Booking a venue feelings

OOh How exciting! I'm an Essex bride-to-be too, booked our wedding for 11th August so very near your provisional date! I'm very curious to know whereabouts you've booked! I didn't even think about V fest- our wedding is on Monday so shouldn't be affected! Our's is at a venue in Brentwood/ Basildon- really great price as it's free venue hire on Mondays (maybe you can work out where I mean from that info ) .

Hello! Thank you for replying ?

Yes I think I know where you have booked - Its round the corner from where I live in Brentwood and is a really lovely place.

I dont think that I will say where the first place is, but the place I provisionally booked yesterday is the Reid Rooms, which is between here and chelmsford - so not too far. Im kind of nervous to say that though, in case anyone has had a bad time there - I dont want to burst my eurphoric bubble!

You will be fine on the 11th for V its the weekend after your wedding -

Hello and welcome to hitched ?

Oh yes I know the Reid Rooms, in Margaret Roding! I've heard that they don't charge for corkage. We were going to have a look at it but I concentrated on places that offered packages; loved Ashwells but they didn't have on-site accommodation, also really liked Marygreen Manor but because we wanted mid-week they said the music had to stop at 10:30pm! Both were really lovely though, I'd happily choose either just our venue is yours for the day, relaxed, no set menu and ample accommodation because it is in the sticks a bit!

Hi

Welcome! I've asked for a brochure for the reid rooms and the room in the roding (they same company) Have you visted reid rooms what is it like? I am liking there prices! but wonder what else we might have to pay on top.

I'm having trouble on finding places near us I am on the London Essex border and have looked at both in London and Essex.

There are so many venues around here! I'd recommend Brentwood, some great places especially if you want packages. Chigwell has some places if you want further in.

Thank you Miss Pickle!

I think that the place you have chosen is the nicest of all those you mention -

I am thinking its the Old Rectory?

The Reid Rooms do not charge corkage thats right - its one of the main priorities for us.

Ideally we wanted to be able to provide a free bar, by buying the drinks ourselves and getting staff, but that has been an unrealistic standard it seemed. The Reid rooms offers the next best thing with no corkage during the day.

On site accommodation is another big bonus for us too

I attended a wedding at Reid rooms last week! It's a nice venue!! However I didn't really like it because I felt there were too many room!! It was a really small wedding and people gathered in small groups in each of the rooms or outside! So the bar and dance area was empty!

I have their brochure and visited - the brochure is really good, loads of info and great pictures.

I think is a wonderful place, the grounds are beautiful especially the terrace with the water feature and all the flowers. The rooms are also lovely, beams, lots of light. Except for the ceremony room actually that felt a bit dark and small.

I loved it all.

They seem to be really flexible, no corkage during the day - as previously mentioned and they let you provide your own caterers etc.

What kind of place are you looking for?I have spent hours on the net looking at potential venues - there are some amazing places around here and slightly further out.

Hmmm - thats a good point actually I had thought about it myself.

One of the things that I liked was that there are various places for people to "be" but I can see how that could make things a bit disjointed. I have around 110 daytime guests and an addtional 40 for the evening, so Im hoping that isnt too much of an issue. I was actually thinking that various places to sit or dance would mean that it didnt feel too packed.

I will have a serious think about your point before confirming though - thank you.

Sorry I didnt answer the question about what might be on top.

I think that in addition to the venue hire which is £3850 for a saturday next year, I will have to pay for the ceremony £500 I think? Or if outside £950. Also the accommodation which is lovely by the way, and a really big positive point as 20 people can stay over night.

And that's it to them directly.

Of course if you get a package there is more -

But I agree the prices are great and they seem to be really flexible with everything else, so its easier to control your costs.

Yes you're right it is the Old Rectory :-) thought I provided enough clues if you had researched venues as assiduously as I did! Really love to know the place that fell through- any clues? ;-)

Im not sure its fair really to say publicly, it might just be due to people being on holiday etc. Anyway I am still provisionally booked in there and "should" be recieving a call on Wednesday to arrange a proper visit and meeting - which I have been unable to up to now.

The more I think about the Reid rooms, the happier I am with it anyway now though ? So I think first option is out the window. Maybe I will PM you the name...

Overall since yesterday I have felt 100 times more happy and excited which is what your supposed to feel like huh? Not disappointed, in the dark and frustrated?

Although, I just did some searching on here for peoples opinions on the Reid rooms, that have put a few spanners in my mind!

Its all soooo confusing and overwhelming.

With the old rectory, what is the bar situation? Do they do drinks packages and then have a pay bar for the reception?

I have been spending hours researching ?

Hi Catlady,

Thanks for the info that's really helpful I think I am going to need a few places I liked the fact that your could stay there. The old rectory is another website I looked at it looks nice but obs u had problems.

