Winter when the nights are darker and is illuminated in the couple colour scheme, offers a stunning contrast in colour and brings modern chic to a classic Georgian property.
The Pro Tips
Q What is your top piece of advice for couples planning their wedding?
A Prioritise what you want, not what will please the most people. This applies to food, drinks, décor, music. Your wedding is a reflection of who you are as a couple, a hybrid mix of what you both like, and not an exercise in satisfying the whims of all who are in attendance. Don't settle for chicken if you'd rather have lamb; don't opt for Abba if you're more of an AC/DC
Q What is the most 'genius' wedding planning move or cost-saver you’ve seen a couple pull off?
A I don't think it is genius but just couples providing things they can make themselves. Wedding cakes for example, can be super expensive, but a lot of cake at night does not get eaten and people only do a cake because it is "traditional" and expected. Family members providing centre pieces like flowers they've grown at home. We recently had a wedding that put pictures of the couple around the venue and next to them paintings of those pictures that the couple had done. My advice to all couples, is just make it personal to you. Traditions and expectations can get very expensive, very quickly.
Q If a couple has an entertainment budget, where in your opinion is it best spent for maximum impact?
A Live music will always be the winner for me, and garden games. Things that will keep people entertained and engaged during some of the long moments that don't involve everybody. For example, during the drinks reception and photos, people want something to keep them active. I also like entertainment for the night time, not so much saxophonists as these can be hit and miss but bands, big or small. Live music brings a different level of atmosphere for me. Live drawing/painters are fantastic too as you get something that you can keep forever!
“Prioritise what you want, not what will please the most people. This applies to food, drinks, décor, music. Your wedding is a reflection of who you are as a couple, a hybrid mix of what you both like, and not an exercise in satisfying the whims of all who are in attendance. Don’t settle for chicken if you’d rather have lamb; don’t opt for Abba if you’re more of an AC/DC ”
Style & Trends
Q Best aisle entrance song?
A Song Bird - this was the music my wife walked into the room to and she went to a recording studio and sang her own entrance music. I also love "I Get to Love You" by Ruelle, our first dance music
Q Best aisle exit song?
A Signed, Sealed, Delivered is a timeless classic, but I love something more like "Come and Get Your Love"
Q Favourite colour scheme?
A I know it is traditional nowadays and done a lot but I love sage green. The tables, the dresses. I also love bolder colours for Winter weddings, like Reds and Purples.
Q Favourite wedding cake flavour?
A Salted Caramel
Q What favours do guests actually keep?
A None! Edible ones are always well received. Scratch cards confuse me, what would you do if they won a lot of money?
Traditions
Q One 'Old' tradition you still love.
A The Cake cutting- a great tradition and a fabulous photo. I love it when the couple cut and eat a piece straight away.
Q One 'New' tradition you’re currently obsessed with?
A The mid aisle drop kiss shot. I love the photo it provides, with everybody around you and not just you standing at the front. All eyes are on you, including the person who is looking at the photo.
The Ceremony
Q Everyone working on the wedding floor loves a Celebrant Led wedding, why do you love them?
A The flexibility and bespoke nature of a celebrant wedding makes it so much more personal. Sometimes a registrar led wedding feels too much like a tick box exercise and doesn't have the couple at the heart of the ceremony, whereas a celebrant led wedding does. They take the time to get to know the couple and deliver something so much more magical and memorable.
Arrange your viewing contact Liam at The Mansion, Leeds
Editors note: These are not paid adverts or sponsored posts.
We choose to spotlight these brilliant businesses to champion the wonderful, hardworking wedding teams who embrace the freedom of celebrant-led ceremonies, ensuring every couple's day is completely flawless.
Katie x
Meet the Wedding Team: Elsworth at the Mill
Rebecca & Bruce Elsworth - Co Owners
Hollie Igoe - Wedding Coordinator
High Corn Mill, Chapel Hill, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1NL
Get to know the teams behind the dream weddings and find out all of their best wedding secrets!
The Team: Hollie Igoe (Wedding Coordinator) Bruce & Rebecca Elsworth (Co owners)
Capacities & Spaces
Q What are your maximum guest numbers for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast?
A Ceremony up to 70, Wedding breakfast A la Carte 64, Street Food Buffet up to 80, Evening up to 80.
Q Do you offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces?
A Indoor only
Q Do you have on-site accommodation?
A The venue is surrounded by local accommodation from Hotels, Guest Houses and Holiday lets the closest one being Eller Beck directly below the venue.
Q Dog friendly?
A Small well behaved dogs are allowed.
Photo credits: Georgie Beck, Jacqueline Louise Photography
Venue Highlights
Q What is the vibe of your venue?
A Relaxed, historic, bespoke - Simple, characterful and thoughtfully put together.
Q What is the one feature of your venue that couples always fall in love with?
A The high beamed ceiling, the exposed Yorkshire stone walls and the fact the venue doesn't need much dressing, a few simple runners on the table along with bud vases and candles and the space is wedding ready.
The Pro Tips
Q What is your top piece of advice for couples planning their wedding?
