As you walk through the arch of The Manor, it is very clear to see where (aside from weddings) our passions lie. From the attention to detail we give our gardens to the loving tender care we offer to our wildlife.

Ducks roam happily alongside the lake, squirrels jump from branch to branch and if you’re lucky you can find baby moorhens and rabbits running around on the grass.

Our love of animals and nature is why we pride ourselves as being a pet friendly venue.

#NationalDogsDay

Dog lovers will know that on Sunday, it’s National Dogs Day. A day to celebrate all breeds and sizes. From the loving companions to service gods who dedicate their lives to helping, saving and looking after us humans.

To celebrate this wonderful day, we thought we would invite

one of our friends, preferred photographer Dan Morris and his faithful side kick Sid in for a day of photography.

Sid is a stunning dachshund who has a girlfriend called Sasha. They’ve been together a couple years now and lucky for us, he has just popped the question!

Welcome to the wedding of Sid and Sasha…

A Tail of True Love

From the offset it was clear to see that Sid was the excitable groom for the day. He couldn’t wait to get his fiancé down the aisle.

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

The couple broke tradition and spent the morning before their nuptials together (such rebels). However, they did spend a little separate time alone just before the ceremony.

Sasha took some time out to get ready in the library, straightening out her veil and spend some time with her humans before she walked the aisle.

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

Sid decided a drink in the Rock Bar was in order, so he picked out his favourite tunes on the Juke Box including Snoop Dog, ‘Who let the dogs out’ and his personal favourite ‘Hound Dog’.

He also challenged his human to a game of pool… didn’t go too well, no opposable thumbs, cheated a little… we won’t go into too much detail.

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

We now pronounce you husband and woof!

The ceremony was a quiet affair, just family invited, and it took place in the Maximilian.

There was a classic moment when a guest boxer barked as the registrar said ‘if anyone has any reason why this …’ he was joking, the others howled and then the couple were pronounced husband and woof.

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

The wedding photo shoot

For their photo shoot, they went for a mix of posed and candid shots. Taking advantage of the beautiful architecture and gardens of The Manor.

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

They raised a glass of Pawsecco together in The Rock Bar…

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

Sasha subtly let Sid know how this marriage was going to go…

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

They lounged around in the library…

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

Enjoyed playing around with a few photo props… although these became more of a chew toy so had to be swiftly removed from the photo session. Some dogs just can’t handle their Pawsecco!

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

We also captured a beautiful moment of them gazing lovingly out of the window, reflecting on their very special day…

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

The day came to a close and the couple decided to retreat to their room, to spend their first evening together as husband and woof.

Photo Credit: Dan Morris Photography

I’m sure you will join us in congratulating them for the being the first pups to marry at The Manor and to wish them a life time of happiness together.

Here’s to you, Sid and Sasha Morris!

A pet friendly venue in Gloucestershire…

If you’re interested in having your fur baby as part of your day, then please talk to our team on 01242 245 071 or email weddings@manorbythelake.co.uk.

We would like to say a huge thank you to Dan Morris for not only letting us use Sid as a model, but for also taking such stunning photos. We would also like to say thank you to Sasha and Sasha’s lovely Humans for joining us for the day.

They say to never work with animals or humans… not the case for these beauties. They were absolute gems.

If you’re looking for a photographer for your wedding, please check out Dan’s website to look through his work. He can be contacted on info@danmorrisphotography.co.uk for more information.

Wedding days are about celebrating the start of your marriage and the love that you and your other half share.

The other side of weddings are that you also need to organise your friends and family into making sure they are in the right place, doing as you wish, without having a bridezilla moment…

We have worked out over time, that being clear about what you want from your guests really helps, especially when it comes to having a big wedding party.

There are many ways to do this from hiring a master of ceremonies to printing a time line on your wedding stationery. One of our favourite ways of doing this is via quirky wedding signs.

These are a great way to express your personality and humour, whilst politely organising your wedding party throughout your day.

Choose a seat, not a side

Photo Credit: The Wedding of my Dreams ; Rachel Hayton ; Mathew Irving Photography

A difficult moment, that some couples come across is the seating of their family and friends during the ceremony.

Whether it’s because one side of the family is bigger than the other, underlying family feuds or if the couple has lots of shared friends.

The best way to deal with this is by letting your guests mingle and not stick to the bride vs grooms’ side.

These can also extend into the evening, if you don’t want to organise a seating plan for your reception.

Here are some lines you can use…

‘Choose a seat, not a side, we’re all family of the Groom and Bride’

‘Choose a seat, not a side, we’re all family when the knot is tied’

‘Now that we are together forever. Please feel free to sit wherever’

‘Whether your relation is to the groom or the bride, their wish is for guests to choose a seat, not a side’

‘Family and Friends of the Bride and Groom. Please sit together, there’s plenty of room!’

Don’t run away, she’s on her way…

Credit : Love my Dress ; Huffington Post

A great way to include your Mini VIP’s in your day is by giving them little jobs. One of these jobs could be to walk ahead of the bride down the aisle carrying the ‘here she comes sign’.

This can be done in a romantic or humorous fashion, depending on the style of the wedding.

In loving memory

Photo Credit : Etsy ; Etsy

The heart-breaking side of weddings is when your loved ones can’t be there. Whether they live too far away, have other plans which they can’t get out of, are too poorly to attend or have sadly passed on.

There are still ways that you can incorporate your missing loved ones into your ceremony.

Some choose to use a burning candle, others include them in their speech. A lovely poem in the reception room is also a perfect way to keep the missing, present.

Trust me, you can dance. – Alcohol

Photo Credit : Lovers of Love Photography ; John Barwood ; Etsy

Weddings vary so much when it comes to how they are presented. Some couples like to keep their wedding day intimate concentrating on the tiny details, others go all out and focus heavily on the entertainment and evening shenanigans.

A simple sign can really set the scene and let your guests know what kind of party it is.

A little treat…

Wedding favours have moved on from a little treat at the wedding breakfast, to little treats throughout the day.

Some weddings have flip flops by the dance floor, refresh pampering products in the bathrooms and emergency kits for the morning after. These little stations can be enhanced with a clever sign or message, to encourage guests to treat themselves.

Don’t be late for a very important date!

Timing is of the essence at weddings. You want everyone to enjoy ever aspect of the day, so knowing what to do, where to go and what time it is happening is paramount.

Put together a timeline to match the style of your wedding. Those going for a rustic wedding have used pallets in the past, a more elegant style offers itself perfectly for a mirror with white writing.

And they lived happily ever after…

Every fairy tale has a beautiful ending and what better way to finalise your day with a little line of ‘and they lived happily ever after…’

Talk to our team today about creative inspiration for organising your wedding day. You can call us on 01242 245 071 or email weddings@manorbythelake.co.uk.