Weddings

Turn your wedding into a four-day staycation at Kielder Waterside

Unique, rustic and wildly romantic – a woodland wedding at Kielder Waterside can transform your big day into the best week.

Written by Becky Hardy

Published 13.10.2022

advertisement feature

We’ve heard so many brides say it in the past: you wish your wedding day could last forever.

All that organising, fretting, messing about with table plans and bringing together the perfect colour combos – it’s a planning process that can be years in the making, all leading up to just one day. One perfect day, but a day that is still over in 24 little hours.

Unless you get married at Kielder Waterside, that is.

At Kielder Waterside, weddings are a whole weekend’s worth of celebrations (and then some). Gone are the days of cramming all your hopes and dreams into a few hours – here you can spend quality time with your loved ones in the luxury Aurora lodge for up to four nights before and after your big day.

And just wait until you see how magical your (almost) week-long woodland wedding could be…

YOUR WOODLAND WEDDING AT KIELDER WATERSIDE

If it’s a totally unique, wildly romantic wedding that you’re after, then look no further.

The spectacular Nordic tipis at Kielder Waterside are nestled beneath a woodland canopy right by the water and lit by stars shining through some of the darkest skies in the country.

The location itself offers tranquillity, simplicity and elegance in abundance, not to mention an utterly incomparable wedding venue right in the heart of the Northumberland countryside.

But aside from offering a setting your guests will never forget, a lot of Kielder Waterside’s charm lies in its flexibility. From laidback bohemian weddings and festival chic to traditional, rustic and timeless, this unparalleled backdrop of woodland and water can offer a unique wedding package as distinctive as you.

A TIPI WEDDING: THE DETAILS

Licensed for civil marriage ceremonies for up to 120 guests, at Kielder Waterside the tipis are exclusively yours for the entirety of your celebrations – from walking down the aisle to your last dance of the evening – so your celebrations are guaranteed to be unique, personal and intimate.

Prefer to tie the knot elsewhere? No problem; you can still book the tipis at Kielder Waterside for your wedding breakfast and/or evening reception after your ceremony.

Enjoy a celebratory drink with family and friends after you tie the knot in your own private courtyard, before dancing the night away under fairy lights and stars. You’ll find everything you need at Kielder Waterside: from a fully stocked bar and a cosy fire pit to atmospheric lighting systems, plus space for a live band or DJ and dancefloor.

Best of all? Kielder Waterside are a dog-friendly wedding venue. Because the whole family should be part of your epic celebrations.

FOOD, DRINK & DANCING – YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY

The four wooden-framed, canvas tipis available at Kielder Waterside are the perfectly blank canvas to bring all your dreams of your big day to life.

Offering flexibility, space and grandeur – all set against sprawling countryside vistas – this little nook of Northumberland is an ideal setting for a dreamy wedding photoshoot.

The function space created by all four tipis can be divided into separate ceremony and party areas should you so wish, while the private outdoor courtyard – complete with fairy lights, crackling fire pit and panoramic views – offers the perfect backdrop to make a lifetime’s worth of memories.

With an assortment of food and drink available, you can choose from a sumptuous selection of canapés and rustic wedding breakfast options for your daytime guests then, in the evening, take your pick from hot sandwiches, wood-oven pizzas and sizzling BBQs.

Catering for any specific dietary requirements wherever possible, Kielder Waterside’s kitchen team also offer half portions for the smallest foodies at your table. And, for the grown-ups, a range of wine to complement your wedding breakfast and a fully stocked bar featuring an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is all guaranteed to suit every taste and budget.

You can bring as much individuality and character to Kielder Waterside as you can imagine in your wedding, but that’s not to say all the pressure is on you to deliver. Your dedicated wedding co-ordinator will support and guide you through every step of your wedding planning journey and will also be on-hand throughout the big day to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible. So, you can just take a step back and take it all in, without a care in the world – the way every wedding should be.

TURN YOUR WEDDING INTO A STAYCATION

A marriage is supposed to last a lifetime, so it seems a little unfair that your wedding day seems to go by in a flash.

But at Kielder Waterside, you can turn your wedding into a staycation and hold on to the happiest day of your lives that little bit longer by inviting your friends and family to enjoy some extra-precious time together.

Opt for the Aurora Package and, as the happy couple, you can indulge yourselves for a full weekend (three nights) or midweek (four nights) stay in the luxury Aurora lodge: a stylish, relaxing and award-winning lodge complete with lavish furnishings and a gorgeous lakeside location.

The most extravagant of all their lodges, in the Aurora lodge you can enjoy your very own spa pool, BBQ hut and chic, cosy interiors that you’ll want to snuggle up in forever more.

Just picture the scenes: you enjoying the ultimate wedding eve with your bridal party and capturing magical memories of your final night as a bachelorette; getting ready with your girl gang on your big day in unforgettable style; waking up as newlyweds by taking in some breath-taking views over the water at the picturesque landscape beyond – a Kielder staycation makes your special days sublime.

Better yet, your nearest and dearest need not miss out on the fun. There’s a wide range of accommodation available on the park at Kielder Waterside for them to choose from, including dog-friendly lodges. Or, if they don’t mind a short commute, the team here can provide details of local pubs and B&Bs where they can stay, too.

A wedding staycation at Kielder Waterside really is the perfect way to extend your celebrations before returning to reality.

CONTINUE YOUR CELEBRATIONS

It’s not as if Kielder Waterside can only offer you the accommodation to turn your wedding into an epic staycation – they provide the entertainment, too.

Let off a little steam with a cheeky bout of axe throwing or mini golf and get rid of any pre-wedding jitters. Hit the road and take in some adventure with Segway tours around the park or get your girls together for a giggle at a tipsy bridal afternoon tea.

From paddle boarding and canoeing to archery, mountain biking or simply sitting back in the sauna, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You can even hit the gym the night before your nuptials so you’re feeling extra fly.

And don’t even think about jetting straight off home when your celebrations come to an end. Why not get everyone together for a meal or few drinks at The Forest Bar & Kitchen instead and reminisce about the best day of your lives? A few of your party may well need the hair of the dog after what you’ve got planned…