A Make your day feel like yours, don't follow a trend if it's not a reflection of you. Concentrate on bringing your nearest & dearest together to celebrate your special day. No one will remember if the timings run exact or if you had the latest trend but they will remember how it felt.
Q What is the most 'genius' wedding planning move or cost-saver you’ve seen a couple pull off?
A The best cost saver is keeping it smaller, some of the best days here have been planned at the last minute and are beautiful, simple, intimate gatherings where everything happens in one place: ceremony, food, drinks, dancing. No transport, no long gaps, no extras for the sake of it. Just good food, the right people and the best atmosphere.
Q If a couple has an entertainment budget, where in your opinion is it best spent for maximum impact?
A I would say a DJ/ live music we love DJ Wiggy or Sarah Widdup, they can really set the tone, especially if you love a bit of a dance or if you would like more on the entertaining side we would highly recommend a magician, We love Magic by Mark Waddington, this really does bring people together and gets them talking.
“Make your day feel like yours, don’t follow a trend if it’s not a reflection of you. Concentrate on bringing your nearest & dearest together to celebrate your special day. No one will remember if the timings run exact or if you had the latest trend but they will remember how it felt.”
Style & Trends
Q Best aisle entrance song?
A An acoustic version of Simply The Best.
Q Best aisle exit song?
A Everywhere, Fleetwood Mac
Q Favourite colour scheme?
A A gorgeous mix of bright colours
Q Favourite wedding cake flavour?
A It has to be a vanilla sponge with berry jam and meringue buttercream, classic & delicious especially from our trusted supplier baked by Emma Lawson.
Q What favours do guests actually keep?
A We recently held a Japanese themed wedding and all the guests had traditional fans as favours, these are the types of things people will keep and cherish.
Traditions
Q One 'Old' tradition you still love.
A Speeches that actually mean something, not over rehearsed, not too many, just a few people standing up and saying something with meaning.
Q One 'New' tradition you’re currently obsessed with?
A Dropping the wedding rule book, Late ceremonies, shared aisles, no formal sides and couples arriving together. Keeping your day personal to you.
The Ceremony
Q Everyone working on the wedding floor loves a Celebrant Led wedding, why do you love them?
A We absolutely love a celebrant led wedding, its personal, its tells a story, its moving, its everything!
You can find out more about the Elsworth at the Mill Team by clicking here
“Editors note: These aren’t paid-for features or affiliate links. I choose to spotlight these brilliant businesses to champion the wonderful, hardworking wedding teams who embrace the freedom of celebrant-led ceremonies, ensuring every couple’s day is completely flawless.”
Meet the Wedding Team: Bashall Barn
Bashall Eaves, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 3LQ
Get to know the teams behind the dream weddings and find out all of their best wedding secrets!
Isabelle - Bashall Barn, Clitheroe, Lancashire
Capacities & Spaces
Q What are your maximum guest numbers for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast?
A 130 during the day, 250 during the evening
Q Do you offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces?
A Yes, we’re lucky to have three gorgeous ceremony spaces, two outdoor options and one indoor option.
Q Do you have on-site accommodation?
A We can sleep up to 32 guests throughout 11 rooms, not including our 2 wedding suites.
Q Dog friendly?
A Yes we are.
Venue Highlights
Q What is the one feature of your venue that couples always fall in love with?
A Without a doubt, it’s the stunning views from the indoor ceremony space.
The Pro Tips
Q What is your top piece of advice for couples planning their wedding?
A It’ll be stressful planning a wedding. The worst thing you can say to your partner is 'I don’t care'. I hear it far too often with my couples, and the reaction almost always creates tension. Most people don’t actually mean they don’t care — they just don’t care about every single detail. If your partner says this, ask them for 3 things they do care about, and let those be the areas they make the main decisions on instead of forcing them to choose a centrepiece they probably wouldn’t notice was there or not. A wedding is supposed to bring you together. Don’t let different interests pull you apart.
Q What is the most 'genius' wedding planning move or cost-saver you’ve seen a couple pull off?
A A brides dress from vinted for £20 that looked £2000! Always worth looking to see if your dream dress is in need of a second life!
Q If a couple has an entertainment budget, where in your opinion is it best spent for maximum impact?
A For me it would be live music. Whether that's a band, singer or a saxophonist, they can really get the party going and who doesn't love live music?!
Style & Trends
Q Best aisle entrance song?
A RuthAnne - The Vow
Q Best aisle exit song?
A Natalie Cole - This will be an everlasting love
Q Favourite colour scheme?
A Anything pastel- blues, butter yellow and pinks especially
Q Favourite wedding cake flavour?
A For me? Always, always, always a cake of cheese!
Q What favours do guests actually keep?
A Winning scratch cards or hand drawn portraits
Traditions
Q One 'Old' tradition you still love.
A Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
Q One 'New' tradition you’re currently obsessed with?
A Having a 'last dance' just the two of you.
The Ceremony
Q Everyone working on the wedding floor loves a Celebrant Led wedding, why do you love them?
