Getting married and looking at venues

Hello and welcome to Hitched, unfortunately I can't help you with your venue but good luck with your planning. Everyone is really nice on here and we do love a little flash of what your are thinking about/have bought or three!!

Hi King George,

I went to look at the 3 Lakes and really liked it, I decided on Hanbury Manor in the end, but the 3 Lakes was definitely one of the best i saw in the area, and I think I looked at about 15 venues!! I've not heard a bad thing about it at all from any reviews, my only concern was that if I had bad weather on the day there weren't many places to have photos inside, but Maxine the wedding planner there was lovely and their packages are fantastic value.

Are you from Hertfordshire? I'm having my ceremony at Our Lady's Church in Welwyn Garden City.

Claire xxx

Oooh, I looked at 3 lakes too! It looks lovely but we decided it didnt really suit us as a couple.

We've gone for a ocuntry house with a beautiful barn thats all sustainable and green (ethically not in colour!)....think we even get to pick our hog....personally...! hehe!

I think there are a few of us hertfordshire brides! Anyone found a hertfordshire mobile hairdresser that doesnt charge a BOMB yet?

Which venue have you gone for Rebecca, sorry hope you don't mind me asking! It's nice to find some other hertfordshire brides, hopefully we can trade some tips on local suppliers and ideas!!

My friend had a really good mobile hairdresser for her wedding last year in Hertford, I'll get the details and share, she did 4 hair doos beautifully and I don't think she was too expensive xx

I'm live in Hertford, Getting married in All Saints Church In Hertford after we booked we realised it was the biggest church in Herts except St Albans, its lovely but what a long walk down the isle. My sister got married last year and her Hairdresser was Amy from Dead Swankey she was lovely and did great hair. As I'm getting married at xmas thinking of running that theme throught the wedding snowflakes etc and lighted birch twigs as table decs.

Going to see three lakes tommorrow very excited x

Make sure you let us know how you get on?

Our church is quite big as well, i am concerned my guests won't even half fill it as we are only having 80 in the day, but I've been going there my whole life so it would feel wrong to get married anywhere else x

I'm actually getting married on the Herts, Cambs border in a place called South Farm. Google it. I LOVE it! Not doing the church thing as we're both athiests so we dont want to be hypocritical. I'd love to get married in a church though as they're such beautiful buildings!! Bet you'll get some amazing photos!!

What bridal shops have you gone for? my dress is from Berkatex in Watford and they were REALLY helpful! Heard bad things of one of the ones in ST ALbans.

Im going to look up that hairdresser now!! Trading herts tips sounds like a plan!

Ah yes I have heard about South Farm it does look very nice. My church isn't actually very pretty, my other half says it looks like a fire station?! But its a place that means a lot to me, so we've gone for Hanbury Manor as we'll get some amazing photos there.

I haven't done my first dress trip yet, but I am going to 7th August... funnily enough to St. Albans, we're going to Losners, The Bride and Satin Bow I think. Are they one of the ones you've heard bad things about?? I'll definitely take a look in Watford. I was also in Hitchin last night for dinner and walked past a couple of their bridal shops.

My friend has given me a link to the hairdresser, but looking at her prices I think she maybe a bit on the pricey side, I haven't looked into hair so don't know if she's charging the going rate. Also she says on there she has no appointments left, but i am assuming she may mean for this summer. She did do a very good job though.

http://www.samanthakinchhairdesign.co.uk/

One bridal shop I'd advise you both to steer clear from is the one in Knebworth, last year they managed to order my friend the wrong dress, and then my other friend ordered waistcoats from there and they ordered the wrong colour!

Hello,

I'm a Hertfordshire bride too - so nice to find some locals on here!

We went to see South Farm several times and absolutely loved it, eventually made the decision to go to Sheene Mill in Melbourn instead though as suited us a bit more. My Church also looks a bit fire station-esque, but it's where I've always been.

Going for my first dress shopping experience this weekend - I was recommended Clifford-Burr in Ware (anyone been?) and apparently there are some good bridal shops in Bassingbourn too.

We have only just started getting into the planning, so any recommendations for photographers, cars, bridal shops, hairdressers, make-up artists ...actually anything...would be really appreciated!

Lizi x

Hi Lizi,

Looks like we're going to manage to get quite a little club going! My MOH got married last year and we got her dress at Clifford Burr, they were lovely in there it was a fantastic experience, I'm probably going to go and have a look there too! Morgan Davies in Hitchin also has some lovely designers, and another friend has recommended Expressions in Hitchin.

I met a photographer in Hitchin last night.... they are call Picture This and I was really impressed, they are currently top of our list for photographers.

I feel very excited now the planning seems to be in full swing!! xx

There is a photographer called Gavin Hart based in oakwood, his pics look amazing going to see him next week so will let you know how we get on, My sister got her dress in the bride in St Albans they were really nice and friendly, We went to losners I was not so impressed had to wear gloves so felt like you should not touch the dresses!!

I am going to wait a few months before I go dress shopping want to try and lose a few pounds!!

Went to see three lakes today really liked it going to take the other half on tuesday but I think its going to be perfect for us budget and location wise gorgeous views and they have our date which is a bonus!!?

