Northampton Dog Friendly Venue Dodford Manor
When a couple decides that they would like their dog to be part of their wedding day one of the most important parts of the process will be to try and find a dog friendly wedding venue. As part of our blog we hope to feature a number of such venues in the counties where we plan to offer a wedding dog chaperone service. For the first such article I thought we should look at a venue in our own home county of Northamptonshire, namely Dodford Manor.
When I initially contacted Dodford Manor asking if I could visit they replied very promptly and were very receptive to the idea. The visit took place earlier this week. So what can wedding couples looking to book with Dodford Manor expect?
Dodford Manor Overview
Dodford Manor is located on the A45, to the west of Northampton town centre and close to Weedon Bec. Previously a working farm the barns have been transformed into a very welcoming space suitable for weddings. The combination of traditional stone and lovely timber fittings leaves an impression of quality whilst the colour scheme is neutral, allowing couples to achieve their desired ‘feel’ with decoration.
There are two main barns, one for the wedding ceremony itself, the other for the meal, disco and bar afterwards. The courtyard and grounds will provide options for the wedding photos as well as give a chaperone service like us somewhere to walk your dog during the day.
Dodford Manor can cater to wedding parties between 50 and 200 guests. For catering they use a wedding catering specialist called Jenkinsons who can come up with a variety of food options to suit a couple’s requirements. The venue also has a good sized car park, with the option for guests to collect a vehicle the following morning in the event that they are drinking and perhaps staying at a local hotel on the wedding night. On the subject of drinking, the bar at Dodford Manor has prices that reflect typical local pubs, there is no large price markups just because they have a captive audience.
Dodford Manor – The Mortain Barn
Licensed for civil ceremonies and civil partnerships, the Mortain Barn is where the ceremony will take place. With exposed wooden beams and stone flagged floors the space is suited to intimate weddings of 40 people, right up to 170 guests. I particularly liked the smaller upper balcony which would make a great location for an aerial photo of the bridal party and guests.
At the back of the Mortain Barn is an enclosed area known as the Bridal Beauty Booth where the bride can get ready. Complete with a shower and large mirrors it’s a good space for any last minute adjustments before the bridge makes her way down the aisle.
Dodford Manor – The Oak Barn
Once the ceremony is complete the guests move to The Oak Barn. The image at the top of this article shows tables laid out in this area. The capacity of this area can increase from the 170 capacity of the Mortain Barn to up to 200 for additional guests who may only be joining for the evening party and dancing.
Dodford Manor has an extensive supplier list and can recommend all sorts of wedding services including DJ’s or live music acts. The area at one of the Oak Barn where no tables are set out is used for the dancefloor and where the entertainment will setup. Below is another image of The Oak Barn taken from this dancefloor area, looking back towards the tables.
Dodford Manor Wedding Prices
We all know that weddings are an expensive business so one of the questions couples will want to know is what it will cost to hire a dog friendly wedding venue such as Dodford Manor. The link to their Hire Prices is below:
As you can clearly see, summer months attract a slight premium over other months. A far bigger impact on price however is the day of the week you wish to book. Saturdays are the most expensive day as you would expect. Couples who wish to get married during the week however can make great savings on their venue.
To finish I will share an image taken of the outside of Dodford Manor. Unfortunately on the day of my visit the weather was far from perfect.
For more information about Dodford Manor I would advise you visit their website and then contact them if you would like them to send you information or perhaps schedule a visit. Their website is quite detailed in regards to what they can offer couples to make their wedding day special.
