Creating the Perfect Wedding-Guest Itinerary at Bilsington Priory
Tips and Suggestions to make your guests aware of before your wedding
Thank you for booking your wedding with Bilsington Priory; as you prepare to send your wedding invites, we’re here to ensure that your experience is nothing short of magical. In this blog post, we provide ideas on what to include in your wedding guest itinerary, considering the nature of the Priory.
1. Arrival and Welcome
Guests should park in the car park to the right of the Edwardian equestrian clocktower. For less able guests, drop-offs should be made outside the Priory, after which the driver should use the one-way system to return the car to the carpark.
2. Outdoor Ceremony
Weather permitting, the wedding ceremony will take place outdoors amidst the natural beauty of the private estate. As you take your seat on the grassy lawn, prepare to witness a heartfelt exchange of vows surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air. Please bring your sunglasses, sun tan lotion, and a shawl or jacket in case of changing weather conditions. If the weather changes the couple will marry in the Priory Great Hall accessible by stairs only. We recommend you opt for footwear that is suitable for walking on a lawn.
3. Indoor Ceremony
At Bilsington Priory licenced indoor ceremonies take place in The Great Hall on the first floor. As the Priory is a Scheduled Ancient Monument there is a staircase and there are no lifts.
4. Confetti moment
Assuming after your ceremony it’s nice enough for guests to be outside, don’t forget if you’ve booked Trigger or Gary the confetti ponies, to let guests know in advance there will be horses on site.
5. Cocktail Hour and Reception
After the ceremony, we recommend enjoying canapés and your drinks reception amidst the picturesque priory grounds. While enjoying the outdoor ambiance, we advise guests who suffer from hay fever to bring the necessary precautions, as the Priory team does not stock any form of medication. Please note that if someone is bitten or stung, we are not allowed to administer any medication.
6. Dinner and Dancing
After photos and your drinks reception guests gather in the tea tent for your wedding breakfast prepared by your choosen caterer featuring locally sourced ingredients and seasonal flavors.
If any one within the wedding party which includes suppliers prior to eating they must make the catering team aware of any and all dietary requirements. If someone has an allergy that requires an EpiPen they must bring one with them.
After dinner, hit the dance floor in The Chapter Room and bar as the celebrations continue late into the night.
7. Drinking
At Bilsington Priory, we adhere to the Challenge 21 policy. The Challenge 21 policy is a practice to prevent sales of alchol to underage guests. It requires anyone who appears to be under 21 years old to provide identification proving they are of legal drinking age before purchasing alcohol.
8. Drugs
At no point during the wedding or event do we at Bilsington Priory tolerate the use of drugs.
9. Departure and Farewell
As the evening draws to a close, last orders is at xxx bid farewell to the newlyweds and fellow guests with fond memories of a joyous celebration.
At Bilsington Priory, we’re dedicated to crafting unforgettable wedding experiences for you and your guests. Providing your guests with the itinerary, event location, and our policies in advance enables them to prepare accordingly, ensuring they dress appropriately for the occasion and bring any necessary items. If you are utilising a package like Joy, please ensure this information is included.
Images with kind thanks to Fleur Challis Photography
