Spotlight – Everything you need to know about Clevedon Hall Wedding Venue
There are so many things involved in being a Bristol wedding photographer – and while a lot of them are camera related, not all of them are. Some of them involve getting to know other brilliant local wedding suppliers, so that we can not only recommend you the best in the business, but also make your day go even more smoothly when it comes around, too!
With that in mind, we wanted to start a series on our blog to introduce you to some of the incredible suppliers we love working with. And who better to kick off with than Clevedon Hall wedding venue?
Clevedon Hall is a Grade II* listed mansion that also happens to be one of the best wedding venues in Somerset. (If you want to see more of Clevedon Hall, you can check out Charlotte and John’s wedding here.) We caught up with Lauren, the Head of Wedding Sales, to find out more about this gorgeous venue. She really gave us the inside scoop, too – make sure you read through to find out about the deer, and the morning after her own wedding…
Hey Lauren! We know why we like Clevedon Hall… but why do you?
Hey! I love that Clevedon Hall is family-run which means there is flexibility to create bespoke packages and experiences for our couples. I also really love that we have so many different options for your ceremony and sit down meal from the outside Gazebo, light and airy Orangery, romantic Library, Great Hall and even the intimate Dame Rosa Burden! Every room has something different to offer. We also have 25 really beautiful bedrooms including family rooms which means you can have around 60 of your nearest and dearest stay overnight with you, plus the option to stay the night before in our cottage. We have beautiful grounds, an experienced and dedicated team and the flexibility to be able to create unique and memorable experiences.
How many guests can you have at a Clevedon Hall wedding?
Our maximum capacity is up to 150 during the day seated and up to 250 in the evening.
Which ceremony room is your favourite?
Easy – the Great Hall, as that’s where I got married! It’s so beautiful with lots of character, grand balcony and stained glass windows. It’s a real wow factor.
Can you have your ceremony outside?
Yes, we have a fully licensed gazebo with views of the lake and it’s really beautiful – weather permitting! We always have a plan A and a plan B just in case the weather isn’t on our side, and the final decision can be made on the day.
Can you introduce us to the Clevedon Hall wedding team?
Of course!
In the sales team:
There’s Lauren, head of wedding sales: responsible for all wedding related sales and marketing. That’s me!
Jess, Wedding Coordinator: Jess is often the first person you will meet at the Hall, responsible for responding to all new enquiries, sending wedding proposals etc. Jess works hard to ensure everything is planned to perfection, before handing her couples over to their event manager.
Sacha, Wedding Administrator: Sacha supports Lauren and Jess with day to day admin and helps to coordinate weddings and events from behind the scenes. Sacha has a great eye for detail and spends time meticulously checking each wedding to ensure nothing is missed, before our couples are handed over to their event manager. She also helps with social media.
In the operations team:
Jade, Head of Event Operations: Jade is responsible for supporting all operational aspects of the business. Jade’s primary focus is creating luxurious, memorable moments for our wedding couples with the help of her team as listed below:
Lara, Senior Event Manager
Jordan, Event Manager
Kyle, Event Manager
How many rooms do you have?
We have 25 bedrooms in total + the cottage. All of the bedrooms are decorated differently and all named after birds!
Can the bridal party stay the night before the wedding?
Yes, we have our lovely cosy cottage located just a few minutes away from the Hall which is always available the night before. The cottage can sleep up to 8 people with 1 master bedroom and pull out beds in the lounge. It has 2 bathrooms and a really cute little garden patio, so it’s ideal for getting your bridal party together the night before, and for getting ready in the morning before heading over to the main house.
Are you an exclusive wedding venue?
Yes, we don’t open to the public or operate like a hotel. We only offer exclusive use to our couples.
Do you have an in-house chef?
Yes, head chef Alex is fantastic and has a great team of chefs to support him. We don’t allow outside catering so everything is prepared by our very talented team, but bespoke menus can be created if preferred.
Do you hold wedding fayres?
Yes! We host 3 every year, one in January which is always the busiest after lots of Christmas engagements, one in the spring and one in autumn. We love our fayres – they’re free for couples to attend and a great opportunity for them to see rooms dressed, try some of our food and drink and meet some of the best most trusted suppliers in the south west!
Do you have a recommended suppliers list?
Yes, but only the best make it on the list! We regularly review and update our list of recommended suppliers based on the trends of our couples. It’s really important to us that we work with only the best, most trusted in the business. (Sidenote: we can confirm…because we’re on there as recommended Bristol wedding photographers.)
Is it true deer live on the grounds?
Yes, although they don’t technically belong to us – but they hang out on our grounds and we don’t mind at all.
Where did you get married?
Clevedon Hall…duh! It was an obvious choice – nowhere else does it better! I didn’t even bother looking anywhere else, as having been in the industry for 10+ years, I honestly believe Clevedon Hall is the best there is.
What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Probably the day after my own wedding having had perhaps a little too much to drink the night before…I woke up late, missed breakfast and was found by the MD sat in the middle of the Hall, legs crossed with no shoes on, hadn’t brushed my hair or teeth just staring into space. He had to ask me to move so that they could welcome that day’s bride to be!!! I then had to be snuck out of the building…oops!
Thank you so much Lauren for answering our questions about Clevedon Hall weddings, and for being one of our favourite Head of Sales to work with.
Keep an eye out for the next interview in this series – and in the meantime, you can check out some of our other work as Bristol wedding photographers here.
(Looking for a Bristol wedding photographer for your wedding? We’d love to chat about your plans – you can get in touch here!)
