My partner and I were married at Samlesbury Hall, and while the venue itself is undeniably beautiful, our overall experience was sadly disappointing due to several avoidable issues that significantly impacted the enjoyment of our day. We chose Samlesbury for its charm and atmosphere, but ultimately felt let down by how many details were either overlooked or poorly communicated.
We spent a lot of time planning our wedding carefully, yet on the day and surrounding it, we encountered a number of problems that could, and should, have been prevented by a more attentive, organised team.
Key issues included:
- Ceremony music: Playlist wasn’t looped, leaving guests in silence before the ceremony.
- Non-alcoholic drinks: Pregnant guest wasn’t offered the alcohol-free prosecco we arranged.
- Glow sticks: Staff misunderstood these were part of our entertainment, used only in final 30 mins.
- Ceremony privacy: Groom saw me walking up from the window, despite being told this wouldn’t happen.
- Parlour access: Room was locked without warning, our photo prop was barely used.
- Bar: Free drinks weren’t communicated to guests, many paid unnecessarily.
- Dietary needs: Dairy-free desserts weren’t set out and weren’t offered unless specifically requested.
When I raised concerns after returning from my honeymoon, I received a defensive reply dismissing nearly every point. The tone lacked empathy, and there was no acknowledgment of the stress and disappointment caused, despite us being polite and constructive in our feedback.
While no wedding day is perfect, the number of miscommunications, lack of flexibility, and passive attitude in the aftermath left us feeling hurt and frustrated. We put our trust in Samlesbury Hall to deliver a smooth and joyful experience and instead spent too much of the day problem-solving.
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend Samlesbury Hall to future couples unless there are significant changes made to how they manage and support their events. A beautiful building alone is not enough when the service behind it does not meet the expectations of modern weddings.