A North East venue turned the clock back to its 1920s heyday to make a wedding dream come true.
The Great Hall, at Discovery Museum, Newcastle, was one of the city’s liveliest function rooms during the Roaring 20s, when the building housed the headquarters of the North East Co-operative Wholesale Society.
Along with hosting staff celebrations, the vaulted, art nouveau hall was also the setting for numerous dances and parties throughout the decade, making it the perfect setting for Zoe Georgoulis and Phillip Groom’s Great Gatsby-style nuptials.
The couple, who tied the knot earlier this year (January), enlisted the help of Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events, which manages catering and events at Discovery Museum, to re-create the era famous for flappers – and all that jazz.
Zoe, a 31-year-old practice manager from Newcastle, not only paid tribute to the fashions of the day with a Marcel-waved hairstyle and maribou feather-trimmed stole, but the former florist also filled the room with the towering palms and elegant floral displays of the period.
Then, following a three course meal served to the backing music of a string of 1920s hits, the couple’s 120 guests were encouraged to relax in a speakeasy-style seating area within the Great Hall itself.
“I just love all things vintage,” said Zoe, “and Phillip’s favourite TV show is Boardwalk Empire, so when we saw the Great Hall we just knew it would be the perfect venue for our wedding reception.
“It was twilight when we arrived at the museum following the ceremony at nearby St John the Baptist church and we started off with drinks in the Science Maze before heading to the Great Hall, which just looked fabulous.”
Sandria Charalambous, senior events coordinator for Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events, said: “The Great Hall really is a hidden gem and we love seeing people’s jaws just drop when they see it for the first time.
“However, even we were surprised at just how fabulous it looked for Zoe and Phillip’s wedding – it really was like stepping back in time to the 1920s.”
The Great Hall – which seats up to 350 people – and the museum’s Turbinia Gallery, Science Maze and Cafe are all licensed for wedding and civil ceremonies.
For further information call 0844 856 1074 or e-mail events@twmuseums.co.uk.