Same Sex Wedding Day Schedule
Your same sex wedding day schedule is completely flexible to accommodate every couple’s requirements. As a same sex couple, you may wish to structure your day slightly differently to meet both of your needs, so we have put together a simple guide highlighting various schedule options to put your mind at ease.
9am The Day Before
We ask that you deliver your venue decorations to us from 9am the day before the wedding. This may include personal touches such as decorative artificial flowers, place name cards, and table centre pieces. This ensures that we can prepare your venue as early as possible the next morning, according to your preferences as discussed in your prior planning meeting.
10am on Your Wedding Day
From 10am onwards, your chosen suppliers can arrive to begin setting up. This can include your music arrangements, florists, and our fabulous caterers, Jenkinsons, who will begin preparing your bespoke menu and dining preferences.
It is natural to find picking and organising suppliers overwhelming at first, however there is no need to worry as we have a list of our most trusted and recommended suppliers to ensure a stress-free planning process and wedding.
10.30am – Settle into The Dressing Room
You can make yourselves comfortable in our cosy dressing room alongside your wedding party where you can all begin getting ready for the day. Here at The Ashes Barns, we realise every couple is different, and you may not want to stick to a traditional schedule. You are more than welcome to get ready together in the dressing room and take the opportunity to get a few pre-ceremony shots on the formal lawn.
Alternatively, one of you may arrive later from 12pm to check into your wedding night suite in The Old Dairy, and we are more than happy to “hold” one of you on the dance floor area of The East Barn whilst the other makes their entrance, should you not wish you see each other until the ceremony.
This is a wonderful opportunity for your photographer to capture the moment you both see each other for the first time, leaving you with a long-lasting memory of such a special intimate moment. Whatever suits you as a couple, we are more than happy to accommodate.
11am – Exclusive Use of The Ashes Barns begins.
You can now fully relax, as the venue from this point is exclusively yours for the day without the interruption of other couples and visitors. Enjoy having the place to yourselves and a moment of calm before guests begin to arrive 30 mins before your ceremony.
1.00pm – Thirty minutes prior to The Ceremony
The registrar arrives and speaks to each of you individually prior to your 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
We recommend a ceremony start time of 1.30pm. This ensures you can take full advantage of the venue and fit everything in comfortably. Your ceremony is personal to you, and there are no rules as to the order of the event.
We’ll chat with you prior to the big day and find out who is supporting you during this landmark moment. We’ll discuss your options, you may both want to be given away by a loved one or even accompany each other, arm in arm, as you make your way down the aisle.
The arch layout, suited for smaller weddings of around 60-70 guests, may be useful here as this particular seating arrangement allows for two aisles that meet at the table in the middle, allowing you to make your entrance in unison. Alternatively, one of you can wait at the registrar’s table for the anticipated arrival of your partner. As long as you feel comfortable in whichever way you both choose to make your entrance, that is all that matters.
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 as a newly married couple to get some great photographs of just the two of you within the glorious grounds of The Ashes Barns.
3.30pm – Guests are Invited Into The East Barn
Your guests are invited to take their seats in The East Barn, while you wait for them to be 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
This is the opportunity for a loved one to say a few words on this momentous occasion. This may be one of your fathers, or perhaps both! Or alternatively a close member of your wedding party such as a Best Man or Woman. The Ashes Barns 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
During this couple of hours, guests can mingle and enjoy each other’s company as your two families unite. This is also the time your guests will find The Ashes Barns Bar which opens immediately after the completion of the meal.
8pm – Your First Dance
Make your first dance as formal or as fun as you want! Even get the whole wedding party involved for a more relaxed start to the celebrations. Whether you opt for a DJ, a live band or even a ceilidh, we have a variety of recommendations.
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.
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 gather up your belongings and secure them in safe overnight storage with any unopened drinks that you may have supplied, which will be 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 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 special thank you to James Andrew for capturing the beautiful shots of the lovely Amanda and Zoe, and to Cris Lowis for his fabulous photos of Mike and Sam, both of which are included on our Handpicked Suppliers list.