YOUR wedding day is a little piece of history in the making, so where better to celebrate than in one of Suffolk’s most historical buildings?

Privately owned 16^th century Otley Hall is one of the prettiest venues in the county licensed for civil ceremonies.

The Grade I listed property, which has its own moat, is famed for having once been home to the Gosnold family for more than 300 years, most noteably Batholomew Gosnold, who founded the first permanent English-speaking settlement in America.

Today many of the charming medieval features remain at Otley Hall, from intricate carved beams and panelling, to feature chimneys and herringbone brickwork.

Add to this 10 acres of stunning grounds, and the fact that the hall is only eight miles from Ipswich, and you have the perfect destination for a stylish country wedding.

Otley Hall prides itself on its personal, friendly touch. There are no packages to choose from, and every wedding is bespoke and unique, including complete event management to make your day as stress-free as possible.

Whether you’d like a traditional wedding day or a medieval-themed banquet, it’s your day and the team is happy to help.

Civil ceremonies for up to 60 people can be held in either the Great Hall (overlooking the rose garden and croquet lawns), or the adjacent Gosnold Suite.

For more intimate weddings, couples can opt for the panelled Linenfold Parlour.

After the ceremony, wedding breakfasts for up to 40 people can be held in the Great Hall, and parties of up to 55 can be seated in the Gosnold Suite, with space for up to 80 people for an evening function here.

Larger wedding breakfasts may be taken in a marquee (to be hired separately) on the grounds.

Hire of the hall is completely exclusive, with the gardens and grounds yours for the duration.

The stunning gardens are ideal for wedding photography and have many focal points, including historically accurate recreations of an orchard, herber and knot garden by Sylvia Landsberg and a nuttery, rose garden and moat walk designed by Francis Inigo Thomas.

The grounds are also frequented by lots of wildlife, including peacocks, ducks, chickens and a swan called David, adding to the charm of the venue.

At Otley couples are free to pick any caterer and entertainment of their choice. And the events team has a list of recommended suppliers that have worked at the venue available if advice is needed.

Venue hire at Otley Hall starts at £1.975, which includes use of the Gosnold Suite for a wedding breakfast and reception, use of the Great Hall and Linenfold Parlour for pictures, an organisational fee, furniture hire and staff to set-up and clear-up.

The hall is now offering discounted rates for weekday weddings taken from October 15 2010 to March 31 2011.

Find out more by calling the events manager on 01473 890264.