Your wedding will be a memorable day for yourselves and your family and friends. Planning it can be exciting for both of you whether you are choosing the wedding ring, planning your present list with all the wonderful things you are going to need in that new home, picking the fairytale dress or booking your perfect honeymoon. But all these things take time and to get everything right on time, the process should start about eight months prior to the big day. There are some serious decisions to be made at the start of your wedding planning. The first must be cost. Discuss your hopes with your family, they will have plenty of experience in budgeting to get the best value for money. You want the best money can buy on this once-in-a-lifetime experience and you want a wedding you'll never forget. So plan carefully the wedding and reception best suited to your needs and budget. Visit the clergyman in the church you have chosen. He will help to dispel the nerves you may have and will tell you about what will happen on the day. Quite often he will suggest a rehearsal with as many of the interested parties present as will be there on the day. The Bridesmaids and the Best Man. When you have confirmed with the bridesmaids and best man that they are able and willing to take these roles, you should take them shopping for the clothes they will wear on the day. Especially exciting for the bride and bridesmaids with so many beautiful fabrics and designers to choose from. The groom and best man (ushers too in some cases) may wish to hire top hat and tails for the day or opt for new lounge suits. Photos: This service needs to be booked early, especially if your wedding is on a Saturday. Wedding Cake: Consult your baker about size, design and cost. Cars and Flowers: Traditionally, the groom pays for the wedding flowers and the bride’s father for the church and wedding decorations. The cost of the cars is shared between the two. Honeymoon: Book your honeymoon well in advance and make sure you organise passports and outfits, so you have the best choice of location. Invitations: As soon as you know the details of the church and reception, arrange the printing of the invitations. Wedding Present List: Go through your home together and decide what you would really like. Don’t forget you need the mundane items as much as the more exotic ones. You may decide to have a gift registry at a well known local store. Wedding Dress: Decide whether you ‘off the peg’ or from a dressmaker. Whatever you decide, choose carefully within your budget. Wedding Rings: Something you will want to do together – these rings will last you a lifetime. Dress: Three months before the big day, a fitting will be required for the bride and bridesmaids. This is also important if you have any children in the procession as their growth is less predictable. The Press: Relatives and friends love to see your wedding announced in the press. Many will cut this out and keep it as a keepsake. Hairdresser: Visit the stylist of your choice and take along a picture of the gown and a piece of fabric if possible. Ask if they have a bridal service. This means that you will have exclusive use of the stylist in your home before the service. Provisional Catering and Seating Plan: When you have an idea of who will be attending, seating at the reception must be considered. Final numbers and seating plan to be given at the final meeting about one week prior to the wedding. Cake, Table Cards and Decorations: A couple of days before the wedding, visit the hotel with the cake, table plan and place cards. The Perfect Reception. To enable you to benefit from our experience, here are a few notes that you may find useful. As the traditional line-up often leaves guests queuing interminably, most weddings these days abandon it. Instead, the bride's mother greets guests and the bridal party circulates freely during the reception. These normally take place after the wedding breakfast and accompany the cutting and serving of the cake. The toast to the bride and bridegroom, usually proposed by the person who gave the bride away. The bridegroom responds to the previous toast and proposes a toast to the bridesmaids. The best man then responds to the bridegrooms toast on behalf of the bridesmaids. He also reads the cards and teleletters. Photos of the bride and bridegroom cutting the wedding cake. (facing the wedding party)

Below is our current Banquet menu from which you should compile your 3 course wedding breakfast. However, should you prefer a dish that is not featured on our menu, our banqueting coordinator will be more than happy to discuss alternative options with you. Please note that any vegetarians or guests with food allergies will be catered for separately. Options can be discussed with our banqueting coordinator. Country Style Pate served with Seasonal Salad Garnish and Cumberland Sauce. Double Baked Stilton Souffle, Apple and Rocket Salad, Walnut Dressing. Scottish Smoked Salmon and Avocado, Gazpacho Dressing. Grilled Mediterranean Vegetable, Buffalo Mozzarella, Basil Oil, Aged Balsamic. Seasonal Melon with Air Dried Ham or Fruits of the Forest Puree. Grilled Scottish Salmon, Gingered Sweet Potato, Teriyaki Sauce. Grilled Marinated Chicken with Lemon and Thyme served with Hummous, Minted Yoghurt and Cucumber. Short Ribs of Beef on Horseradish Potato Puree, Red Wine Sauce. Duck Leg Confit, Potato Rosti, Madeira and Truffle Sauce. Fillet of Seabass with Crushed New Potatoes, Red Pepper Reduction and Marinated Vegetables. Slow Braised Shoulder of Lamb with Rosemary Infused Juices and Potato Gratin. Wild Mushroom Risotto with Parmesan Reggiano. Spicy Coconut Polenta with Stir Fry Vegetables. Baked Courgette and Goat Cheese Tart with Basil Oil and Oven Dried Tomato. Vanilla Baked Cheesecake. White and Dark Chocolate Duo, Raspberry Sauce. Tatin of Caramelised Apple, Calvados Creme Fraiche, Butterscotch Sauce. Pistachio Creme Brulee. Our 3 course Wedding Breakfast is priced @ £32.00 per person and is inclusive of coffee and mints. Childrens Menu (For Children 10 and Under). Chicken Nuggets, Fries and Baked Beans and Ice Cream. Sausage and Mash and Ice Cream. Half Portion of Wedding Breakfast. The above menu selections are priced at £14.50 per child and include a soft drink. Finger Buffet Selection. Selection of Open Ciabatta Sandwiches. Sausage Rolls. Assorted Quiches. Chicken and Spring Onion Yakatori. Spicy Lamb Kofta. Fish Goujons. Potato Wedges with Garlic Mayonnaise. The price of the evening finger buffet is £15.00 per person, minimum of 75% guests attending.