I like barns and have looked at one Smeetham Hall barn I love it so much but I think it is to far away and some of my friends live in London and don't drive so not fair on them, im enquiring into Gilwell park I haven't received any replies yet think its cos it is the weekend.

Yes I like the idea of beams! I really love the whole bar effect! I keep for getting y I don't like some where I need to start writing it down and making a spread sheet!

Sarah

Hello Sarah,

Just to be clear it wasnt the Old Rectory that I had problems with - it was somewhere else.

I was looking at Smeetham hall on the web and loved it, but like with you its just a bit too far away.

I went to look at Ingatestone Hall which was cheap and beautiful grounds - I was put off by the fact that I have too many people to have the reception in the house, so that would all be in the marquee which I didnt really want. The best thing there is that you can provide your own bar!

I have the pack from Gilwell park which looks amazing - they dont have any availabilty for Saturdays next Summer I think? (I might be confused though) Im not sure that you can actually get married there however, there was no mention of it.

For barns, round the corner from me is Ye Olde Plough House which looks lovely, but again they have no saturdays left for next year.

I have been very organised and wrote everything done but to be honest Im still as confused.

Yes only good things to say about the Old Rectory! I've just googled Ingatestone Hall- is it really cheap? I disregarded any venue that didn't list its prices and it looked really posh to me!

Hi Catlady

I think I need to do more research and write it all down so I don't forget!!

How much was Gilwell park? its 20mins away from us and is actually where me and my OH met working at a summer day camps there if it wasn't for that we wouldn't know each other! Gilwell only does receptions we went there in july for a wedding

How much is Inagtestone?(I hate it when they don't put rough pricing on their websites and you have to give over all your details before you know!) it looks expensive.

I wold love Gilwell if I could afford it or Smeetham if it was closer

Also we are looking for a 2015 wedding so we have time to save and because I assume everywhere is pretty booked by now!

Thanks for your help I feel like ive highjacked your post!

Ingatestone was very posh but they seemed quite relaxed to be honest. They guy that showed me around was the son of the baron that owns it!

The cost was £2300, which I was shocked at too!

I have 110 during the day which therefore means I would need a marquee, taking the price up a fair bit.

I dont really want the whole event in a marquee either - but thats just me.

Hey no worries -Im glad that I can help.

Gilwell park is £3500 for site hire and then there are a raft of options for food and drink - I cant see any packages in their brochure. I think when comparing that to my other top two it was the most expensive by about 1k including site , food and drinks.

I fancied that because as a little girl I always wanted to get married in the church near to to Station Rd in Chingford. I have looked really hard to find somewhere local to there for a reception but have failed ?

See above post for the Ingatestone hall price - a bargin really especially as you can run your own bar which is also my attraction to Smeetham Hall.

You have been very helpful!

I'm not sure if Ingatestone is for me- but I like the price of it.

Once I get my brochure and check food prices Gilwell maybe an option as it is a special place for us! MY OH lives in Chingford and I live in Redbridge.

I'm don't think we getting married in a church so I would need somewhere to get married in and it would be easy for my friends to get to.

The wedding we went to there we were evening guests and bought our own drinks I don't think we can afford to pay for evening drinks just drinks with food

Also if you don't like Marquees Gilwell is in a Marquee or the wedding we went to was!

OMG.... That will teach me! I didn't read your initial post! I really didn't intend to put doubts in your mind regarding the venue!!

Ha ha it's alright pink butterfly, I have read that elsewhere too!

Can I ask roughly how many people were at the wedding you were?

The Old Rectory is lovely, I have worked there many times and came very close to booking it for our wedding in 2011. We decided on a church service and DIY Hall reception in the end. I have never worked at the Reid Rooms but to put your mind at ease I've never heard anything bad about them .. I'm sure you'll both have amazing days

Have fun planning! x

Ooh, exciting! I actually found the initial venue hunt a bit of a roller coaster! And like you got a bit fed up with it at times and thought there was no hope of us having a 2014 wedding! There's so much to take into consideration. I fell in love with a couple of venues at first and then found out they had very high minimum numbers or the bar prices were extortionate!

When you find the place you a love and a date you're happy with its such a nice feeling. Makes it all real doesn't it! :o)

It has been a massive rollercoaster to be honest - no one that I care to repeat. I have been trawling the web for hours and hours, getting really excited, becoming very excited and talking myself into massive comprimises!

I feel great now we have a venue and a date.

The final potential spanner is a call to the registrar tomorrow!

Fingers crossed thats ok

Hello & welcome to hitched
Congrats on choosing your venue, first step in loads of exciting planning Enjoy x