The Civil Ceremony
If you are getting married here, the same procedure as for church weddings can be followed. Your guests can arrive at any time prior to the Ceremony and the Coronet Bar will be open from 11.00 a.m. (we cannot open the private bar until one hour after the Ceremony). The Groom and Best Man should ideally be here to greet people and introduce those who have not met before. Approximately 30 minutes before the Ceremony, the Registrar will arrive and will want to meet the Groom to go through a brief set of formalities, in one our small private function rooms. We will advise you when the Registrar has arrived.
Ten minutes before the Ceremony is due to start, everyone should make their way to the Ceremony room. The Bride will then arrive (remember that the car can get right up to the Hotel entrance) and be welcomed into the building, after any photographs. Again, the Bride has to see the Registrar in private prior to the Ceremony. The Registrar will then go into the Ceremony room and allow the Bride to make her entrance. This can be either informal or a traditional procession, on a red carpet. You can choose any music (non-religious) that you like. The Ceremony will take place and lasts for approximately 10 minutes.
Then, as everyone leaves the Ceremony room, your pre-reception drinks will be served and the photographs are taken, either indoors or outdoors (or both!). When planning the timing of your Reception, don't underestimate the time that the photographer will need. It can take up to an hour but remember, the photographer only wants to ensure that you have a perfect pictorial record of your special day.
