John and Sue Rudden of Grassington House Hotel have been successful in their application for a licence to hold civil wedding ceremonies.
The award-winning Yorkshire Dales hotel has already gained a reputation for their flair in hosting receptions for small weddings and the new civil ceremony licence now endorses the venue as a ‘seemly and dignified venue for the solemnization of marriages’.
Wedding Co-ordinator Sue Rudden is pleased with the recognition the licence gives the hotel, which she and husband John (three times winner of the prestigious National Chef of the Year award) have worked hard to achieve. “There are many people who choose not to, or cannot, have a church wedding in the Dales and we are delighted that we can now offer a full wedding service here at the hotel. ” she says.
Manager Andrew Toft explains “The wedding ceremony is performed by the Registrar and the whole of Grassington House is made available exclusively for the wedding party and guests. Having achieved many awards for the standard of the accommodation and food, our new civil ceremony licence is the ‘icing on the wedding cake’ for us”.
The hotel, named ‘Small but Special’ winner by Yorkshire Life, also welcomes couples who want to renew their vows and baby naming ceremonies as alternatives to church christenings.
The Ruddens are planning to host their own ‘wedding fair with a difference’ in February 2013, and meanwhile, the team from Grassington House also gets out and about on location, catering for larger weddings and fundraising events away from the hotel in marquees, the Town Hall, Rugby Club and local village halls from hog roasts to five course meals.