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What unique qualities does Pendragondale provide for couples getting married?

PendragonDale is not a "theme park rendition" of a Medieval setting. There are no plastic handrails and no asphalt parking lots. What makes PendragonDale so unique is that you MUST be transported back to Medieval times when you set foot on this land. Because there is virtually no difference -- this really IS a Medieval Farm !! It is more like a living history museum than simply a wedding venue.

What have you been worrying about over the last week? My concerns have been how soon I can get the sheep shorn and how the hay crop will be this year. Scores of visitors have said the same thing: "We parked at the top of the hill and walked down -- it just seemed like what we wanted to do -- leave the modern contrivance behind.

Every step we took was a step farther back in time. First-- it is the fact that everything is green -- trees, grass, stone path, and old wooden fences. Farther down we see donkeys and two cows on the left. A bit farther and there are geese squawking on the pond. Now we see the house, Canterbury Cottage -- it looks like a gingerbread house. A white peacock stops us on our way and spread his tail for us -- his name is Lancelot, of course! We had arrived in a Magical wrinkle of time -- and we never wanted to leave!

Can you describe a recent wedding you hosted at Pendragondale and how the couple used the special atmosphere of the property to lend period elements to their ceremony?

Rather than describe one wedding -- I prefer to tell you some pictures in my mind -- some wonderful "scenes" that have happened at various weddings. One of my favorite things was the 60-foot long Feast Table that was created all across the front lawn-- it was even longer than the house! Everyone was in costume-- the food was authentically Medieval -- it was just perfect -- exactly like what you think a Medieval Banquet should be -- and the people were so nice.

Another dear memory was WAY after a wedding -- after the reception -- after all guest had left who "you want to invite but they aren't your closest friends". Now it was just the "core" of close friends who had known each other for years. And these guests-- were camping out for the night -- in the field (which is always an option for anyone). They had made a large fire on top of the Dragon Cave Stone -- leftovers had been pilfered from the enormous reception tent and brought to the fire.

I was privileged to be allowed to be an "honorary friend" for the night. We passed hunks of bread, bottles of Mead, turkey legs and cheese -- while lazing on make-shift cushions by the fire. And then they started singing -- it was a tradition of theirs. And they were good! And silly, too, of course. No one there could tell you what time we stopped -- and it didn't matter. It was exactly like it "should be." I know the "Little Folk" were watching from the edges of the firelight -- naturally, we left them snacks!

How can couples incorporate a stay at your bed and breakfast, Canterbury Cottage, into their wedding and reception plans? Do many couples choose to spend their first night as husband and wife at the bed and breakfast?

One things to note: I am very generous with the bedrooms -- for the purpose of changing, during the day. This is just assumed to be part of your overall fee for the wedding -- I don't promise they will all be "guest-ready"-- I'm just letting you use them because I know it is so necessary.

During the time when I am offering rooms as Bed & Breakfast you simply have to book the room for the nights you want. Even when I am not officially offering rooms for B&B, I do find it hard to refuse if a couple wants my (must admit it-- "fabulous") Master Bedroom for the night of, or the night before. I would say about half the couple's stay here and about half do not.

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Photos courtesy PendragonDale