As we soak up the rather splendid setting of the house flanked by its beautiful gardens, we discovered that weddings and celebrations have actually been performed here since the late 1650s, giving the venue an incredible 350 years of experience. In a nod to this heritage the house has retained many of its original features, such as its lavish furnishings and the statement sweeping staircase. It’s clear too that conscientious decisions have been made to successfully add contemporary notes; the result, a venue brimming with emotions that merge cherished traditional with modern day excitement.

The Luxury Wedding Fair at Renaissance,  Kelham Hall Oct 30, 11am Kelham Hall, Newark www.renaissance-kelham.com    Oh Happy Day Wedding Fair at  The Pumping House 6 Nov, 12pm The Pumping House, Break Lane, Ollerton, NG22 9HQY www.thepumpinghouse.com     The Newark Wedding Fair  Newark Showground, Newark 13 Nov, 11am Newark and Notts Showground, Lincoln Road,  Newark-on-Trent, Newark, NG24 2NY www.newarkshowground.com    insposa Wedding Fair at Norwood Park, Nottinghamshire 4 Dec, 12pm Norwood Park, Hallam Road, Southwel...

Many weddings were cancelled or postponed in 2020 for obvious reasons, but a lot went ahead in smaller venues with seriously reduced numbers and a more relaxed attitude. Hopefully the Covid-19 vaccine programme will pave the way for weddings to finally go ahead from mid-2021 onwards.

We are all familiar with the act of getting down on one knee, often as a gesture of respect, loyalty or even obedience, although we are not advocating you must obey your future wife or husband! Its exact origin is unknown but some say that it stems from the Middle Ages when a man would bend down for a woman he adored. Nowadays it is still common to get down on one knee to propose, and there’s a vulnerability and deep emotional connection that is still rather romantic.