Park and bride

Furthermore, you're the most beautiful woman in the world and you are wearing the most exquisite, long, flowing dress as you wander about those gardens. Heaven.

Well, if those are the kinds of dreams you used to have as a girl, then you have the chance to really indulge them if Duncombe Park becomes the venue for your wedding.

For one whole day, the home of Lord and Lady Feversham becomes yours - in a manner of speaking. The public are barred and there is an army of servants at your beck and call. The grounds are entirely at the disposal of you, your friends and family. What more could you want apart, perhaps, from a deep pocket?

You can have the ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening reception at the stately home or any combination of these (except the evening reception alone).

There are three rooms registered for a civil ceremony. The 40-foot high Hall with giant Corinthian pilasters which seats up to 100 guests; the opulent Saloon, lined with oak panelling, which seats up to 140 guests and the Ladies Withdrawing Room, which seats up to 20 guests for a more intimate atmosphere.

Sally Potter is wedding and function co-ordinator at the sumptuous venue and she guided me through a Duncombe Park wedding.

"Generally we are doing more and more civil ceremonies, followed by receptions and evening receptions," she explained. "People don't want to move off one site. Helmsley is a very good selling point for us as it's a lovely picturesque market town. It's a nice place for guests to come and stay.

"Lord and Lady Feversham like to see the house being used and it giving pleasure to other people."

One year to go

Book your wedding at least 9-12 months in advance. There are already some 15 weddings taking place this year and, if there is an event planned at the stately home such as a point-to-point or classic motorbike rally, you will not be able to have your wedding at the same time as the staff like to ensure exclusivity for all the weddings.

If you make an enquiry, you will be sent comprehensive information about the venue and will be invited to have a look round and look at photos from previous weddings and letters of thanks. Parents may also want to look around.

If you decide to go ahead, Sally will contact the florist, string quartet and caterers. "I like to ensure everyone is happy with everything before we go ahead," said Sally.

Two-four months to go

A meeting with the caterers, Craven Gilpin of Leeds, will take place and you will have a chance to choose your menu for your wedding breakfast. There are a number of menus to choose from £47.95 to £54.50 per head and include such delicacies as: oven baked pork loin with caramelised wild mushrooms and shallots served with a rich cream justian of king prawn made up of king prawn layered with red pepper, iceberg, Norwegian prawns bound in Marie Rose garnished with garlic, pepper and lemon oil.

At this meeting the itinery and ceremony are discussed. Also there is an opportunity to sample wine from the Duncombe Park wine list of about 20. Local wine supplier Playford Ros of Thirsk is used. "If a couple can't quite decide between a few wines, we let them take home some bottles so they can enjoy them at their leisure or with friends before making their choice," said Sally. "From this meeting I put everything in writing to the bride and groom and to the caterers so basically we are all going to the same wedding. On occasions I have even given out my home telephone number. I would much rather a bride phoned me and checked a detail with me rather than sitting worrying about it at home."

One month to go

The photographer is invited to visit Duncombe Park to get familiar with the surroundings. "If a photographer will take time out to come here it shows they care and want to do a good job," Sally said.

Five days to go

Seating plan, menu cards (sporting the coat of arms) and place cards are prepared. Numbers are finalised with the caterers.

One day to go

All the furniture is removed from the stone hall and saloon. The cleaners buff the floor and clean the rooms so they look their best.

The kitchen is prepared for the caterers. "The caterers use the original kitchen," explained Sally. "They really enjoy it because it's very spacious and it allows them to show off their talents."

Chairs and tables are brought from storage and all have to be lifted up the front steps.

Royal Dalton china is brought up from store

All chairs are laid out for the ceremony. There is even a heart-shaped table on which the ring cushion sits.

Florist Camilla Tetley, of Little Habton, arranges pedestals of flowers. "We tend to use the same florist because she is used to working here," explained Sally. "She's extremely good and usually produces something really quite magical."

Cake arrives and is stored in a cool room.

Bride arrives with dress which is taken up to the yellow bedroom and hung up. "That's the advantage of high ceilings and doors," laughed Sally. "Ultimately we are trying to take as much pressure off the bride so it's a stress free and enjoyable day."

Caterers arrive with equipment - hot cupboards, cookers, linen etc and check all the equipment works.

