Suffolk has a slightly strange reputation, but only among those who don’t live here. Suffolk is allegedly seen as slightly backwards, but only by people who have never visited. So if you’ve just got engaged and are pondering where you should tie the knot why should you consider getting married in Suffolk?
You may or may not know this, but I’m not from Suffolk. Hell, I’m not even from Europe! I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. I thought I’d better add the ‘Canada’ bit just in case there’s a ‘Toronto’ in East Anglia that I’m unaware of. It’s entirely possible, as anyone who has visited Boston in Lincolnshire will tell you.
I have lived in Suffolk for most of my adult life, and for a list of reasons that are as long as they are glorious. But I won’t bore you with my reasons for staying in Suffolk, let’s look at some of the reasons Suffolk is a brilliant place to get wed.
The Suffolk countryside
Even though Suffolk is technically one of the most densely populated counties in Britain there’s a ton of wide open spaces. Drive for more than a handful of minutes from the centre of any town or city in Suffolk and you’ll find yourself surrounded by gently undulating fields. It’s not just the fact that we’ve got a ton of wide open spaces in this County, there’s also an incredible amount of diversity for one county. From the tightly bumpy (gentle) hills and valleys around Sudbury to the pancake flat heaths and epic skies on the northern Suffolk coast there’s plenty of variety to explore. All of which makes for great wedding photos!
Even the urban countryside in Suffolk differs wildly based on how far you venture out from your hometown. Bury St Edmunds is old, grand and noble. Lavenham is ancient, full of twisted timbered buildings and a sense gentile calm. Woodbridge holds an old charm that sits comfortably with a vibrant nightlife (seriously!), and an active, and inclusive sailing community. I could go on, but I’m sure you’d prefer me not to. If you have lived in Suffolk then you’ll have your own affections for the gorgeous countryside in this County.
Suffolk is very much a coastal County, and has one of the longest coastlines of any County in England. So if you want a wedding on (or near) the beach, then Suffolk is full of opportunities.
If you’ve never been here and are reading this blog post because you’re considering getting married here, then hop in the car and just spend some time driving around the County, I’m sure you’ll find a part of it that strikes the right romantic chord in your heart.
The climate
Suffolk is the driest County in Suffolk. If you want an outdoor wedding with fine weather the odds of a day without rain are better here than anywhere else in the country. We also have more sunny days than anywhere else in the UK. Both of these factors coupled with the fact we’re home to the most easterly town in the UK (Lowestoft) mean that our days are ever-so-slightly longer than anywhere else. So the guests at your wedding reception will be able to party for longer at a Suffolk wedding than at a wedding anywhere else. Possibly.
While we’re the driest in terms of rainfall, Suffolk certainly isn’t the driest in terms of alcohol. We have an incredible number of microbreweries who can supply custom ales for your big day. Some of the biggest beer brands also have their home in Suffolk. Adnams, Aspalls and Greene King to name just a few.
Suffolk wedding venues
If you want a traditional church wedding then you’re spoilt for choice in Suffolk. Thanks partly to the enormous wealth of the medieval wool trade in Suffolk the County is chock-full of ancient churches. Ipswich alone has 52 Churches. As an aside, a popular fact about Ipswich is that it used to have 366 pubs and 52 churches, so a drinking establishment for every night of the year (even in leap-years) and a different church to repent for your boozy ways every Sunday.
If getting wed in a barn conversion is your idea of bliss then Suffolk’s very long rural history has provided us many wonderful wedding venues based in and around ancient barns. These range from quite basic (or ‘rustic’) in style, to sumptuous luxury venues.
We even have plenty of stately homes to choose between. Every one of them drenched in fascinating history and glorious luxury.
Creative Suffolk
Suffolk has a vibrant and exciting creative scene. If you want your wedding to be truly unique and exciting there are an incredible number of artistic people who can help you bring your vision of the best wedding ever into reality.
Conclusion
In many of my posts in this blog I’ve talked about how important it is to plan a wedding that reflects who you are as a couple. It’s a tired cliche, but Suffolk really does have ‘something for everyone’. We’re not just about the old, we’re embracing the new. We’re not just rolling fields, we’ve got bustling exciting towns. Whether you want your wedding to break new ground or celebrate tradition you’ll find everything you need in Suffolk.