Carlton Towers - Incredible Wedding Venue!
Hello All!
Thought we'd give you a heads up on an wedding venue with a bit of a difference. The White Keys were hired for a stunning wedding at Carlton Towers, Yorkshire this past weekend and it was by all accounts one of the best gigs we've done in a long time....
The building dates back to the 10th century and is beautifully gothic and incredibly unique. Expertly hidden away just off the main road through Carlton, you'd have no idea it was there, but when you do find it, driving up towards the house is a pretty magnificent sight. Covered in red ivy, the house looks like a cross between a castle and a cathedral from the outside and features some pretty impressive architecture with a very prominent clock tower and huge rolling staircase leading up to the main doors. Statues, Gargoyles and enormous glass windows adorn the outside of the house, and the inside of the venue is just as impressive, with coats of armour and portraits as focal points in most of the rooms, all of which are set with a remarkably high ceiling, monumental chandeliers, fireplaces and huge oak doors.
Although we didn't see it, there is bridal suite upstairs and the wedding ceremony took place in the Venetian Drawing Room where Pete & I provided Live Jazz Music for the ceremony and drinks reception. Through the double doors of the Venetian Drawing Room was the card room where the registers were signed, and following on through another set of double doors at the end of the card room, was the magnificent picture room where the wedding breakfast was served.
When all of these doors were opened later on in the evening, you could clearly see right through to the end of the house, passing through each room, where chandeliers and candle sticks were blazing the whole way down the large corridor type set up. It was absolutely stunning, and the perfect setting for an Autumn wedding on the eve of Halloween.
The band played in the armoury which was down a few steps on the other side of the bar area, opposite the grand staircase that led up to the suites upstairs. The acoustics for the full band were fantastic and there was ample room for the whole set up as well as around 100 guests permanently filling the dance floor, down mostly no doubt, to the fantastic sound of the room.
We were treated like kings by all members of staff who couldn't go more out of their way to help us, and there were absolutely no stuffy ego's as you might expect with a venue like this.
Special mention must also go obviously, to the Bride & Groom, Jo & John Tulloch, and their family who made us feel incredibly welcome throughout the day. Jo had chosen a beautiful red & gold colour scheme which was a unique change from the traditional white and along with the bridesmaids (& pageboy!) looked stunning against the backdrop of the building.
I took some photos to try and capture the atmosphere but they don't do it much justice, you'd be better off checking out the website which is here, or even better going to visit it yourself!
