Meet the Wedding Team - James Li, Carlton Manor
James Li, Wedding Coordinator, Carlton Manor, Hull - Photo credit: Vicky Benge
Get to know James, the man behind the dream weddings at Carlton Manor, and find out all the best wedding secrets!
Capacities & Spaces
Q Venue Location: Where in the UK can we find you?
Aldbrough, East Riding of Yorkshire
Q Venue Capacity: Maximum guest numbers for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast?
Intimate Barn Weddings of up to 60 daytime and 100 evening
Tipi Weddings of up to 120 daytime and 200 evening
Q The Ceremony Spaces: Do you offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces?
Yes, our ceremony Barn is a perfect space for ceremonies
We also have a lawned area by a large Oak tree for outside ceremonies
Q The Accomodation: Do you have any on site?
We can accommodate up to 83 guests onsite. Our elegant Manor House has up to 11 rooms, sleeping up to 24 guests. The house also has plenty of communal spaces for guests to gather the day before or after the wedding celebrations have finished.
We also have 12 glamping pods. These vary in sizes from 2 person all the way up to our family pods that sleep up to 7. Our pods are all ensuite and include a kitchenette, underfloor heating, tv and wifi.
All of our accommodation is located onsite so no travelling required!
Photography credits: Vicky Benge Photography and Sam Chipman Photography
Venue Highlights
Q The Standout Feature:
What is the one feature of your venue that couples always fall in love with?
Our Tipis certainly have the wow factor for couples looking for a unique wedding space but our Manor House will always be the part of the venue our couples fall in love with. From the individually styled bedrooms to the large guest kitchen and communal spaces. Perfect for guests to gather the night before the wedding.
The Pro Tips
Q Top tip: What is your top piece of advice for couples planning their wedding?
It may sound very cliché but do what makes you both happy! It is so easy to get lost in planning a wedding and trying to keep everyone happy. Ultimately, your guests will be happy just being there to celebrate your big day!
As a true Yorkshireman, I would also have to offer a money saving tip!
Think of how you can repurpose your décor from your ceremony. Many couples will plan for styling to be used for the wedding breakfast and evening reception.
Q The Innovation: What is the most ‘genius’ wedding planning move or cost-saver you’ve seen a couple pull off?
Catering for your big day can be quite overwhelming as costs can soon start mounting up as you add on all of the additional extras.
A lovely couple I worked with kept their catering costs down by providing their own platters for the reception. They sourced locally made sausage rolls, pork pies and artisan breads. This was a great idea as an alternative to canapes.
They also then asked guests to bring a dessert for the wedding. They were all placed on tables and became the couple’s dessert table. Score cards were provided by the couple and post wedding breakfast, the couple announced the winning dessert. Very much in keeping with The Great British Bake Off!
Q Where should a couple spend their entertainment budget for maximum impact?
Live music is always a winner in my view as it just lifts a wedding day to another level. With this in mind, plan for when you would like live music. My preference would always be for the ceremony, drinks reception and evening reception.
Photo booths are always popular too. Guests love having fun photos taken and it can double up as a photo guest book too which means the couple leave with a keepsake of their special day.
“Burying a sausage the night before the wedding. Anything which helps ensure it doesn’t rain on the wedding day is a bonus in my eyes. I even have a designated sausage plot where this is done at Carlton Manor!”
Style & Trends
Q Best aisle entrance song?
Ruelle – I get to Love You
Q Best aisle exit song?
Natalie Cole – This Will Be (an everlasting love)
Q Favourite colour scheme?
I am all about the bold and vibrant colours. The more fun and different, the better. Think eclectic wildflowers and bold accent colours for chair sashes and table runners!
Q Favourite wedding cake flavour?
My all time favourite was a banoffee wedding cake!
Q What favours do guests actually keep?
I always recommend wedding favours that can either be eaten or drunk. Little sweet bags, personalised biscuits or shots of your favourite drink always go down well.
Traditions
Q One ‘Old’ tradition you still love.
Burying a sausage the night before the wedding. Anything which helps ensure it doesn’t rain on the wedding day is a bonus in my eyes. I even have a designated sausage plot where this is done at Carlton Manor!
Q One ‘New’ tradition you’re currently obsessed with?
I will always love seeing stunning wedding cakes, but I do love how ingenious couples are now becoming with this tradition. Couples opting for something different have created cakes of cheese and pork pie cakes. Other alternatives have been towers of cupcakes or doughnuts.
The Ceremony:
Q Everyone working on the wedding floor loves a Celebrant Led wedding, why do you love them?
Although civil ceremonies are still lovely, they do become a little repetitive. What I love the most about a celebrant led ceremony is how bespoke they are for each couple. I love how a celebrant will sit down with a couple and find out all about them and what makes them tick. They will then create an amazing ceremony which they will be happy with, rather than feeling shoehorned into a ceremony that might not be what they want. Every celebrant led ceremony I have been a part of has been different. Some couples still opt for more of a traditional ceremony but add a handfasting or sand ceremony. Others throw in more unusual things. My favourite was when a couple had the rings tied to toy dinosaurs which were passed round the guests while the Jurassic Park theme tune was played!
These are the things which truly make a ceremony memorable.
You can contact James and find out more about the Carlton Manor Team by clicking here
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