Fonmon Castle

We married in the parish and had our reception there on the 2nd August this year. I grew up in the village so that's why we chose it.

It's a fabulous venue, it's more like hiring a house than dealing with a chain or formulaic venue - there are very few restrictions other than those out of their control e.g. no fireworks etc because of the airport. If you want a package this may not be the venue for you - we wanted it beacuse of the freedom it afforded us. I wanted my wedding to feel like an intimate family garden party and that is exactly what I got.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28160666@N02/page4/

The staff are fab, they don't fawn over you or any of that guff, just honest advise. As well as being easy to reach (M4 airport and glut of hotels nearby) the venue was brilliant for children as they can just run and run inthe grounds while their parents can still see them and so tey relax too. I know everyone speaks very highly of their own venue, but it was exactly what we wanted.

Annie and Claire (say Hi from me!) will give you a pack of details containing the details of the contractors for food, glass hire, marquee hire loval b& Bs even holiday lets, florists, photogrpahers etc - whatever you want. You can marry there too

Let me know if I can help

OOhhh

Thankyou so much, we want somewher we and our guests can have a lovely day, dont mind if it a package or if orgnise ourselves, quite like the idea of sorting ourselves so we can stamp our personality on it, but worry will put us over budget.

I am egearly awaiting the pack from the venue, one thing I was worried about was planes overhead did you find this a problem?

by the way your phtos are lovely loks like a stunning day

Just to say hello to another chick getting hitched in wales :-) Fonmon castle looks gorgeous

When are you thinking of getting married?

Hi

Yes wales is one place we are looking for venues but want to be sure that any we choose to view are real contenders as it a good hour and a half to two hours from where we are based. (But would love to get married in wales as it is where I have many happy memories and where we got engaged).

I am also looking at Caer Beris and LLangoed so if you know anything about either of these venues pleas pass it on!

Hmm When do we want to get married Next Sept/ Oct would be fablous but realise we may be cutting things a little short on time so if that doent work out Dec 2009 or not til Sept 2010 (keeping fingers crossed for 2009 though.)

Wher are you getting married in wales?

Hey Drifter,

We are getting married next July at the St David's Hotel in Cardiff.

Its really nice.

There are some lovely places in Wales to get married - whereabouts are you looking, as we stuck to south wales

SG

Hi Drifter

Where about's are you based? I'm just asking because Powys and Barry are quite far away from each other and wondered if it was anywhere in Wales or did you want South Wales? I'm a wedding planner in Cardiff so if it was South Wales in particular, I might be able to recommend some other venues. Fonmon however, is really lovely.

Ruth

x

Hi Stupidgirl (Rebecca)

Quickly jumping on the thread, sorry drifter, how's things going? Did you sort out how much you are spending on various things? How's the planning coming along?

Ruth

x

Hi Ruth and SG

Actually based in Gloucestershirer/ West midlands (I live in West Midland other half lives in Gloucestershirer and that is where my family is to). So travelling doesn't make a large amount of difference to us and our guest will be from all over the UK.

Have to Admit Fonmon based on few photos I have seen and little info I have is currently my top runner so worried now that it will be well out of our price range or dissapointing if we go for a viewing. So other recammendations are always welcome.

OOhh St Davids Hotel looks lovely SG I always want to go in when i am in Cardiff but never found an a good enough excuse

Nicola

Hey Both,

Thanks for the compliment on the hotel Nicola - I just love how unusual it is, and goes with our black and white/art deco-y theme.

Plans are going well - am a lot more chilled out now thanks - and have made some budgetary amendments too (!). Found a lovely woman who is doing our chair covers (so helpful, sent me swatches +samples) and also decorating bar and staircase, and also a fab photographer.

Am starting to work on florist stuff now - and am rapidly revising my budget on this - they are mega expensive.... :-( Also still got to sort WHAT we are doing with stationery. Am feeling a little uninspired at the minute - work really hectic.

Hope you guys are doing well - Nicola, I am so looking forward to hearing about all your planning. And don't forget the first rule of Hitched - ALWAYS show us your photos!!

SG x

Nicola - Where abouts in Gloucestershire? I'm actually from Cheltenham and moved to Cardiff in January, so a lot of my weddings are still in Gloucestershire too as I decided to keep the business going there aswell and sort of stretch my horizons. Obviously, everything comes down to budget at the end of the day. Just remember that your wedding will be the best day of your life no matter where you have it.

Rebecca, sounds like things are coming along - what are you going for for the centre pieces? I do produce centrepieces and simple bouquets so if you wanted I could do a quote for you. I live in the bay so am literally two minutes from the hotel too. Let me know.

