Why three-day weekend weddings can be easier to plan: Cornwall wedding planner Caroline Griffiths talks us through the benefits
Getting married in Cornwall couldn’t be easier with a weekend wedding at Boconnion - a beautiful country estate which becomes exclusively yours from Friday to Sunday.
More and more couples are choosing to celebrate their weddings over a whole weekend. Instead of organising just the ‘big day’, couples want to see their close friends and family the night before and debrief with all their guests the day after. With weddings taking so much time, effort and money to plan - why wouldn’t you want to stretch them out? It doesn't have to be, as many people will remind you, “over before you know it.”
But these prolonged celebrations can be complicated with the potential for multiple venues, transport and accommodation for guests, and several suppliers to think about.
The answer? Choose a venue that can do it all for you and give you the chance to get creative with each part of the weekend. Enter Boconnion - an exclusive-use weekend wedding venue like no other in North Cornwall.
How to plan a weekend wedding in Cornwall
Boconnion’s in-house wedding planner, Caroline Griffiths, shares her tips and advice on planning the perfect weekend wedding. Caroline works with all our couples getting married at Boconnion, opening up her black book of suppliers and making sure their celebrations are everything they hoped for.
1. Choose a weekend wedding venue with accommodation for your guests: It’s often the case that the majority of your guests will be travelling from far and wide to make your wedding - so you want to make their journeys well worth it by offering close friends and family accommodation at the venue itself. This makes their experience easier and takes guest accommodation off your to-do list. The added bonus is that you can consider asking them to pay a contribution towards their room and help with the overall cost.
Boconnion has luxury accommodation for 45 guests across four properties, plus two hot tubs, a heated swimming pool and a tennis court.
2. Set expectations of budget: When it comes to budgeting for your weekend wedding, your main focal point will be the day itself but don’t underestimate the evening before or day after. At Boconnion, we can make these additional celebrations as relaxed or as formal as you like to cater to all budgets. Be transparent with your guests early on about how much it will cost them, too.
3. Live in luxury: If you and your guests are going to spend a whole weekend in one location, make sure it is gorgeous and feels indulgent - like a mini escape. Include images of the rooms or a website link in your invites to get everyone excited. With a stunning Georgian Manor House, renovated stables, free-standing copper baths, super-soft beds and plenty of spaces to relax and take it all in, Boconnion is just that.
The renovated 7-bedroom Manor House at Boconnion. Sleeping up to 17 guests, it has a bridal suite, grand staircase and relaxed communal areas. Outside, there’s a swimming pool, pool house and tennis court in the grounds.
4. Plan your spaces: Use separate areas of the venue for different parts of the weekend to make the most of every inch. Consider your styling and how you can utilise the decor across the two/three days to save on budget. How about a pool party on the Friday night and a relaxed brunch on the lawn on Sunday, leaving the main barn for the wedding breakfast?
5. Research and provide: If guests are joining you for a whole weekend, give them as much information as possible so they can plan ahead. Put all the information on the wedding invites so they are in the know, including the itinerary and dress codes, plus local attractions and supermarkets.
6. Give your guests some free time: If you are planning an action-packed weekend wedding, remember to leave some downtime. This weekend is to relax and enjoy time as a family or with friends. As much as guests will love being with you they will also feel overwhelmed if they are being organised and ushered for two/three days straight.
7. Get creative with your weekend wedding! The majority of couples keep the formalities of a typical wedding on the day itself but with a weekend wedding you can mix it up a little and throw in some personal touches. Let’s say you met in Thailand and had the most magical of times in south Asia. Why not have a fusion of Asian street food on the Friday night with lots of colour and music? Create a completely different feel to the wedding day itself.
8. Choosing suppliers: When it comes to weekend weddings, choose your suppliers wisely. Try and utilise the suppliers over the whole weekend so you are not managing multiple vendors. If you hire a caterer, see if they can cater for the night before dinner or the Sunday brunch too. This will put your mind at rest and make the planning easier.
9. Use a wedding planner: The role of the wedding planner at a wedding weekend is quite different to a one-day event. They are not behind the scenes with a clipboard and walkie talkie. Instead, they are very much a secondary host, making your guests, friends and family feel at ease from check-in to check-out. Caroline at Boconnion is very much your wedding fairy godmother. Here’s what Boconnion couples have to say about working with Caroline.
10. Enjoy it! Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life. Don’t spend the whole time worrying or getting stressed out. Relax and remember the reasons why this day is taking place.
For more help and advice on planning your weekend wedding and to arrange a tour of Boconnion, get in touch with Caroline below:
