We believe your wedding should be about more than just one day, with months and sometimes years in the making, we want you to make the most of your celebrations! This is why our wedding package includes use of the venue for two nights, so you can enjoy a relaxing break making memories with your friends and family. In this blog, I will share some of my ideas on how to make the most of your wedding weekend in the Lake District.
At Fairbank Wedding Barn your celebrations begin the day before your wedding, when you can access the barn from 10.00am and the house from 2.30pm. After preparing the venue with your chosen suppliers or maybe your own handmade decorations, you can spend the afternoon settling into the accommodation. With a large lawn and gardens, you could enjoy drinks and a barbeque with your wedding party or make the short drive to Windermere and Bowness and explore the pretty villages on the shores of Lake Windermere. For those more adventurous, you can enjoy one of the many scenic walks close to the wedding venue, a favourite of ours is the walk to Orrest Head View point, just a 20 minute hike from Windermere village which provides panoramic views of the Lake District.
There are lots of great bars, restaurants and pubs just a short drive away and we’d be happy to give you any recommendations for your evening before the wedding. The famous Hawkshead Brewery is only one mile away in the village of Staveley, the perfect place for a drink or two the night before your wedding. One suggestion I would make is to speak to your chosen wedding caterer about providing food the night before the wedding, as they may be able to include this in your catering package, for an intimate dinner either in the main house, or a larger pre-wedding meal in the wedding barn for your nearest and dearest.
On the big day itself, there is plenty of room in the main house for your wedding party to get ready. The bridal suite and dressing room have been designed with you and your bridesmaids in mind, with plenty of natural light, full-length mirrors and wardrobe hanging space. This is the perfect area to relax and prepare for your big day, and the gorgeous bay window overlooking the garden makes for a great photo opportunity. Make sure you remember to stock up on breakfast food for those staying in the main house, including the obligatory fizz to calm those last-minute nerves! On your wedding day, I will be on hand to coordinate timings with the registrar, your caterers and the wedding party to ensure the days runs as smoothly as possible.
After partying the night away in the wedding barn, the next morning you can blow away the cobwebs on a stroll up to the private tarn where we can arrange activities on the water should you wish, the tarn is perfect for stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking for example. The tarn and surrounding land are also perfect for photographs during your wedding day; we can provide transport to the tarn, where you can escape for a quiet moment together!
The day after your wedding you are welcome to invite your guests back to the venue for a brunch or lunch, which most wedding caterers will be happy to assist with. When Nick and I got married, this was one of the highlights of our wedding weekend! We invited our guests back to our venue for lunch, giving us the chance to catch up with those people we didn’t get time to speak too properly on our wedding day! Having a wedding weekend (or midweek break) gives everyone more time to enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful Lake District setting of Fairbank Wedding Barn, you could even arrange garden games on the lawn, before heading home with fond memories of a wonderful few days of celebrations!
You are more than welcome to book extra nights in the accommodation, giving you more time to relax or even enjoy a mini-moon! When there are no weddings on-site the Main House is available to rent for short breaks or full weeks as self-catering accommodation, visit Good Life Lake District Cottages to find out more.
I look forward to welcoming you to Fairbank in the near future!
Clare Buckley, Owner and Wedding Coordinator
