Civil ceremony

Your civil ceremony takes place in the large galleried hall which can seat up to 120 guests. You choose where in the hall you exchange vows, where the registrar stands and where the bride makes her entrance.

The bride and groom arrange their ceremony with registrars from Ipswich Registry Office. Contact Barbara Paternosta on 01473 583050.

The bride's pre-ceremony chat with the registrar takes place in the adjoining drawing room, which is also licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 20 people. The same conversation with the groom normally takes place in the hall.

Bookings can be made a maximum year ahead, but do this as soon as possible to get the time you want. The current costs of the ceremony range from £240 for Monday to Thursday to £300 for Friday and Saturday, and £380 for bank holidays and Sundays, though these are likely to rise after March 2009.

After the ceremony you can walk from the hall into the adjoining walled terrace and large lawns for reception drinks or out to the front of the tudor building and onto the large lawn. Of course, you can stay in the galleried hall should it be tedious enough to rain. (But it's worth remembering that here in East Anglia we have more sun and less rain than Cornwall).