In October 2014, Newstead Priory welcomed Matthew & Maria to celebrate their wedding with family and friends, some of whom had travelled across the globe to be there. Here we talk to the bride and groom to find out about the best day of their lives...

The Venue

Did you look at a lot of wedding venues?

No, we didn't. I think Newstead Priory was the one and only as the saying goes. As soon as we have had our first tour, we knew that our wedding would be there. It just had something about it and was exactly what we had in mind.

How did you find out about Newstead Priory?

Martin, Matthew's Mom's partner, works in the farms nearby, he was the one that told us about the place - luckily! We didn't even know it was there.

What made you decide to book Newstead Priory?

We would say the main reason for booking Newstead Priory as our wedding venue is the intimacy it provides. There is only you and your wedding party there throughout the whole day - which makes it more special. Both the house and the surrounding scenery are stunning which is a big bonus.

The Ceremony

What did you like about the vaulted room?

The vaulted room is just magical - the fact that it is so old only adds to its charm. We loved the fact that it is not a big room as we wanted to have a very intimate ceremony with family and closest friends only.

Can you describe the atmosphere in the vaulted room during your ceremony?

Our ceremony was very emotional - we were both crying and so were our guests! It was a very special moment.

Friends & Family

Where did your friends and family travel from to join you on your special day?

Most of Matthew's family live in Scunthorpe and surrounding areas, but as I (Maria) am originally from Russia, my mom and dad and some friends had to travel from there - just a little further than everyone else! Another one of my bridesmaids travelled from the Netherlands, and a bunch of my friends came up from London.

Where did you stay on your wedding night?

We stayed at Winteringham Fields hotel - about half an hour drive from Newstead Priory but so worth it!

The Dress 

Can you tell us about your beautiful dress?

My dress comes from a boutique in London and is actually from an old Pronovias collection. I absolutely adore it. It is quite big but at the same time the lace detailing on it makes it very delicate.

What did the groom and the bridesmaids wear?

Matthew together with his groomsmen were wearing hired suits from Charles Richard, classic black with gold detailing to match the colour scheme of the wedding. I wasn't keen on getting the same dresses for my bridesmaids, so I asked them all to wear a dress of any gold shade. It turned out to be amazing as all of them had long dresses of different shades - they looked stunning together!

Flowers & Decor 

Did you have a theme for your wedding? Which flowers did you choose?

There wasn't a particular theme - we wanted a classic wedding with a cream and gold colour scheme. Hence for our wedding flowers we picked cream roses - these were used for bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets, buttonholes, venue decoration flowers. We had a gold cake and used gold detailing in table dressing and our outfits - Matt had a gold cravat and handkerchief, I had gold shoes and gold string was used in my hair.

Food & Drink

Can you tell us about the food and drinks served at your wedding?

For our drinks reception we offered our guests Budwiser beer, classic and rose Prosecco and a selection of soft drinks which worked well together with the selection of nibbles we chose.
Our dinner menu consisted of smooth Tomato & Basil Soup, Fillet of Beef with Mini Yorkshire Puddings, Roast Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables, followed by Dark Chocolate & Raspberry Tart.

For the evening option we picked the hog roast. 

During dinner a selection of wines were presented to our guests, together with Prosecco for the toast. We also used some of our own vodka for the toast of Father of the Bride, for which we just paid a set corkage fee.

All the food was of a very high quality and superbly presented. 

What was your wedding cake like?

We had a round 4-tier fruit wedding cake with gold lace design all over and a cream bow.

Did you enjoy working with Newstead to plan the menu?

Yes, it was an easy experience for us as we picked out what we wanted straight away from the range of options presented by Newstead Priory. We were also impressed by the extensive wine list available.


Did the food live up to expectations on the day?

Absolutely. We actually didn't eat all of our meals because of all the nerves and emotion but all the guest said how lovely the food was. Lucy also packed us some food to take with us which was very nice.

The Service

Did you enjoy working with Lucy to plan your wedding day?

Lucy is great at what she does - she offers you different ideas for each part of your wedding and it is easy to pick the ones that suit you the most. It is all about creating an experience special to YOU - and the Newstead Priory team are fantastic at that.  