Hi All

another Hertfordshire bride here to join the club, i am getting married in May 2011 we have booked the Queens Moat House in Elstree (commenly know as the holiday inn to us common folk lol) we have already booked a photographer who also does hair and make up he really freindly have a look at his site https://www.timspiers.com/ i am also still looking at dresses and happy to share suppliers we have booked looked at nice to know other people are on here from saqme area what have you girls already booked.

King George, I'm glad you like 3 Lakes, Maxine is nice isn't she, fingers crossed your OH likes it too!

Hi PaddyandLin, I know the Holiday in in BW! I think we are going to go with Picture This for our photography, we're going to discuss it over the weekend and decide. That'll be my second big thing decided after the venue. I think I'll be moving onto my dress next!!

What colour scheme are you all going for? I think I have decided on purple now, my shade of people is getting progressively darker, I started off with a light lavender colour and am now much more purple!!

I got married at South Farm a couple of weeks ago - it was amazing and I highly recommend them, I'm still grinning ?

I posted all my suppliers on my wedding report thread if they're any help to you herts brides (my hair and make-up lady was great and lives just down the road).

I'm also in Herts, and I've recently attended a ball at 3 lakes. Really enjoyed it. nice people, efficent staff, great food, lovely location. Nice and quiet there too.

My only quibble which is very minor was that the car park was very dusty, but don't let that put you off please.

Ann Bridal in St Albans are very good, you can find them here - www.annbridal.co.uk/ and there is a lovely wedding dress shop in Berkhamsted. Brides of Berkhamsted - www.bridesofberkhamsted.com, really nice selection and spacious. So many bridal shops are pokey, squashy places.

And for photographers I highly recommend Photographybyriddell - www.photographybyriddell.co.uk, beautiful work. and very nice prices.

I'm already married, but I'm a total wedding addict and helping two friends organise things who are getting married over the next few months, and I know a lot of the good places in Herts.

Westmill Farm is gorgeous, went to a wedding there earlier in the year and it was fab - it did rain so the the ceremony couldn't be outside in the end, but thankfully the sun came out in time for the pics after, so there were some gorgeous pics taken overlooking the lake! The day also ran like clockwork!

I've saw the pics after the wedding and they're fab....so if you're looking for a photographer take a look at Chris Gilbert - http://www.chrisgilbertphotography.co.uk, we have him for ours too ?

I am thinking of burgandy but not sure how your other plans going

As we are getting married 17th Dec 2011 we are going to have a xmas winter feeling to the wedding Im thinking holly garlands round the pillars in venue and top table and birch twigs and roses for centrepieces, my mum and me are doing my flowers so going to work out a bit cheaper, and I went pine cone collecting last week have loads!! colours going for silver, white and pale blue sort of snowy theme. Maybe us Herts brides should arrange a meet up one night for a drink and chat?? x

Winter wonderland is a lovely theme, I would've liked a Christmas wedding but my Mum was convinced she'd just be too cold, October was the latest she'd let me have.

Meeting up sounds like a really good idea, we can have a good old wedding chat!!! Where and when is suitable for most people?

Any time good for me, I start a herts bride meet up thread x

Hi!

We have just booked The Three Lakes for our wedding on Sat 12th November 2011! We viewed it a few times before booking and each time i got the excited feeling in my belly more and more! King George - Have you booked there for 17th December 2011? If so i can give you the low down on how the day (albeit only a few weeks before your own wedding!) went.

Hayley

Hi Hayley,

Yes thats right 17th dec 2011, Its so exciting thats a great idea you are 1 month before me so you can give me the low down are you going for the sit down meal? I loved it when we went there its got such beautiful views as well hasn't it. Are you getting married there as well.

Hi and welcome!

I am also having a Winter Wonderland theme and we're nearly date twins by a few days - I am 23rd Dec 2011!!! xxx

Yes nearly I love the idea of the winter wonderland Are you going to be wearing any type of jacket or coat shrug etc or have you not thought that far ahead?

LOL you're gonna think I am nuts. Not only i have thought that far in advance, I BOUGHT the said item! Wearing a white satin, fur-trimmed cape:

Oh I love it!!! its so perfect for a winter wedding is that you in the pic? was it very expensive?

LOL I SO WISH it was me in the picture! It's on the model! it was about £164 - I ordered it online from a US company called Princess Tiaras (they also sell bridal jewellery and this cape).

I have only heard good things about 3 lakes and despite it being local to me, I have my first wedding there next month. Maxine is very helpful(as mentioned).

my main concerns was the nearby model remote car track which is quite noisy. They stop this for the ceremony timeslot itself, although do carry on afterwards. It is worth checking to ensure that this isn't an issue for you.

hth

Peter

You must let us know how the wedding goes, We are not actually getting married there just having the reception so hopefully the car track should not be an issue for us I must say when we did visit the car track kept our son amused for ages so if he gets bored on the day someone can take him down there lol ?

FWIW I am yet to hear a negative report on the venue. Possibly it gets stretched if you have the ceremony there on a wet day and have to move inside....Apart from that it is very popular.