A For me, it feels more personal and more about the love between the two. Relaxed, not worrying about saying the wrong thing, but saying how you really feel. Not only that but your guests can drink throughout the ceremony too!
Click the link to get in touch with the Bashall Barn Team and arrange your viewing.
Photographs credit
Editors note: These aren't paid-for features or affiliate links. I choose to spotlight these brilliant businesses to champion the wonderful, hardworking wedding teams who embrace the freedom of celebrant-led ceremonies, ensuring every couple's day is completely flawless.
Katie x
Meet the Wedding Team: Horwood House Hotel
Horwood House hotel, Little Horwood, MK17 0PH
Get to know The team behind the dream and Find out all of their wedding insider secrets!
The Horwood House Wedding Team
Maisie McCusker-Boon – Senior Wedding Coordinator
Ellie Clark – Weddings & Special Events Executive
Laura Brookes – Weddings & Special Events Executive
Maisie Tegg – Senior Weddings & Banqueting Supervisor
Capacities & Spaces
Q What are your maximum guest numbers for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast?
A We can host up to 90 guests in our stunning Manor Lounge for more intimate celebrations, while our larger spaces can accommodate up to 180 guests for a wedding breakfast and 250 guests for evening receptions. For larger ceremonies, our Cook Suite can host up to 220 guests, making it perfect for bigger celebrations without compromising on atmosphere or style.
Q Do you offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces?
A Absolutely. We’re lucky to have several beautiful outdoor ceremony locations, including our romantic pagoda, ancient oak tree, lily pond and iconic manor steps. Indoors, couples can choose from the elegant Manor Lounge, Eyre Suite or Cook Suite depending on the style and size of their day.
Q Do you have on-site accommodation?
A We have 150 bedrooms on site, including three stunning Manor Suites located within the manor house itself - perfect for getting ready on the morning of the wedding or extending the celebrations into a relaxing overnight stay.
Q Dog friendly?
A Yes, we love welcoming four-legged guests! Dogs are welcome to join ceremonies and even the wedding breakfast, and we also offer a dog-friendly wedding breakfast menu, so no one misses out on the celebrations.
Venue Highlights
Q What is the one feature of your venue that couples always fall in love with?
A Without a doubt, it’s the grounds and the beautiful manor house backdrop. Every corner of the venue offers incredible photo opportunities, from sweeping gardens to timeless architecture, creating memories couples can treasure forever.
The Pro Tips
Q What is your top piece of advice for couples planning their wedding?
A Don’t stress over the small details. Your guests will happily arrange their own accommodation and transport - focus on the bigger picture and enjoy the planning process. Your wedding day goes by so quickly, so it’s important to soak up every moment.
Q What is the most 'genius' wedding planning move or cost-saver you’ve seen a couple pull off?
A Repurposing aisle décor as centrepieces for the wedding breakfast is such a smart idea. It ensures your florals and styling work twice as hard throughout the day while also helping couples make the most of their budget.
Q If a couple has an entertainment budget, where in your opinion is it best spent for maximum impact?
A We absolutely love singing waiters. They’re such a fun surprise during the wedding breakfast and instantly bring energy into the room, setting the tone perfectly for the evening celebrations ahead.
Style & Trends
Q Best aisle entrance song?
A At Last by Etta James - timeless, romantic and guaranteed to create an unforgettable aisle moment.
Q Best aisle exit song?
A It has to be Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - such a feel-good classic that gets everyone smiling the moment the ceremony ends.
Q Favourite colour scheme?
A We’re loving bright pinks and oranges at the moment. The combination adds a bold pop of colour while still feeling elegant, modern and effortlessly stylish.
Q Favourite wedding cake flavour?
A The tiramisu “cake” trend is definitely one of our favourites right now. Whether presented traditionally or as a dramatic tiramisu tower, it feels contemporary, interactive and always creates a real wow moment for guests.
Q What favours do guests actually keep?
A Personalised portraits are such a special touch. Having a live artist at your wedding gives guests a meaningful keepsake they’ll genuinely want to display at home - rather than something that ends up forgotten in a drawer.
Traditions
Q One 'Old' tradition you still love.
A Not seeing each other on the morning of the ceremony. It really builds the anticipation and makes that aisle moment even more emotional.
Q One 'New' tradition you’re currently obsessed with?
A Bridesmaids wearing different colours or tones. It feels modern, stylish and allows everyone’s personality to shine through while still looking beautifully cohesive.
The Ceremony
Q Everyone working on the wedding floor loves a Celebrant Led wedding, why do you love them?
A We love how personal celebrant-led weddings can be. They give couples complete flexibility to make the ceremony truly their own, whether that’s incorporating hand-tying rituals, beer boys or other fun, meaningful touches. No two ceremonies ever feel the same, and that’s what makes them so special.
Click the link to find out more about Horwood House https://www.horwoodhouse.co.uk/weddings.html
Photographs credit
Editors note: These aren't paid-for features or affiliate links. I choose to spotlight these brilliant businesses to champion the wonderful, hardworking wedding teams who embrace the freedom of celebrant-led ceremonies, ensuring every couple's day is completely flawless.
Katie x