Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Ashlee
Beginner July 2024 East London

London wedding venue stress

Ashlee, 7 March, 2023 at 09:05 Posted on Planning 2 11
Hi all, I’m looking for some help.


I’ve been looking for a venue for both a civil ceremony and reception in London now for the last 2 months and I’m just becoming so disheartened. Our budget for venue hire, food and drink is around £10k, we have a guest list of 50 day and 80 evening total.
We’re looking for a semi non-traditional day, our key requirements are that we can have a live band in the evening, and ideally everything be in the same place but we’re also happy to travel from the ceremony to the reception if needed. We love the idea of a pub reception, but we don’t want to have our ceremony in it. We’re not keen on a ceremony venue that’s too fancy.
Does anyone have any recommendations?
And please tell me this stress is normal, I’m not enjoying this part at all!

11 replies

Latest activity by Robertaxf, 11 March, 2023 at 18:14
  • G
    Beginner July 1993 New Hampshire
    Gratch ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    This may be my idea, hope it helps you, you can refer to The Depot, Islington. The venue features a ceremony room and reception space in the same building, as well as a patio and garden for outdoor photography and drinks terraria . It has a rustic, industrial feel and allows for live music in the evenings.

    • Reply
  • Ashlee
    Beginner July 2024 East London
    Ashlee ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message

    Thank you for your reply! Unfortunately The Depot don't allow bands with drums, and music can't start until after 8.30 due to it being below a theatre. A shame because we do love the look of this venue!

    • Reply
  • S
    Rockstar April 2023 West London
    Sarah ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    Have a look at the council websites for each borough that you’re interested in - they’ll have a list of all the licensed venues in their area and you can then narrow down from there. It’ll be easier than looking for venues and then seeing if you can have the ceremony in the same place.

    We’re having the ceremony and reception in one place - it’s Glenmore House in Surbiton, which we’re so excited about but might not be the look you’re going for.

    • Reply
  • Ashlee
    Beginner July 2024 East London
    Ashlee ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Thank you I’ll take a look!


    Your venue is lovely, it’s not quite what we’re looking for but thank you for sharing and best wishes for your day!
    • Reply
  • K
    Beginner May 2023 South West London
    Kerry ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    I spent a long time looking at London venues! Here are some ideas for more budget friendly ones (prices might have gone up and I didn't check about live bands):


    London Rowing Club, PutneyLe gothique, Wandsworth (packages were £99pp and no hire fee)Brunel museumThe Amadeus (loved this one but I don't think you can have the ceremony there)Dickens Inn, St Katherine's DockLandmark Arts Centre, Teddington Crypt on the green, Farringdon Studio Z, BrixtonThe Glasshouse, Hackney
    Good luck!
    • Reply
  • A
    Expert July 2023 Cornwall
    Anonbride ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    Are you completely attached to London? I know a few Londoners who have chosen to get married in places like Kent, because they had more/cheaper options.

    It's also really worth looking into registry office ceremonies and then going elsewhere for your reception - some of the registry offices in London are gloriously beautiful! Richmond and Old Marylebone Town Hall come to mind.

    The other big money saver is to go out of season. If your planning on being indoors most of the time, I'd definitely recommend looking at going for October/November where places are often much cheaper. If you have to, you could also look at a mid week wedding, which does reduce the cost drastically but I'd just advise you to really think about this as I've never known guests not grumble about this and you might get quite a few declines if people aren't able/willing to take annual leave or early leavers if people are working the next day - BUT it can work wonders for some people so I wouldn't rule it out completely!

    • Reply
  • Ashlee
    Beginner July 2024 East London
    Ashlee ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    I am mostly attached to London, but Kent is definitely an option, the only issue I have is getting there for viewings as my work schedule is crazy!
    We would be looking for a reception space with an outdoor area for the summer, but again I guess it could fall out of season. Preferably it would be a Saturday though just due to the jobs a lot of our friends have that it would be hard for them to take annual leave, and we don’t want to ask people to do so and make the day a burden for them!

    I wanted to avoid a registry office, but those are lovely places, so I guess it will be a last resort if we don’t find a different ceremony place!
    Thank you for your response!
    • Reply
  • Ashlee
    Beginner July 2024 East London
    Ashlee ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    The Glasshouse is actually somewhere we’re viewing on Monday! The only worry I have is how quick you’re in and out, how can you decorate it in any way and then transfer the flowers etc to the reception? I suppose you can’t.


    There’s lots of good options here thank you for sharing!
    • Reply
  • A
    Expert July 2023 Cornwall
    Anonbride ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message

    We were the same, Saturday was a non-negotiable for us!

    I do think registry offices get a bad rep, and some are amazing and I think potentially could be used as whole day venues. Have a look at Morden Park Hall if you're keen for outdoors!

    • Reply
  • Ashlee
    Beginner July 2024 East London
    Ashlee ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    I will take a look, thank you!!
    • Reply
  • Z
    Beginner August 2025 Buckinghamshire
    Zaynab ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    Hi


    Have you had a look at the Drayton hotel in West Ealing, west london.
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

General groups

Hitched article topics