Wedding Planning: Venues

Since getting engaged last November a lot of readers have been asking whether I would be sharing my wedding planning ideas here on the blog.  Planning a wedding is such a beautiful journey full of excitement and because I share so much of my daily life and goings on with you all it just seemed right to share this part of my life with you too.

Since Alfie is always busy working during the week and I am busy with my thesis and have a part time Saturday job we are struggling too find the time to confirm plans and have a look around at what is out there.   But, on a rare occasion Alfie may get a week day off, like yesterday.  I’m pretty much my own boss at the moment so we decided to use this rare opportunity to go an look at some potential wedding venues.

We are quite a modest couple and like to be frugal with our money.   We are trying to get married on a budget, which does make things a little harder.  I sometimes wish I could say yes to everything with a total disregard of the price, but unfortunately that is never going to happen any time soon. With a budget in mind many of our friends and family have advised to use most of the our budget towards the venue and the dress as that what people are going to remember from the big day.

Putting most of our money towards the venue is something that we couldn’t agree more with.  Although we are on a budget we still want the day to be extra special and memorable.  There are so many places that hold a special place in our hearts- we have been together for almost 7 years so we have visited lots of places and created so many memories.  However, we decided to stick with tradition and hold the wedding in my home county where we went to look at some potential venues yesterday.

1) Prestwold Hall

 

Not only is architecture and the grounds stunning but the inside is just full of character too with something to see at every turn…

2) Belvoir Castle

Alfie felt quite at home in this castle which predates the 16th century.  I really liked it and thought it was beautiful and I think the wedding pictures would look great.  But, I also thought that it was a bit too much, in price and grandeur.

3) Brooksby Hall

 

Brooksby Hall is actually and fully working college and with a little bit of work and planning could look really pretty.  We went to view it as our cheaper option and has so much potential as it is basically a blank canvas.  Despite this being are cheaper option when all of the extra decoration costs and food were added it actually became more expensive than Prestwold Hall, which doesn’t really require any extra decoration as it is already stunning.

 

Ideally we would really love a church wedding an Presthold Hall and Brooksby Hall have churches on site which would cut down the transport costs as the houses are literally a two minute walk from the churches in both locations.  Although part of me gets a very nostalgic feeling when I think of St. Mary’s Church where my Nan married my Granddad all of those years ago in 1955.

Well it looks like Operation Wedding is in full swing!

There is lot’s to sort out and decisions to be made.  We have already picked our colour schemes, flower girl dresses, the groomsmen’s suits and my bridesmaid’s and I are currently discussing their dresses.  So look out for future posts on all of that soon.  I guess first things first and on top of the list would be setting the date!

Which venue do you like the look of? Do you have an ideal venue that you would love to get married in? 

Where did you get married? 

Have any of you had to get married on a tight budget?