Wedding weekends are becoming increasingly popular and we can absolutely see why – when you’re surrounded by some of your closest friends and family in a beautiful location, what’s not to love about extending the festivities just a little. So, as a weekend wedding venue ourselves, we’ve put together an ultimate guide to choosing a wedding weekend. For more on three day wedding celebrations and what they entail as well as some helpful inspiration and ideas, read on…
What Does a Weekend Wedding Venue Entail?
In essence, a weekend wedding is all about extending the celebrations of your wedding, in order to make the most of the experience. Generally, this will involve meeting with your wedding guests/ a select few for a meal or a small event on the day before the wedding and also staying together the night of the wedding, celebrating the following day with breakfast or perhaps a brunch, garden party or light activity.
At Pynes House, all our couples enjoy exclusive use of our English country house wedding venue and grounds from the moment of check-in on Friday afternoon until late Sunday morning. This being said, many of our couples choose to add on a late checkout on Sunday afternoon and/or an early check in on Friday, to make the most of our weekend wedding venue. And we don’t blame them – our formal terraces, parterres, magical woodlands and expansive lawns can be the perfect backdrop to truly unwind and take it all in. Your home from home, you’ll be able to truly make it your own.
Is a Weekend Wedding Venue for You?
Whether you’re convinced, on the fence or in need of some persuading as to whether a weekend wedding venue is for you, we’ve got everything you need just below.
The Perfect Way to Prolong the Celebrations for Just a Little Longer…
It’s true that many destination weddings are planned as wedding weekends, given that guests often need to travel long distances to get to the venue. But more recently, this idea has been extended to weddings in the UK – at the end of the day, whether your guests are travelling half an hour or half a day or more to get to you, there’s something pretty special about having everyone together in one place!
At our quintessential 3 day wedding venue, many of our couples and their guests travel from all over the UK and abroad, so it really makes sense for couples to choose to extend the weekend to truly make the most of being down in the English countryside. Whether it’s opting for outdoor games in the warm sunshine of our rose gardens or a brunch in our ballroom with a backdrop of the rolling Devonshire hills, it can be a great way to enjoy some last few moments of the tranquillity of the countryside, before returning to the busyness of everyday life.
Read more: Our Favourite Ideas for Outdoor Wedding Entertainment
Make the Most of Your Wedding Venue and its Surroundings
Another lovely bonus of a weekend wedding venue is that you’ll have more time to enjoy and explore your venue and its surroundings with your family and friends. At a weekend wedding venue like Pynes House, our couples and their guests enjoy exclusive use of our elegant and versatile State Rooms, 12 luxury bedrooms, the guest pantry and our expansive parterres. An abundance of choices, it can be nice to have just a little more time to make the most of your time together in the spaces on offer, truly settling into your country house wedding venue experience. Whether you’re sitting around the fire in the golden grandeur of the Drawing Room or simply taking some time to admire the old family crests in the Entrance Hall, there’s quite a bit to see.
See more: The Pynes House Gallery
Fully Document the Experience
Many wedding photographers will be happy to stay to document your weekend wedding festivities, whether it’s the night before or the day following the wedding. Whether you get a few more candid shots of your guests enjoying themselves or even some special moments between you and your fiancé, this can be a lovely addition to your weekend wedding experience.
Discover: Get in touch to see our recommended suppliers list
What to Do? Some Weekend Wedding Venue Inspiration and Ideas
Opt for an Evening Drinks Reception the Night Before Your Wedding
Not only a great way for your guests to see each other informally before the wedding, hosting an evening drinks reception can also be a lovely way to make the most of your wedding venue and all it offers. We’ve seen quite a few couples opt for an evening drinks reception in our Rose Terrace, with a backdrop of the fountain and peaceful Exe Valley just beyond. And if you’d like us to take care of the drinks service for you, we’re very happy to do so – we offer a stocked and staff bar for the wedding day with every booking and can easily extend this to the night before the wedding (or the day after the wedding for that matter), if desired.
Celebrate With a Pre/Post Wedding Meal
Whether it’s the day before the wedding or the day after, coming together to share a meal can be a great way to celebrate (we’ve included some images of a gorgeous recent pre-wedding celebration here at Pynes House just below). At our country house wedding venue, we have two elegant state rooms which can offer a perfect dining backdrop. In terms of private dining, we’ve seen Pickle Shack, our award-winning exclusive caterers, provide some pretty incredible creations – see more about their work here. Or if you’re after something a little less formal, we’d be happy to recommend some incredible food trucks which we’ve had the pleasure of seeing here over the years. We’ve also got plenty of restaurant recommendations if you’re interested – get in touch to see our recommended suppliers list for more. You’re very welcome to cater for yourself in our recently restored guest pantry too, it’s completely up to you.
See more: the night before your wedding
A Post-Wedding Brunch
What’s not to love about a brunch, especially when it’s a post-wedding celebration! Whether you choose to host it in the beautiful interiors of your weekend wedding venue or outside in the sunshine (we’ve seen some pretty gorgeous outdoor brunches amongst the lavender and fragrant roses of our parterres), it can be a pretty good send off after a weekend of festivities.
Enjoy a Day Trip Nearby
Another benefit of a wedding weekend is that you’ll have your wedding venue as a base to explore and truly experience the area. At Pynes House, though the peaceful countryside offers a retreat sensation, Exeter is just three miles away. A historic cathedral city brimming with history and charm, Exeter is perfect for a quick journey out or a day trip alike. Or for those happy to travel a little further, drive just another half hour and you’ll be in beautiful Dartmoor, known for its striking open moorlands and deep river valleys.
Whether you’ve booked a weekend wedding venue or are considering it, we hope that this ultimate guide has been helpful in your wedding planning endeavours. If you’d to learn more about our exclusive use wedding venue, head over to our website or get in touch to book your private show-round. We’ve also got plenty of real wedding inspiration on the blog – have a look at our most Abi & Rob’s stylish autumnal wedding here.