Have you ever discovered a place that you just can’t help but fall in love with? Well, that’s how it was for me with Island Hall.
Island Hall lies in the heart of old Godmanchester on the main thoroughfare, Post Street, just a few minutes walk from the parish church of St Mary the Virgin. Its position by the Great Ouse and views over the water meadows very much give it the atmosphere of a classic English country house. The property is the privately owned and much loved family home of Christopher and Lady Linda Vane Percy. Its uniqueness as a wedding venue lies in the fact that this graceful home only hosts a handful of bespoke weddings a year and offers an intimate splendour as it becomes exclusively yours for the duration of your wedding day, if you so wish.
Upon my request to visit Island Hall and interview Christopher Vane Percy I received a very kind and gracious reply. In fact, I was also invited to meet his elder daughter, Grace, who runs the weddings with her father.
Grace and Christopher make the perfect hosts and are incredibly kind and charming, caring deeply about Island Hall and the heritage bestowed upon them. They are also very focussed on the practical side of things, leaving the bride and groom to enjoy their day amongst friends and family.
in December 2013, a Civil License was granted for three rooms: the Stone Flagged Hall and Drawing Room on the ground floor and the maroon velvet lined Salon on the first floor. In addition, I should mention that the first floor also has a beautiful four poster bedroom suite that would make any bride feel like a princess, as she dresses for her big day.
It is difficult to put into words the beauty and serenity of Island Hall. Although I visited it at the beginning of March and the gardens still had a sleepy winter feel about them, you could nonetheless imagine how beautiful it would be in summer when everything is flushed with colour and in full leaf. I could also sense how the Chinese-style bridge and secluded Saxon island would became almost a secret garden and the perfect backdrop for some extraordinary wedding photographs. On the days leading up to your wedding Christopher and Grace are there to help coordinate with suppliers with regard to deliveries, storage and set up, and remain discreetly on hand throughout your wedding day to ensure everything runs smoothly. Two fully S.I.A. licensed security guards are also in attendance throughout your day. Christopher and Grace are exceedingly charming people and take enormous pride in Island Hall and how special it is as a unique wedding venue. I know from my meeting with them that they will do everything in their power to ensure your wedding day is unforgettable and that you and your guests enjoy the splendours of Island Hall and its gardens.
Alice Barker
www.uniqueenglishweddingvenues.com
Island Hall Blog 