Wedding Day Schedule
We are often asked about what your wedding day schedule might look like, so I thought I’d share Kate & Ross’s wedding day schedule at The Ashes Barns to give you an idea of how your day might run. Kate and Ross chose to have a 1.30pm Ceremony in The West Barn at The Ashes Barns.
9am The Day Before
Their incredible bunting and all the decorations for the barns were dropped off at The Ashes Barns the day before the wedding.
All their gorgeous personalised touches for the wedding breakfast dining tables were boxed per table; place name cards, favours and menu cards so that The Ashes Barns Estates Team could place everything carefully, bright and early, the morning of the wedding.
10am on Your Wedding Day
This is the earliest time that your wedding suppliers can arrive; your florist, wedding cake supplier, DJ etc.
Kate kept things stress free by hiring some of our highly recommended suppliers. The Ashes ‘Dream Team’ florist, The Topiary Tree and the amazing Sound Solutions DJs.
Our exclusive wedding caterers will also arrive around this time to lay the tables and begin preparing your food & drinks.
10.30am – Settle into The Dressing Room
Kate’s Bridal Party arrived to enjoy getting ready in The Dressing Room, together with her awesome wedding photographer Andy Wardle.
11am – Exclusive Use of The Ashes Barns begins.
Your Exclusive Use of The Ashes Barns begins, from this point on the only people enjoying the beauty of this amazing wedding venue will be your friends and family and our friendly staff.
12.30pm – One hour prior to The Ceremony
The Groom arrives with his Best Man and any Ushers in plenty time to welcome guests and pose for a few pictures!
1.00pm – Thirty minutes prior to The Ceremony
The registrar arrives and speaks to The Groom in The West Barn, the registrar also needs 10 minutes with The Bride in The Dressing Room prior to the ceremony.
Meanwhile, your guests will also be arriving and The Ashes Barns Events Manager will be on hand to help greet them and show them where the ceremony is to be held.
1.30pm – The Wedding Ceremony
Kate and Ross chose to hold their ceremony at 1.30pm. The Bride and Groom choose their preferred ceremony time and book this directly with the registrars.
Kate and Ross opted for the Traditional Layout in The West Barn which gave Kate a great aisle to sashay down towards her handsome and nervous Groom!
The ceremony lasts around 30 minutes and often includes a couple of non-religious readings as was the case for Kate and Ross.
2.00pm – The Drinks Reception
Following the ceremony your guests are invited to exit The West Barn using the four beautiful stable doors which lead straight into the North Courtyard where our catering staff will be stood with trays of drinks.
The drinks reception usually lasts around an hour and a half, during which time the photographer works hard to get all the shots you want, while your guests mingle and enjoy a drink with canapés perhaps.
Take the opportunity to sneak off with your new husband or wife and get some great photographs of just the two of you within the glorious grounds of The Ashes Barn.
3.30pm – Guests are Invited Into The East Barn
Your guests are invited to take their seats in The East Barn, the Bride & Groom wait until their guests are seated before being announced into the room, entering to rapturous applause.
3.45pm – The Wedding Breakfast
Your bespoke menu and accompanying wine is served with panache by the catering staff who are all smartly dressed in black uniforms set off with an ‘Ashes green’ tie.
After the Meal circa 5.15pm – Speeches
It is traditional for the Bride’s Father, the Groom and the Best Man, to say a few words on this auspicious occasion. The Ashes provides a wireless microphone to ensure that your guests hear every word and the mobility of some of the more flamboyant speakers is not compromised!
6pm until 8pm – Mingling Time
The weather was so gorgeous for Kate and Ross’s July wedding that guests enjoyed this time to mingle, circulate and discover The Ashes Bar which opens straight after the meal.
8pm – Your First Dance
Whether you opt for a DJ, a live band or even a ceilidh, we have loads of recommendations, why not visit our online Suppliers Directory for details of our ‘Dream Team’ DJs and a comprehensive list of live performers.
8.30pm – Informal Evening Refreshments are served
Kick start your evening festivities by serving adventurous, delicious and inventive dishes to excite and energise your guests.
11.45pm – Last Orders at The Bar
Midnight – The Bar closes, music ceases and all guests depart.
As in all good fairy tales, this one ends at Midnight. As the clock strikes twelve your carriage awaits to whisk you away to your romantic bolthole.
12.15am – The Ashes Barns Wedding Venue Closes
12.30am – All guests to have departed from The Ashes Barns
Our fabulous Ashes Barns Estates Team carefully collect together all your belongings and place them in secure overnight storage with any unopened drinks you may have supplied, ready for collection at your 9am or 9.30am slot the next day.
Want to visit The Ashes Barns?
If you’d like to visit The Ashes Barns no corkage barn wedding venue in Staffordshire, we’d love to hear from you.
One of our experienced Event Managers will give you a guided tour of The Ashes Barns and talk you through its features; they’ll be plenty of time for you to ask questions and get some expert advice and top tips for planning a wedding.
A massive thank you to Andy Wardle for sharing his amazing images of Kate and Ross’s July wedding at The Ashes