A Telford hotel has boosted the experience of couples getting married there – by introducing a new venue and giving away a wedding.
Bosses at The Buckatree Hall Hotel in Wellington held a competition to win a wedding as a way of celebrating when Telford & Wrekin Council approved a license for the pagoda in the landscaped grounds in the shadow of the Wrekin – and now couples are enjoying it.
Victoria and Guy Savage, of Wellington, were one of the first couples to get married in the pagoda and they said it was an absolute dream.
Mrs Savage, 43, a store assistant, said it was the perfect setting for their dream day.
She said: “We chose the Buckatree because of the view.
“It is such a pretty area with the lake too and we wanted to take advantage of that.
“I am Wellington born and bred and we’re quite outdoorsy people, walking and camping a lot, so it was perfect.
“It was a beautiful day, very romantic, and I’d encourage other people to get married there too, especially if you’re into nature.”
Mr Savage, 47, a factory worker, said despite the rain the morning they decided to go ahead with the outdoor setting.
He said: “The hotel rang in the morning and asked what we wanted to do because of the rain, the back up plan was to go inside the hotel, but we stuck with the pagoda and we’re very pleased we did.
“It dried up for the ceremony.”
General Manager of the hotel, Wayne Jenson, said it was important to be able to offer the outdoor venue for couples.
He said: “We have been hosting weddings here at The Buckatree Hall Hotel for many years but we recognise that each couple is different and has different priorities for the day.
“We want to give as much choice as possible and the pagoda offers something completely different to the Lakeside Restaurant and other functions rooms we have recently improved.
“We have had a number of couples get married under the pagoda now and each have thoroughly enjoyed their day.”
Meanwhile Adam Pierce, 25 of Hollinswood, and Laura Beech, 22, of Woodside, were named the winners of the competition to get married there next year.
The couple, who got engaged this year and had been planning to save for two years before arranging the ceremony, will enjoy a wedding worth £5,000 in November.
Mr Pierce, a chef at Pizza Hut on the Forge Retail Park, said: “We had discussed the Buckatree as a potential wedding venue because we’ve stayed there before and really liked it, but we knew we would have about two years of saving before we started arranging anything.
“I entered the competition because my sister tagged me in a post on Facebook about it and I thought I’d try my luck, I was gobsmacked when they rang and said we’d won.
“We are now going to be able to get married exactly where we wanted to and a lot earlier than we’d thought.”
Miss Beech, who is completing a beauty course at Telford College of Arts and technology, did not believe it when her fiance told her they’d won the wedding, so he had to call the hotel back and put it on loudspeaker so she heard it herself.
“We’re really excited now,” he added.
“Laura has picked her dress and the bridesmaid dresses and I’ve been suit shopping, there is still saving to be done but we have so much to look forward to.
“We never thought this would happen to us.”
The couple, who have three children between them, hope to get married in a church before enjoying the free sit down meal for 50 guests and an evening reception for 80 people at The Buckatree Hall Hotel.
For more information about the wedding facilities available visit the website www.buckatreehallhotel.com or call (01952) 641821.
Victoria & Guy at the pagoda at Buckatree Hall Hotel
