Tying the knot once more

As the wedding industry starts taking tentative steps towards reopening, we look at what has been a challenging time for our county’s venues

- Ruth Downing

The restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have had a far-reaching effect over very many businesses, none more so than those in the wedding and hospitality sector.

Given the beauty and diversity of our county, it’s no surprise that Derbyshire is blessed with fantastic wedding venues that all offer something a bit different, catering for a wide variety of tastes and preferences. Of course there are too many to list, but notable and popular venues across the county include the New Bath Hotel, Matlock Bath; Losehill House, Hope Valley; Old Hall Hotel, Buxton; Morley Hayes and Horsley Lodge, both near Derby; Alison House Hotel, Cromford; Haddon Hall, near Bakewell; the Izaak Walton Hotel, Ashbourne; Hoar Cross Hotel, Burton; Eden Hall and Darley Dale’s Stancliffe Hall. All these venues and more across the county have had to adapt to a set of circumstances that would have been unthinkable a relatively short time ago.

Wedding planning can be a stressful and complex undertaking at the best of times, with ceremonies often several years in the planning – all geared to that special, memorable day. However, the enforced ban on social gatherings has left thousands of couples across the country faced with sourcing alternative dates for their special day, but the advanced and often long term planning involved with arranging a wedding and all that entails has obvious difficulties for those wishing to move their wedding to the same weekend or similar date for 2021.