Over the past few years, we’ve seen a huge increase in multi-day weddings and exclusive weekend hires at Garthmyl Hall, with more and more couples choosing a destination wedding weekend over the traditional single wedding day. In this guide, we’ll explore why having a multi-day wedding might be the perfect choice for you, help you plan your weekend wedding itinerary, and offer lots of ideas to keep your guests entertained, making it a truly immersive experience. So, let’s dive in and start planning your dream multi-day wedding!

Why multi-day destination weddings?

A wedding over multiple days can create a more relaxed feel for your celebration and can actually be less stressful to plan (especially if you have a wedding planner!). Not only does it mean there is less pressure on the wedding day itself, but weekend-long weddings give your wedding guests more time to have fun! Planning a multi-day wedding not only means you’ll have more time to connect with your guest list and really enjoy their company but also that they’ll get to know each other properly, which creates a lovely atmosphere over the extended weekend.

When you’ve put so much effort into choosing the perfect wedding venue, carefully selecting your suppliers, and gathering everyone you love in one place, doesn’t it make sense to make the most of all your hard work by extending the party?!

A multi-day wedding itinerary

A well-designed itinerary is key to ensuring your wedding weekend flows smoothly from start to finish without any awkward gaps. Of course, there’s a balance to strike between keeping your guests entertained and allowing them time to enjoy their stay at Garthmyl Hall at their leisure, but the beauty of planning a wedding over multiple days is that there will be plenty of time for both!

Day one: Welcoming your guests

You’ll want to give your wedding party a chance to get settled, so it’s best to schedule any activities, such as a welcome party for the evening. A laid-back cocktail party in our beautifully rustic Orangery, a casual BBQ in the gardens with plenty of Pimms or an intimate rehearsal dinner in the Dining Room are all great ways to greet your guests and get them mingling. On the other hand, if you like a bit of competition, we always find a quiz or games night goes down well on the first night!

Day two: The Wedding Day

The main event and the reason you’re all here! A weekend wedding means that your guests will already be onsite, so the wedding day timeline can feel a little more relaxed. You don’t have to schedule any additional events for the morning of the wedding, but for the early risers, a pre-breakfast yoga class ahead of the wedding ceremony could be a nice surprise! After they’ve enjoyed a delicious breakfast, why not give your guests some time to wander the grounds and enjoy the historical charm of Garthmyl Hall before getting ready for the big day ahead?

Day three: Recovering in style

Chances are there will be some sore heads; therefore, post-wedding brunches with the option of a bloody mary or two are always a popular way to kick off the Sunday celebrations and bid farewell to your guests. But if you’re not ready for the party to end, we’re not either! We love a good Sunday session in the gardens to wind down the last day of a multi-day wedding – fire up the BBQ, bring in some live music and make an afternoon of it in the sunshine!

A weekend-long stay

As one of the most popular exclusive hire wedding venues in Wales, Garthmyl Hall has an array of unique accommodation options for you and your guests. Up to 50 people can stay on-site in our beautiful bedrooms and cottages, meaning everyone gets to enjoy a luxurious weekend break. For larger weddings, we can also provide you with a list of trusted accommodations just a stone’s throw away in the picturesque Welsh countryside – ensuring the majority of your wedding guests can be close by to immerse themselves in the wedding weekend fully.

Food and drink for a three-day destination wedding

As self-confessed foodies, we pride ourselves on our selection of award-winning catering partners. We’re confident you’ll be blown away by the delicious menus on offer, whether you’re after grazing platters, seasonal food or something more traditional. In terms of Friday and Sunday, you have the option of our budget-friendly in-house menu, or if you fancy something a bit different, we can recommend several food trucks and street food vendors.

Things to consider when planning a multi-day wedding

First things first, have fun! A weekend wedding gives you much more time to play with, which means you can get creative. We live for quirky touches, fancy dress themes and packed dancefloors, and during the planning process, we will make every effort to help you bring your ideas and multiple events to life!

Plan early. Asking your guests to block out a whole weekend for your destination wedding means you need to let them know your plans well ahead of time. Make sure you give them all the information so they know what to expect.

Be selective. Remember, you don’t have to invite everyone to every part of your weekend wedding. Much like traditional celebrations might have evening guests, you can pick and choose which guests you want to attend on the different days, perhaps reserving the whole shebang for your closest friends and family only.

Finally, there’s no such thing as a silly question. It goes without saying that planning a two—or three-day wedding takes more effort than a traditional wedding. However, our wedding coordinators are highly experienced and will be happy to answer any questions you have and share their top tips with you. An extended wedding can also mean a bigger budget (and contingency pot). Still, we pride ourselves on being a flexible wedding venue and are happy to talk things over to make it work for every couple.

For more information about our exclusive hire multi-day wedding venue, please contact us.