Access to your function suite
Usually available from the morning of your wedding. If you have asked someone other than Castle Creations to decorate your room, timings must be agreed with us. If you require access prior to the day of your wedding (subject to availability) there will be a supplementary fee.
Banners
Please do not cause damage to decoration by attaching any items to the walls
Bar
The bar usually closes at 11.30 with dancing finishing at midnight; a license extension allows for the bar to be open until 12.30 am with dancing until 1.00 am. Our residents’ bar will be open at the duty manager’s discretion for guests staying in the hotel. Our night porter has a limited stock of beverages after the residents bar closes.
Please note that no beverages of any type may be brought onto the premises by anyone attending a function. All drinks must be purchased.
Candles
Because of fire and damage risk, we need to be a little careful about the use of candles. We ask that if you would like to use candles, they are in a stable container ideally 5cm higher than the wick
Candy Buffet
We are delighted to offer a candy buffet. This is a very popular choice. Please ask for details. There is a small charge to organise your own or a chocolate fountain.
Cards/Gifts
We cannot be responsible for these so please assign a guest to look after them for you.
Casinos
If you are thinking of booking this activity, please not that only fake money (eg tokens) is permissable due to licensing laws.
Ceremony Music
If you are having a civil ceremony most couples like to make up a CD of their own music. Please test your CD on our player prior to your wedding to ensure that it is compatible. Or you can bring in your own equipment (please note that it is not insured against loss or damage on the Hotel’s insurance policy). Please nominate a guest to operate this music for you.
Check-in
Is from 2.00 pm. We can usually offer a limited number of early check-ins for you and your guests if pre-booked at a supplement of £10 per room. Please confirm with our reservations department.
Children at Weddings
If you have a large number of children attending your wedding you may like to provide some activities to keep them entertained. If you are providing craft materials please ensure that no damage can be caused to decorations including chair covers and table linen. Felt pens and crayons may cause damage. Items such as fuzzy felt, plastic building bricks, jigsaws are ideal items, depending on the ages of the children. Please note that if any damage occurs, we will regrettably need to charge for this. We have details of a mobile crèche should you require their services.
Chinese Lanterns
Please advise the Hotel at your Wedding Details Appointment if you would like these. The lanterns must be biodegradable and not contain any metal parts. You must advise the local Coastguard too.
Civil Ceremony
We recommend that you book your Civil Ceremony at 1pm or 3pm. You need to contact the Registry Office (0151 666 3681) to book your Ceremony and then confirm this with the Hotel. Any variation to timings need to be agreed with the Hotel first.
Contract/Correspondence
Please ensure you update us with any changes in your contact details. Please also ensure that you read carefully any information that we send to you so that no confusion arises.
Decoration
Castle Creations, our own service, can decorate the Castle for you. Please attend a showround day or telephone for an appointment. If you have any other requirements, these need to be agreed with us in advance.
DJ
We have a resident DJ or you can use a DJ of your own choice. Please let us know as soon as possible if you require our DJ. We will make the initial contact with him on your behalf once we have received your signed contract. He will make contact with you and then recommend a final meeting closer to the date of the Wedding. If you need his advice in the interim, he is more than happy to be contacted by phone or e-mail.
Fireworks
Please advise the Hotel at your Wedding Details Appointment if you are having fireworks. The Company that you have hired need to provide proof of their public liability insurance.
Helicopter Pad
Arrive at the Castle in style! The landing fee is just £40.
Party Poppers
Please do not put party poppers on your tables, they sometimes stain the table cloths
Payment
The Hotel can accept payments by cash or most major credit/debit cards (other than American Express). We are unable to accept cheque payments.
Photographer/Videographer
Please ensure that they are aware of the timings, especially your wedding breakfast. You may wish to provide refreshments for them – if so, please let us know at your details appointment.
Place Cards/Table Plan
Please deliver to us one week before your wedding. Check carefully that your table plan corresponds exactly with the numbers attending. Please provide an extra (rough) copy of your table plan for our use indicating the location of children, vegetarians etc. Please ensure that place cards are sorted into individual tables, eg each separate table is in a labelled envelope.
Preparation for your Wedding – getting ready at the hotel
Please see section regarding early check in (usually from midday if available).
If you wish to get ready in your Honeymoon suite the only definite way to ensure that it is available for you is to book it from the previous evening (subject to availability at time of booking).
We have a limited number of changing rooms which you and your bridesmaids may get ready in at a supplement of £35. This allows you to get ready at leisure and can be a great start to the day. We have two rooms which are ideal for this purpose because they provide plenty of space. Please ask for details. These can be reserved for you in advance, from the morning of your wedding. (Subject to availability).
Speeches
Follow the wedding breakfast.
Table Accessories (eg table confetti, favours, place cards)
If Castle Creations are providing your venue dressing there is no additional charge for putting these items on your tables for you. If you are not using Castle Creations, a set up fee of £20 is chargeable. Similarly, if you have an outside venue dressing company, we charge £20 for removal of their decorations and chair covers unless they are returning at the end of the function to perform this task for you.
Table Cloths
White linen is provided. We also have large circular wedding cloths, ivory as an alternative choice (supplement applies) and swarovski crystal slip cloths (supplement applies).
Table Plan
We will forward the sample table plan to you with confirmation of your Wedding booking. This will show the maximum number of tables for your chosen function suite. If you have any questions about this please do not hesitate to contact the sales team.
Timings
eg ceremony, wedding breakfast - need to be agreed with us in advance
Wedding Breakfast
We strongly advise one selection is provided for all your guests (with the exception of any vegetarian/special dietary requirements). This provides much smoother service and ensures that an entire table receives their food at the same time. Please speak to us if you wish to discuss this further.
Wedding Cake
Please arrange for this to be delivered to the Hotel and assembled by your cake supplier on the morning of your wedding. Details of stands available are on our website. If there are any pins in the cake it is not the responsibility of the hotel to remove them prior to cutting your cake and we cannot be responsible if any are left in. Please provide a container for any cake you wish to take away with you. We will endeavour to remove all decorations carefully and to return them to you or keep them for you until the following morning.
Wedding Tasters
You are welcome to pre-book a table in our Portcullis Restaurant to experience the quality of our food. We are happy to offer this on one occasion to the Bride and Groom on a buy one get one free basis from our Table D’Hote Menu. Alternatively, you may wish to attend one of our Murder Mystery/70’s – 80’s Nights, also at a buy one get one free ticket price. Unfortunately however we are unable to offer taster evenings from our Wedding Brochure Menus.