At the Chalk Lane Hotel, we understand that you want your wedding day to be a unique and personal occasion. That is why we offer couples and their families choices from which they can create their perfect day. Below you will find a selection of options for your consideration: Your Wedding Package includes: A red carpet at the front of the hotel on your arrival. Tables dressed with white table linen, tealights and napkins. Use of the hotels PA system. Use of our cake stand and knife. Reduced price meals for children under 10. Fully staffed bar throughout the duration of the reception. Exclusive use of the hotels split level terrace. Complimentary accommodation for the Bride and Groom on the night of your wedding in one of our Deluxe rooms, with full English Breakfast the following morning. Arrival Drink Selector (We recommend 2 welcome drinks per person. Our package includes Sparkling Wine at £9.00 per person. The following alternatives are available at a supplementary charge). Alternatives (with supplementary charge): Kir Royale (Sparkling Wine Cassis) supplement £2.00 per person. Champagne supplement £4.00 per person. Pimms Cocktail supplement £3.00 per person. We also offer the following (items as priced): Mulled Wine (per person) £8.00. Sherry (per person) £5.00. Jug of Orange Juice (1.5 litre) £6.50. Jug of Non- Alcoholic Fruit Punch £6.50. Bottle of Mineral Water (Still / Sparkling) £3.50. Canape Selection (We recommend 3 canapes per person). Why not treat your guests to a small nibble with their arrival drink? Canapes are priced at between £2.00 and £6.50 per canape. Canape Selection can be discussed with our Banqueting Coordinator. Banqueting Wine List. (We recommend ½ bottle wine per adult. Our package includes our house wine at £8.25 per person. The following alternatives are available at a supplementary charge). White Wine Alternatives: Sauvignon Blanc, Casa Rivas, 2005, Chile supplement £2.00 per adult. Chardonnay, Casa Rivas, 2005, Chile supplement £2.00 per adult. Chateau La Clotte Jouanin, 2005, Franc supplement £1.00 per adult. Red Wine Alternatives: Merlot, Casa Rivas, 2004, Chile supplement £2.00 per adult. Malbec, Gouguenheim Winery, 2003, Argentina supplement £2.00 per adult. Cabernet Sauvignon, Casa Rivas, 2004, Chile supplement £2.50 per adult. Shiraz, Highwood Winery, 2004, Australia supplement £1.75 per adult. Champagne and Sparkling Wine for toasts (We recommend 1 glass per adult. Our package includes a glass of sparkling wine at £4.50 per person. The following alternatives are available at a supplementary charge). Glass of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut supplement £2.00 per glass. Glass of Canard Duchene Champagne supplement £2.00 per glass. Glass of Oeil de Perdrix Rose Brut Champagne supplement £5.00 per glass. Vintages and Selection for Wines and Champagnes subject to change.

The 2 AA Rosette Restaurant at Chalk Lane Hotel is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so whether you decide to luncheon on a weekday, enjoy a traditional Sunday lunch, or indulge in our evening A la Carte menu, your experience in our restaurant is sure to be a success. The Restaurant at Chalk Lane Hotel is the perfect place to enjoy a fine dining experience in a relaxing and professional atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a romantic dinner for two, a business lunch or celebration with friends and family, we will be able to cater for your needs. Our new French Head Chef Vincent Hiss has put a more traditional stamp on our menu highlighting his French influence with the introduction of some exciting new dishes. Please look through our selection of menus, and if you need any further information please call us or send us an email smcgregor@chalklanehotel.com

 Baby chairs and cots are provided
 Breakfast may be served in the room
 Conference and meeting room
 Credit cards accepted
 Dinner may be served in the room
 Disabled guests are welcome
 Facsimile services
 Hairdryer
 Heating
 Ironing facilities
 Licensed bar
 Smoke-free guest rooms
 Pets are accepted
 Parking lot
 Restaurant
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 Phones in rooms
 TV sets in rooms
 Common room with a TV set