Ruth

x

Hi Ruth,

At the minute I am looking at simple low level displays in rectangular vases, lots of gerbera, roses, carnations, maybe peonies etc. Also hand tied bouquets for me and BMs. Its still pricey though, but flowers do have a big impact.

I am just going to do lots of research and then sit down with H2B to decide. Am coming up to Cardiff 3rd week november, so hoping to meet with a couple of florists then, and decide by end of Nov. Anyway if you've got any ideas, do let me know - just drop me an email if you like - my PM isn't working.

Nicola - sorry to have crashed your thread, anyway update us on your planning! Let us know how it goes

x

Good Evening SG and Ruth

SG:-

Well planning is still in very early stages currently trying to draw up a short list of venues to view so we can get an idea of a date (current plan is find venue that love and is in budget then see what dates are available and then we will know if it a 2009 or a 2010 wedding).

Your plans sound amazing very exciting i am currently quite envious of all those people with a real date to look forward to.

Ruth

How funny I'm from Tetbury originally but other half now lives just outside Cheltenham (I'm currently in West Midlands).

We are considering a few venues in this region but also interseted in wales still (nothing like having a free flowing plan!)

Currently trying to find out prices for hiring Fonmon so we can decide if it is a contender or way out of budget and im very impatient waiting for their info as I don't want to fall in love with their brocher when it arrives then be dissapointed by the prices.

Still I enjoy looking.

Nicola

Hey Nicola,

I know what you mean - the venue is the hardest bit, once you've got the date and place everything else follows. Its much easier to decide on colours/styles that you like for things like flowers and stationery once you know what the place looks like.

I looked at loads of places in SW Wales - so give me a shout if you look at any there, or want any tips. We loved The Orangery in Margam Park, but the wait list for a summer saturday was until 2010, and we wanted to get hitched next year. You should still be able to find the right place, but it might involve some compromises.

Are you a total wedding magazine addict too?

SG

Hi SG

OOohhh I look at Margarm park to but decided it might not be appropriate as has links with an ex.

I am trying so hard to be good about wedding magazines (honest only brought 3 since got engaged only been engaged for 2 and a hlf weeks!) Im trying to use websites in place of magazines and tell myself I am saving towards wedding etc... but i just want to have the photos for my ideas book!

sounds like your day is going to be amazing, I have promised myself I will be patient for the right venue even if I have to wait til 2010 (much easier in theory than practice!)

Still going to go and buy my engagement ring sat hooray!

Nic

Ooooooooooooh Engagement Ring!! Exciting, hope you'll post pictures.

How did you get engaged then?

We went to pick my ring and ended up desiging it in a place in Hatton Garden

3 mags in 2.5 weeks is pretty reserved actually - I reckon I had about twice as many in that space of time - although my mate who got married quite soon after we got engaged gave me about 10 back issues! I had a bit of a clear out recently and felt a bit sad!!!

Do you know what sort of dresses you like?

If I can figure out how Im sure I will,

I generally like fairly classic things so it won't be revolutionary, but very exciting going to jewellery quarter in Birmingham!

Dresses dresses dresses now ther eis something that may take me a while to choose, I think fairly classic have a few designers I seem to like althopugh some are definately Dream designers!
at present I like

charlotte balbier

Amanda Wyatt

Caroline Castiglino

and few more picture I have seem but don't know designer yet!
Have you got your dress yet? I presume you have as you are planning flowers etc what is it like!

I love Charlotte Balbier and Caroline Castigliano - lovely dresses, many cut out pictures of their stuff in my scrapbook! Amanda Wyatt is good too - and very reasonably priced - my friend got her dress there and it's gorgeous.

My dress is from Pronuptia (can't recommend them highly enough, lovely people) and here is link to my photobox so you can see a picture 🤓

http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo?album_id=74434857&photo_id=1782360470

It just very simple with some crystals at the top. Although the photo has stretched me a bit :-)

When are you off to fonmon? What sort of engagement ring do you want? Sorry I'm terribly nosey 😉

SG

Oh Wow your dressis really lovely! I bet you can't wait to wear it on the big day.

I think I really need to start making a scrap book of all the things I like as soon i won't be able to rember them all hmm maybe I can pick one up at the weekend.

Well still waiting for Fonmon information at the moment won't be going to view it until we know if it is doable budget wise. but once we have a to view list I will be asking for any tips of what to look for/ ask that you have.

OOhh I osscilate between wanting a fairly traditional solitare round cut diamond to want a 3 stone ring with a morden slightly off set setting however lots of the more unusual designs are too chunky fo my fibgers have tried on some really nice stuff before that just looked all wrongon my hand!!

still i will enjoy the hunt.