There are obvious benefits to marrying over a weekend, since clearly this is the time most people are likely to be able to attend without having to take time off work.

And if you can manage to spread your celebrations over two or three days, you’ll have more time to relax, chat to your guests and enjoy each other’s company without the pressure of feeling you have to get round everyone. (This can sometimes mean just a few minutes of conversation with each guest.)

So why limit the joy to a single day when you could make the party last a whole weekend? After all, many couples say their big day went by in a flash. And while it may feel like double the planning, it’s really all about enjoying more time with loved ones.

One industry website reports that more than a quarter (28%) of couples were planning multi-day nuptials, while nearly a third (30%) said they had attended a weekend wedding.

You can decide at which point in the weekend to hold your ceremony. So guests have more flexibility with departure and arrival times, and more time away to justify the distance if they’re travelling a long way.

Equally, you’ll all have more time for activities – perhaps a post-wedding brunch to group trips to local attractions. Share meals, play games or just hang out! Benefit from some quality time together plus a real chance to connect and enjoy a special location over a longer period. An extended celebration also allows you to really switch off once the formalities are dispensed with and you’ve tied the knot.

So think about your budget, communicate well with those you want to invite, and consider what additional activities you may want to organise.

Decided on a weekend wedding?

Once you’ve decided to opt for a weekend-long celebration, how do you go about selecting your wedding venue? Here are our top tips:

Location, location, location

Often single-day weddings are near where the bride and groom live or grew up. Think about somewhere different for your weekend nuptials – give guests the chance to experience somewhere new, how about having a castle wedding.

Accommodation

Clearly, you’ll need to find somewhere with enough comfortable rooms for everyone who’s coming. Ideally, you don’t want to have some people staying in a nearby hotel and having to drive or be bused in to the venue.
Give yourselves space

If people are staying at one site for two days, you’ll obviously need plenty of room, ideally incorporating varied spaces. That could include, for example, an outside area for a welcome barbecue or a library for pre-dinner cocktails. You’ll want people to be in as many different spots as possible over the course of the weekend.

Pick the best team

You may want a wedding planner, or a supportive and organised friend or family member to help you pull everything together. You’ll also want to work with high-quality suppliers, especially caterers. Be sure everyone at your chosen venue will go out of their way to help you.

Be sure it’s a weekend wedding venue

It may sound obvious, but not every venue will offer full two-day hire, since some will be taken up by celebrations on each day of the weekend. Make sure the venue can offer hire packages over two or three days. Ideally, you and your party will have the full run of the place, with exclusive use of it.

Otherwise, the same factors come in to play when choosing a weekend wedding venue that apply to single-day locations. Budgets, dates and personal taste will all play their part. Does the prospective site suit your chosen theme, for example? Are you after a castle wedding venue, country house or anything else? What’s included in the package and when can you go and visit it for yourself? Visit our castle wedding pricing at Berkeley Castle, to see if our packages are right for you.

Be kings and queens of the castle for your wedding weekend!

At Berkeley Castle, we’re an exclusive-use, luxury weekend castle wedding venue on the edge of the Cotswolds. Let us help you create the perfect two-day celebration that’s absolutely right for you. View our castle wedding packages or get in touch today and our dedicated weddings team will come back to you promptly.