South East Venue Search - HELP!!!

Hi & welcome to Hitched

Have you looked through the Venue List on here:

https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-venues/

I would suggest looking at Village Halls, Sports Clubs etc as most Venues you have to have the package they do as standard. A lso make sure it is a licensed venue.

We're in kent and used an online magazine which had every licensed venue in kent- i think its a council run thing- i've googled it and it's still therer https://www.akentishceremony.com/uk/venues-

good luck venue hunting!

Hi there!

We're getting married at Oaks Farm in Surrey (it's literally 10 mins drive from Croydon town centre, but like being in the countryside once you get there!) They are really relaxed as they are a family run business and we're saving loads by taking our own drink. However, you do have to have one of their caterers (although there are about seven different ones to choose from). The main thing we liked about this venue is the flexibility to have our day in the way in which we wanted. We're not religious either, so having the ceremony and reception in the same place. The grounds are beautiful... ❤️

The barns I particularly liked were Gate Street Barn and Upwaltham, Gate Street allow you to bring your own drinks with no corkage, you just pay for staff to serve them if I remember correctly. Upwaltham are switching to use only one caterer but the info I had from them indicates that they are very flexible as to what type of food you can go for, anything from cream tea to formal 3 course meal to a hog roast.

There's lots of barns about but I too am a bit horrified at the costs involved, I'm hoping asking nicely for a reduction in venue hire costs will work better than I expect!

I know it might be a bit far out but Whitstable Castle in Kent do weddings - https://www.whitstablecastle.co.uk/venue-hire-whitstable.php - a friend of mine has a friend that got married there and said it was lovely. I've just googled 'Whitstable castle wedding' images and it does seem pretty nice.

We are getting married at The Reid Rooms in Essex. It is a lovely country venue with a courtyard for recpetion drinks and a farmhouse with 8 bedrooms for you and your guests to hire. They have a separate ceremony room, lounge, dinning room and evening room. They are really flexible and allow you to do as little or as much as you want - you can either book one of their packages (full package or a half package where you can just book food and take all your own drinks which the caterers serve free of charge) or you can choose to do everything yourself! Much cheaper to hire out of the summer months or on weekdays but you do get exclusive use from 9am to 1am

Is Hampshire too far? I know Boundary Oak School are starting to do Marquee weddings, and allow camping on site as well as accommodation in the school.

I am sure you would get a good deal and you would be one of the first few.

Good luck

Boundary Oak School

Zoe x

Hi,

I would recommend the Reid Rooms too. I work at the venue a lot and it is one of the friendliest and most relaxed venues that I have been to.

The venue runs in two ways and you can choose to have their package or to have the venue as a blank canvas. The latter would suit your needs perfectly.

I recommend checking out their website - just google Reid Rooms and it will appear at the top of the listings. The post code is CM6 1QT so that you can check the location (I have typed it into my sat nav about 50 times this year!!).

The lady in charge of co-ordinating weddings is called Mary Briscoe and she is really helpful.

Best of luck!!!

James Hughes

I don't think this place is licenced so you would need to actually get married somewhere else but this place is a blank canvas ... literally!

You can put up a marquee in the gardens, camp if you want to and there is a lodge with a hottub for the B&G!

https://www.weddingvenues.com/venue3386.html

Hiya

is berkshire too far?? I could have written your post word for word and we have chosen the edwardian marquee in bray (nr windsor)

its a permanant marquee and pretty much a blank canvas-but a nice one right on the river!!! we are having a hog roast, bbq and hopefully it will be warm enough to sit outside..and we are having the ceremony there also.

Thanks all, HUGELY appreciated!

Will get investigating and see how I get on - I'm just relieved to know I'm not going mad and there are other people who feel the same out there.

We are getting married at Blake Hall in Ongar, Essex and our friends got married at Gaynes Park in Epping, Essex.

For Hertfordshire venue check out the below link it lists all the licences places in Herts hope that helps

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/comdirectory/register/marriages/where/bwedven3y/

How many people will be at your wedding?

One place that sounds like it would fit your requirements is Three lakes near to Ware. Herts Registrars (the best) and a reasonably priced venue that works to achieve what you want. Set high on a hill overlooking errrrr three lakes!!!!!!Contact is Maxine who also wedding co-ords.

I'm not sure how far out you'd be willing to go but we had three barns around Petworth on our shortlist - Bartholomew, Grittenham and Fitzleroi. We went for Bartholomew as we just felt it was in a beautiful setting and gorgeous flowers all around it but all three you can bring in your own caterers (though they do have to be off their recommended lists) plus no corkage so that all helps. Have fun choosing! x