September Venue of the Month: The Goring
London’s last remaining family-owned luxury hotel. Crafted over a century by one family, The Goring is the genuine article – a grand hotel with impeccable manners and a subtle streak of wit and wonder. With Buckingham Palace only a five minute walk from the hotel, The Goring is just a Royal wave from its famous neighbours – whilst Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Kensington are within easy reach. With 69 exquisite suites and bedrooms, each one has been individually decorated by renowned British designers.
The Goring offers stunning yet relaxed dining options, from the Michelin-starred Dining Room to the chic lively bar with its sublime collection of signature cocktails, not to mention the hotel’s world-renowned afternoon tea. The Goring Garden is one of the finest – and largest – private gardens in London with a sensational season of summer events planned this year.
Wedding:
Usually the bride and groom will check in the night before, often they will enjoy an intimate dinner in the Dining Room that evening, sometimes with close family if they are also staying, or go externally to a restaurant close by.
On the wedding day, guests start to arrive approximately one hour before the ceremony. They usually gather in the garden, before making their way inside. The ceremony is set up on the lower level – photographs attached as an example.
For brides who have checked in the night before, they can then get ready in their suite before the ceremony. I always recommend the bride checks in the night before, as it’s so much easier for them to get ready in the hotel, rather than getting ready elsewhere and travelling to the venue. Especially if their friends/family are also staying, it’s a lovely experience for them to get ready all together and make their way downstairs for the ceremony.
The ceremony times range quite a bit. Typically, we see two timings that either fall around lunch or dinner:
Option 1 – The earlier ceremonies usually begin around 11am/12pm, followed by a champagne and canape reception which usually lasts approximately an hour and a half, followed by the wedding breakfast at 1.30pm.
Option 2 – Ceremony later in the day, around 3/4pm. Champagne and canape reception after the ceremony, followed by the wedding breakfast at 6/7pm.
Many weddings hire live music for the ceremony and drinks reception – often a harpist, sometimes paired with a violinist. Adds an extra special touch!
The champagne and canape reception usually takes place in the garden, as it’s a gorgeous backdrop for photographs too, and there’s plenty of space for all guests. Many couples make a grand entrance into the garden after the ceremony, with guests lined up to throw confetti over them in the garden. Many couples then go around the hotel with the photographer to take particular photos. The garden is the perfect backdrop for group photos too.
During their drink’s reception, our team quickly sets up their table for lunch/dinner. Guests then make their way back inside the Garden Room, and enjoy their 3 course meal. This is then followed by tea/coffee/petit fours, and the cutting of the wedding cake (wedding cake is usually on display in the room all day). Later in the evening, often cheeseboards are served, along with music/dancing (we don’t allow amplified music so we try not to promote music/dancing too much, but guests can still enjoy music and dancing).
The bride and groom then stay in our Junior Suite (which is included in the wedding package).
