Archives for January 2018

The Fantasy Venue

When Sky TV called to see if we wouldn’t mind being the fantasy venue for one of the brides on Don’t Tell The Bride (now with E4) we were truly delighted. We were told the lady in question had selected Upper House as her ideal venue because she is keen on walking and the great outdoors.

“We still get goosebumps going up the drive” : Nicola Hudson

And what better place for an outdoorsy girl to be than Kinder Scout in the Peak District National Park? The area has provided our family, our dogs, horses, motorbikes, boats and guns with the most amazing times over the decades. A love and passion for the wildlife, habitats and landscape is at the heart of the Upper House initiatives, with ongoing conservation projects for the forest and marine life being the main priority.

The old faithful rowing boat gets a makeover on the River Kinder

That such a great position is also the setting for such a great house is a pièce de résistance!. And that such a great house is home to one of the most detailed and well preserved Medieval feats of architecture in the UK is the icing on the cake! And it is a joy to share this amazing family home.

Fantasy venue indeed! Our brave bride-to-be sees the Great Hall for the first time

From our fantasy home to your fantasy venue, Upper House provides treasured times for all those lucky enough to share this special place for a day, a night, a weekend or a lifetime.

At Home in Your Fantasy Venue – Upper House Estate

• Upper House hosts only 12 special events a year. Cherish your Wedding Experience as much as we do.

Small Big Days

Every married person has considered the size of his or her wedding, even if it only included one witness. It is a consideration we all share from the day of the proposal until the Big Day itself.

My friends Tom and Francesca’s story of grabbing the ice-cream man from his van to witness their nuptials (and then take their photographs!), will always rate as one of the most romantic tales I know, and it is a rare one in the UK, where LA style spontaneity is not a possibility!

A Big Day in its truest sense is all about that huge declaration, that deepest commitment of one soul to another and we can all understand it is not about the size of the guest list.

So what does matter about size? You may have always expected that the Big Day would mean sharing it with the most people you’ve ever gathered together in your life so far. But there comes a time when you really have to think about what those folk are going to truly share with you on your day.

In a world where sharing is king, be very mindful of the everlasting impression your Big Day will have for those you feel are important enough to be there. Sharing the love means that they should love it too, and your wedding should forever deepen and brighten the relationships you have with those around you.

As you think through all the timings and all the elements of your Big Day, always begin with the two of you. Then be realistic about what you can provide for the comfort of those joining you at those times. If the balance becomes too much of a compromise, then it is time to embrace the Small Big Day.

If a small wedding means that you can have luxury and privacy, as opposed to mediocre and non-exclusive; you can have quantity and quality as opposed to not enough and badly done, then you will soon wonder why you ever considered the big guest list.

As a venue owner of a venue that specialises in the ultimate intimate wedding experience, it is always interesting to hear clients describe what they don’t want, and this can often have a lot to do with their experience as guest. I feel truly blessed to work with such thoughtful people. At Upper House you can be assured that all will delight in truly sharing this amazing space that is completely yours for the day, on premium dates, at any time of year. An abundance of friendly and helpful staff, a package that caters for you from the moment you arrive, and the amazing five course Wedding Breakfast, means that nothing about your Big Day could ever be considered small at Upper House.