"We walk through the wedding in our minds again and sometimes physically walk it just to make sure we have discussed every last detail."

The big day

10.30am: Caterers arrive with everything fresh from their kitchens in a refrigerated wagon. Craven Gilpin of Leeds have plenty of experience.

They do a lot of catering at racecourses, agricultural shows and so forth.

Duncombe Park staff arrive. They include Sally, Liz Williams, house manager; Wendy Crummack, deputy house manager; Mark Willshaw, house assistant.

Noon: Waitresses arrive. Begin laying tables, polishing cutlery and glasses.

1pm: Florist arrives with table arrangements and puts them into position, decorates cake table and head table.

Sometimes the best man arrives to have a look round and see if there are any overhead projectors or other props he needs for his speech.

2pm: Bride arrives, usually with her hair and make-up done. Goes up to the yellow bedroom, sometimes with her mum and bridesmaids, where she can watch the arrival of the guests unseen.

"When they arrive here all they have to do is step into their dress and enjoy a glass of champagne," said Sally. "We try to make it as relaxing and peaceful as possible."

2.15pm: Jean Hotton's Pavilion Music string quartet arrives. "The acoustics in the hall are fabulous," said Sally. "Last year we had two opera singers getting married. Many of their guests were soloists and at one point we had 23 of them singing in the hall. I really thought they were going to raise the roof. It was very emotional. For a real twist they had a karaoke for their evening reception."

2.30pm: Bridegroom arrives and goes to see registrar in library.

Guests come up the main drive and park in the forecourt right outside the stately home. They climb the steps and take their seats in the hall. "What we do pride ourselves on is our hospitality," said Sally. "We aim to look after the guests as much as the bride and groom. We want to make them feel equally as special."

2.40pm: Registrar will go up stairs to see the bride.

2.50pm: "I often take dad upstairs to the yellow bedroom to share a bit of quiet with the bride and her mum," explained Sally. "It's a special moment."

2.55pm: "From the yellow bedroom they all come down stairs together and I take them out at ground floor so they can come up the steps into the hall," she went on. "I let mum go down the aisle. When the bride is ready I raise my hand to the superintendent registrar. She announces the bride has arrived and welcomes everyone to Duncombe Park. After a few bars of music from the string quartet, the bride makes her entrance. I always joke to the bride that the only bit she has to do herself is walk down the aisle."

3pm: The ceremony begins.

3.20pm: Opportunity for photos.

String quartet strikes up and guests move out of the hall, through the saloon out onto the terrace where drinks are served.

Guests can play croquet in the 18th century garden or wander around the grassy walks or admire the par terre whilst the bride and groom make use of the endless opportunities for beautiful photographs both inside and outside the house. Much of the park and garden is a nature reserve.

"A lot of people comment on how peaceful it is here," said Sally. "A lot of people are from the city. The atmosphere here is miles away from what they are used to."

4.30pm: Wedding breakfast served in the Saloon.

Informal five-foot round tables tend to be used. The head table can be long, a six-foot round table or a horseshoe formation. "It makes them feel more relaxed - not quite so much on show but all the other guests can still see them," Sally explained.

6.30pm: Coffee, cake and speeches.

7.15pm: Evening reception begins in the pavilion rooms in the north wing or alternatively in a marquee on the lawn. "We usually use the Classic Party Company," said Sally.

10pm: Fireworks by Daniel Blake Firepower, York.

Bride and groom leave to begin honeymoon.

Midnight: Mini buses start arriving to take people into Helmsley.

1.30am: Duncombe Park staff finish clearing up and go home for a well-earned rest.

When a wedding reception is held at Duncombe Park there is a charge of £100 plus VAT for the use of one of the three rooms for the civil wedding ceremony. Menus for wedding breakfasts as above. Evening receptions in the North wing and cellar disco cost £700 plus VAT or if you choose a marquee it costs £20-£25 per head. Marquee quotations are available on application. If numbers are fewer than 70 then surcharges of up to £800 plus VAT are added.

For a civil wedding ceremony with use of first floor rooms and grounds for photographs the cost is £450 plus VAT for the Ladies Withdrawing Room (the house is still open to the public) or £750 plus VAT for the Stone Hall or Saloon.