Questions on Weddings at The Mill Forge
The wedding planner team at The Mill Forge near Gretna Green have put together a list of the questions they are most regularly asked, along with their answers.
If you have any wedding questions the please do not hesitate to contact one of the wedding planners on 01461 800344
Wedding Questions and Answers
1) How soon / quick can we be married at The Mill Forge near Gretna Green?
The legal paperwork must be lodged with Gretna Registration Office at least twenty-nine clear days before the wedding. (See question 3)
2) Do we have to stay in the Gretna Green area for a certain length of time before our wedding date?
No you may arrive on the day of your wedding if you want to.
3) What do we need to do about legal paperwork / serving notice to get married near Gretna Green?
The M10 marriage notice forms and other relevant documents must be with Gretna Registration Office at least 29 clear days before the wedding. The M10 forms may be downloaded from their website www.gretnaonline.net or by calling the Registration Office on 01461 337648.
The Gretna Registration Office are the best people to advise you on the legal paperwork required for a wedding in Gretna Green.
4) Who can marry in the Gretna Green area? / How old do you have to be?
Anyone can marry here provided they are at least sixteen years old and can produce the necesary paperwork as mentioned in question 3.
5) Can we have a religious ceremony if one or both of us has been divorced?
Yes, you have the same options as people who have not been divorced.
6) How much will it cost for our wedding at the Mill Forge?
Please visit our tariffs page for detailed wedding costs.
7) How soon should we book our wedding?
We would advise you to book as soon as possible to secure the date and time of your choice. We take bookings up to three years in advance and within one month of the date in question.
8) Is it ok to come and look around and discuss our wedding with a wedding planner?
Yes please feel free to come and see us. We will be happy to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
9) When do we have to pay for our wedding?
We ask for the full payment for The Forge, a £20 deposit per room per night and a £5 per person deposit for the reception meal within ten days of a provisional booking being made.
The wedding reception meal and drinks are to be paid no later than three weeks before the date of the wedding.
The balance of the accommodation is to be paid upon checkin.
10) Can we be married in Gretna Green if one or both of us were not born in the UK
Yes, we have had people from all over the world married in The Forge. Contact the Gretna Registration Office on 01461 337648 for advice on the legal paperwork required.
If either of you do not understand spoken English then an interpreter may be required.
11) Can my son / daughter witness the ceremony?
Yes provided that they are at least sixteen years old.
12) It will only be the two of us, what do we do about witnesses?
We will supply witnesses free of charge if required.
13) Why should we get married at Gretna Green
There are many reasons to marry at Gretna Green. Here are a few of the most popular ones
- Some couples don't want a big occasion and only want those close to them at their wedding
- It's cheaper to come here than to have a wedding in your home town
- To leave behind family issues
- Gretna Green has centuries of tradition and romance
- Many couples don't want the same wedding venue as friend or family members
Gretna Green Questions and Answers
14) How many does The Forge hold?
There is seating for forty with standing room for a further thirty guests behind the seated guests.
15) Are The Mill and The Forge far apart?
No they are not. The Forge stands in the grounds of The Mill Hotel and is less than 120 metres from any of the bedrooms.
16) Is there entertainment in the evening?
If numbers permit, The Mill Forge provides a FREE house disco for all residents of the hotel. While the disco is not private to any party, all brides and grooms may enjoy a first dance.
17) Do we need wedding insurance?
It is advisable to take out wedding insurance to protect yourself in the event of cancellation. You can get up to £10,000 of cover for as little as £50.00
18) What is the running order of our wedding day?
Our wedding planners will run through everything upon your arrival. It is your decision as to whether to have the traditional style as below or to simply walk in together. Whatever you are comfortable with, is what we will do for you.
- Stylists and beauticians come to attend to the bride / bridesmaids / bride's mother / groom's mother.
- The Groom and guests meet in the Conservatory Bar no later than 20 minutes before the ceremony start time.
- The Groom and guests are escorted to The Forge by one of our wedding planners and a bagpiper if one has been booked.
- The bride, whoever is giving her away and the bride's attendants are collected from the bridal suite and are escorted / piped to The Forge.
- The ceremony will start once the bride has made her entrance to either a special song, the bridal march or the "skirl" of the pipes.
- After the ceremony the happy couple will sign the marriage schedule and pose for photographs inside The Forge.
- After exiting The Forge to a confetti shower from their guests, the newlyweds can take a walk round the gardens for more photographs to be taken.
- The last photograph taken (depending upon the photography package) is normally a mock cutting of the cake and then the bride and groom join their guests for a quick drink.
- The guests are taken into the function room first and greet the arrival of the happy couple with a round of applause.
- Once the reception meal and speeches etc have been completed the entire wedding party are invited to relax in the bar area.
- Should there be a sufficient number of wedding guests, then The Mill will provide a free house disco which any of the wedding parties present that day are welcome to enjoy.
19) Can we bring things to decorate the wedding tables and can we get into the room to decorate the tables ourselves?
Yes you may bring table decorations although we do ask that if you bring candles they are safely mounted / presented.
You may be granted access to decorate the tables yourself, but we have staff who are happy to decorate the tables for you.
