There is no place better than our county to get married, as Emma Mayoh discovered
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NEIL REDFERN

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Useful information

Need inspiration? Here are some of Cheshire beautiful wedding venues to give you some ideas

Abbeywood Estate, Delamere, 01606 889477, www.abbeywoodestate.co.uk

Alderley Edge Hotel, Alderley Edge, 01625 583033, www.alderleyedgehotel.com

Combermere Abbey, Whitchurch, 01948 871662, www.combermereabbey.co.uk

Crewe Hall, Crewe, 01270 253333, www.qhotels.co.uk/hotels/crewe-hall-crewe-cheshire.aspx

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Hoole, Chester, 01244 408800, www.doubletree.hilton.com/Chester

Hillbark Hotel, Frankby, Wirral, 0151 625 2400, www.hillbarkhotel.co.uk

Mere Court Hotel, Mere, Knutsford, 01565 831000, www.merecourt.co.uk

Sandhole Oak Barn, Hulme Walfield, Congleton, 01260 224419, www.sandholeoakbarn.co.uk

The Mere, Mere, Knutsford, 01565 830155, www.meregolf.co.uk

The Stanneylands Hotel, Wilmslow, 01625 525225, www.primahotels.co.uk/stanneylands

The Wild Boar Country House Hotel, Tarporley, 01829 260309, www.wildboarhotel.com

Willington Hall, Tarporley, 01829 752321, www.willingtonhall.co.uk

Wrenbury Hall, Wrenbury, 01270 781198, www.wrenburyhall.co.uk

Everybody loves a wedding. There is something special about watching two people get married in front of their friends and family. And the venue where the ceremony or reception takes place can add even more of a wow factor to the big day.

Other than the important issue of choosing the dress, which venue to use is likely to be one of the most important decisions a bride and groom make and can be an agonising and daunting process.

Whether it is the jaw-dropping impact of a castle or country house that appeals, the intimate feel of a village church or boutique hotel or a quirky, alternative option like a marquee or teepee on farmland, there is something in our beautiful county to suit everyone.

There are many things to take into consideration when deciding on the place to host your big day. This can be anything from whether a venue will be able to accommodate everyone on your guest list to whether it will be easy to travel to. It is also advisable to consider the size of the rooms and the style of the meals.

A stand-up buffet, which is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to a formal meal, will give you more space to play with. Entertainment throughout the day should also be considered. If you plan to have a string quartet welcome you and your guests to the venue, or have a band play in the evening, more space will be required.

You may also want to consider what is included in the price or check that the things you have envisaged are possible at a specific wedding venue. A couple may have their hearts set on a candle-lit service, for instance, but a particular location may not allow this for fear of damage.

Couples planning their weddings in Cheshire, Wirral or North Wales are fortunate to have such a wealth of places to choose from. There is also now another option to consider. According to rules under the Marriage Act 1949, regarding civil ceremonies, a couple must state the declaratory and contracting words and sign the register indoors. But from this year there are some venues in the county that, with the help of Cheshire East Council and following many requests from couples, have made it possible to tie the knot outdoors.

The law hasn’t changed and there are still some elements of the proceedings that need to take place in a room licensed for civil marriages or partnerships. But all other parts are allowed to take place outside in the grounds of several stunning venues around Cheshire. It is a service that is available from April to October, during months when the weather is - in theory at least - going to be better.

If you are planning a wedding, look no further than Cheshire to make your big day an unforgettable one.

Photography by Neil Redfearn www.neilredfern.com