My husband and I were lucky enough to be married at Allington Manor on Saturday 29th October 2011. We had spotted the venue on the internet listed amongst places to marry in Lincolnshire. Being only a short drive from our home in Grantham, we decided to pay a visit and talk to Leo about what we would like to do. We had read a number of testimonials on their website and they were all absolutely glowing. Of course, you have to take comments on websites with a pinch of salt, but I can now see that these were completely genuine, and I’ll be adding my own comments to their already impressive collection of reviews having experienced just how wonderful this place really is.

Our initial impression upon pulling onto the drive of the manor was that it was beautiful and full of character, set in the quiet and tranquil village of Allington. We were greeted by Leo at the door, who straight away struck us as friendly, professional and welcoming. When we entered the manor house, immediately the atmosphere hit us. It felt warm and inviting, a genuinely loved and much cared for family home that just happened to also be a Bed & Breakfast and a wedding venue. Leo showed us around the manor and we weren’t disappointed. There are five bedrooms, all decorated beautifully, and a selection of rooms for guests to gather, not to mention the lovely garden. Leo also pointed out the minor improvements he was making to the house, obviously keen to show us that they are continually striving to ensure the house is kept in great condition and is comfortable for guests. What attention to detail! He explained the options for our wedding and that there were no set packages as such, because each couple is different. He also advised that he would be able to accommodate most requirements for a wedding. We chose an option to hire the venue for the Saturday, which came with exclusive access, all five bedrooms and breakfast on Sunday morning. This was all at a very good price, and we loved that we’d be the only people there during that time.

We were able to choose our own caterers, hire furniture and linen and arrange our own flowers, all of which was done with Leo’s very precise and helpful input. He even liaised directly with our suppliers to ensure that they were aware of timings and constraints with the venue.

Another huge benefit was that Amy, Leo’s partner, has a beauty salon on site. She also referred me to a hairdresser that could come to the venue on the day. This meant that all hair and make up could be done at the venue, completely removing the stress of having to travel from place to place to get ready. We literally just had to turn up, and everything happened around us. Like Leo, nothing was too much trouble for Amy, and it’s impossible not to notice that the details and finishing touches are as important to them as they were to us.

Being a planner, I had all the details in mind, and all I needed to do was let Leo and Amy know what was going on leading up to the wedding and on the day itself. They then took this plan and ran with it, ensuring that everything went exactly as we wanted.

Both Leo and Amy couldn’t do enough to help. Everything was meticulously managed and immaculately carried out. The timings were absolutely spot on, and all the details were exactly as we wanted. They are both so easy going, and they genuinely care that your wedding is perfect. They were constantly checking to make sure everything was going well and that we were happy. They looked after our guests superbly, and I’m stunned at just how hard they worked from the Friday through to the Sunday to ensure we had the day we wanted. I can’t praise highly enough how much this meant to us. They are wonderful people and they have a wonderful business.

Many of our guests commented on how lovely the venue was, and they noticed just how hard Leo and Amy worked to make sure everything ran smoothly. People were very impressed that the day ran without a hitch, and everyone felt spoilt and welcome. It’s lovely to hear that people were impressed with your wedding, and for that I have to give Leo and Amy credit. Without them it wouldn’t have been such a success.

We chose to stay in the Lord’s Room on the night of the wedding, which was comfortable and opulent. The bed was huge – we had a great night’s sleep, as did the rest of our family in the other rooms. Breakfast was served on Sunday morning in the Drawing Room, and we were given a choice of food. The cooked breakfast was lovely, and once again Leo and Amy couldn’t do enough to ensure that we were all looked after. Even after our guests had departed and we were left with removing our belongings and decorations, Leo and Amy still helped us to load everything into cars.

From the minute we first walked into Allington Manor when we were looking for a venue, to the moment we drove away on the morning after the wedding, it was a sheer pleasure to deal with Leo and Amy. I have been recommending Allington Manor as a wedding venue and a place to stay to as many people as possible since our wedding, as if everyone has the experience we did then there will be a lot of smiling and relaxed faces driving away from Allington Manor in future.

It has been a genuine pleasure to write this for them, as I really can’t think that there would be anyone more deserving of continued patronage and success.