Did everything run smoothly on the day?

Yes, the day went so quick but all went to plan. We had some last minute changes of seating arrangements for our dinner, and it was organised by Lucy straight away. 

Did the staff provide a professional service?

The staff at Newstead Priory are the most attentive and professional people we ever met. The service is fantastic. John and Lucy were there for us whenever we needed them. The whole team made our day very special and our guests had great time which is very important. We would like to thank Newstead Priory for the best day of our lives. 

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The perfect setting for weddings, social events and corporate hospitality, the charm and elegance of Newstead Priory is something which guests fall in love with time and time again.

For further information about Newstead Priory please phone (01625) 653283. You can also find ‘Newstead Priory Weddings Lincolnshire’ on Facebook.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF HENDEN WEDDINGS LINCOLNSHIRE 

Newstead Priory’s Wedding Planner, Lucy Kent, discusses...The Perfect Winter Wedding

Winter weddings conjure a truly magical atmosphere. Alongside traditional weddings, elegant black tie weddings are also popular. Winter is so different from the rest of the year, a wedding in the festive season will be memorable. Late weddings at this time of year are lovely when it is getting dark with lots of candlelight and fairy lights for a really romantic atmosphere. Or for the best of both worlds, weddings earlier in the day will allow enough light outside for your photographer to take daylight shots but then as it gets darker all the lighting is a wonderful contrast for the evening’s celebrations.

Warmth & Aromas

Open log fires make a fabulous impact when guests walk into a room and are so welcoming in cold weather. The smell of cinnamon, oranges with cloves, fresh Christmas trees and pine cones are seasonal and always

make a room nice with that exciting festive feel. Guests will appreciate a warm welcome; mulled wine, hot port or whiskey served with lemon and cloves are popular choices.

Weather & Wedding Attire

During the winter months you know it is going to be cold so you are never going to be disappointed if the sun isn’t shinning! It is the time of year we see more variety with coloured wedding dresses; from holly green, crimson red to ice blue. Fur wraps or long velvet cloaks not only look fabulous but are practical to brave the cold weather. Funky wellies or hug boots, plus glamorous glitzy wedding shoes, will be required if the weather is cold but what better excuse to have two pairs of fabulous foot wear!? For something a little different the Swarovski crystal bouquets are perfect and are ideal for allergy sufferers.

Decorations

Traditional garlands around log fires with holly berries, baubles and fairy lights make a wonderful impact. We also like to decorate the priory with big bunches of hanging mistletoe – perfect for the photographs! Poinsettia plants not only look lovely but are wonderful in arrangements. We love the cream ones for weddings but the traditional deep reds are so nice too. The crystal winter wonderland look with candlelight and ivory roses or gypsophila on white linen can look stunning. A Christmas bauble with the bride and grooms names and wedding date make the perfect favour for guests. We also think mini Christmas crackers as a name place are great fun.  

Food, Glorious Food!

Planning the menu with the chef is one of the most exciting elements for many couples. The food and drink will be highly anticipated by the guests. Festive canapés look and taste fantastic and bright winter berries add

a splash of colour to deserts. Some of our most popular winter canapés include; Gravlax on Pumpernickle with Dill Mustard Sauce, Mini Yorkshire Puddings with Filet of Beef and Horseradish Sauce and Celery Barquettes with Stilton & Walnuts.

To start, warming soups with crusty bread are a good choice or game tartlets with cranberry compot. Winter main courses include Fillet of beef on bubble & squeak cakes and Venison, which is very festive and such a treat. For vegetarians Mushroom Wellington with white wine cream sauce is a delicious option. Huge cheeses, served with port are the perfect way to finish a meal!  

Winter at Newstead Priory...

Newstead Priory has excellent facilities for winter weddings. If you are opting for a festive theme you will be delighted with the stunning Christmas decorations that adorn the priory during December. With its roaring open fires and well heated rooms, the priory provides a welcome retreat from the cold outdoors. As the daylight fades, the fairy lights and candles create a unique atmosphere in the ancient priory and in the beautifully restored reception barn. Head Chef Marina Kent will work with you to create a delicious menu and Wedding Planner Lucy Kent will turn your winter wedding dreams in to reality.