Help needed - Inexpensive London wedding venues

TuttiFruiti_2

Hi Alibear

Thanks for suggesting the London Canal Museum. It is indeed a very quirky venue, which personally I like the idea of, but the OH vetoed the idea - he's very opinionated:mad: which is lovely, but frustrating at the same time! Bless him, I suggested putting us forward for 'Don't Tell The Bride' because I'm sure he'd secretly like to plan it all!

He *has* got good taste so i wouldn't be too worried actually - except when it came to him choosing a dress because inevitably he'd choose something short, tight and booby :eek: which wouldn't be too flattering of my shape. Men?!?

Alibear wrote: »

Hi there, this might be a 'quirky' idea, but the London Canal Museum holds receptions and seems reasonable for central London. There's also a Premier Inn down the road for guests to stay in. You can use your own caterers which will bring the costs down... Hope it helps?

TuttiFruiti_2

Wow jojo2004 - you're full to the brim with ideas!:T

RE: Location - I think we're considering as far as Watford now (not too far for us or immediate family) actually so could possibly do Aylesbury. What's the name of the venue?

Re: season - I'd like to consider myself quite thrifty so we're now trying to fix a date in October/November (my birthday month) and on either a Friday or Sunday - although its more expensive to hire a registrar on Sundays

Re: catering - thanks the tip, I hadn't realised that caterers would do that, but I guess it makes sense as they just want your £££. Avenue Halls in Kew is a S/C venue but costs £1200+VAT so we're going to possibly book a viewing and then consider how much we'd have to spend to dress it up

Re: food - I'm not really a 'foodie' BUT the OH has a very discerning - if limited palette - so we'd be having Caribbean caterers (or Indian - our joint favourite - if our parents 'allow' us to;))

Re: contributions - I think its a lot more common now to ask for £/vouchers with invites (and we'd definitely need both as we're hoping to buy a place next year too) but I still feel a bit 'funny' about asking straight out (however, if someone asked me, I'd be happy to direct their enquiries - I like the idea of a honeymoon gift list actually)

Re: dresses - I've got my eye on a particular dress (Charlotte Balbier - Tabitha) which I've seen priced @£500 on Preloved) which may or may not (more likely) suit my figure. My budget would be £500, as would OH's budget for a tailored suit (if I'm buying a new outfit, I think he should too!)

Your post has definitely sent me in the right direction - thanks again :money:

jojo2004 wrote: »

Hi TuttiFruiti,

Congratulations! How exciting!

So, to the questions.
London wedding venues will be more expensive than elsewhere - as suggested, look through Local Authority listings for a chance of finding something cheaper.

Other thoughts that came to mind immediately: does it have to be 'London' London, or would somewhere in the surrounding counties work? I know of a couple of venue in Aylebury that are nice, for example.

Def try to go out of season - we're saving about 2.5k by getting married the weekend after New Year.

Catering - somewhere that allows you to use caterers is fine (although if they limit the choice, beware of this upping your costs), but be aware that caterers will often take advantage of 'corkage free' venues by charging 'drinks service' charges. Somewhere that will allow self catering as an option would be the most flexible option.

Consider a BBQ/Hog Roast etc if you do go for a non-chilly date. They are more relaxed (picnic style?) and cheaper, and 3 courses is less expected then.

You could always ask for contributions to the wedding cost instead of a Gift List? Not traditional (in UK culture anyway), but quite normal in Spain, Greece etc...

Dresses - check out the second hand options - sellmyweddingdress.com, preloved.com and the various charity shops that have wedding dress 'boutiques' (Barnardos, Oxfam principally).

Rentnotbuy.com is good for, well, renting stuff that you don't want to have to buy, basically!

You could start combing charity shops for vintage crockery to dress whatever venue you have up, or think about using things like candles (cheap), charity shop glass vases with artificial flowers, paper pompoms/origami cranes (this is SUCH a cute idea, seen it done a few times), branches, pinecones etc as decorations - don't think you 'have' to have flowers. Do your own bouquet - either fresh flowers (Columbia Road flower market, or covent garden for supplies), or buttons/felt flowers/brooches.

Ask any bridesmaids (at the start) if they would be willing to wear their own dresses/buy their own. Mismatching can look very vintage and cool. Same goes for ushers - do they have a decent suit they would wear?

We prioritised our budget like this: food, venue, wine, church (fees), rings. That allows you to filter out what you don't really want to spend on - then don't spend on it! Use vistaprint for stationery, make your own, do it all via a wedding website etc. You can find ways around a lot of the (expensive) extras if you think about it.

HTH, and good luck.
xx

Dekazer

If Indian's your favourite - Brilliant restaurant in Southall are licensed for weddings!

I'm sure you'll find somewhere great eventually. It is hard work, but everything else will fall into place once it's booked.

We struggled with numbers. We wanted a massive party, but the registry offices have such small rooms. The bigger licensed venues were all so pricey. We have compromised by having a relatively small ceremony (60 people) followed by a trip to our favourite (Nepalese!) restuarant, then a much bigger evening reception (up to 300) in a community centre. We're paying £900 for hall hire, plus money for professional decorators (In Southall there are loads as Indian weddings tend to be massive and therefore in venues that are plainer to start with) and a buffet caterer.

Everything included (all outfits, stationery, food, free bar, decor, venues, transport between venues, 2 nights in a 5* hotel, cake - everything) our wedding's coming in at under £9k. Given we have 300 guests, it's not bad going. It can be done the MSE way!

Alibear

TuttiFruiti wrote: »

Hi Alibear

Thanks for suggesting the London Canal Museum. It is indeed a very quirky venue, which personally I like the idea of, but the OH vetoed the idea - he's very opinionated:mad: which is lovely, but frustrating at the same time! Bless him, I suggested putting us forward for 'Don't Tell The Bride' because I'm sure he'd secretly like to plan it all!

He *has* got good taste so i wouldn't be too worried actually - except when it came to him choosing a dress because inevitably he'd choose something short, tight and booby :eek: which wouldn't be too flattering of my shape. Men?!?

Haha, my fella actually got asked to go on Don't Tell the Bride. His taste isn't too bad - I'd have been up for it if I didn't have to go on TV! Hope you find somewhere soon and if I can think of any other venues I'll let you know! x

chatnoir

Hi,
I'm helping my cousin plan her London wedding for next July. I have found the following reception venues that range in price and venue type:
Abbey Centre
Amadeus centre
central hall westminster
mall galleries
St martins in the field
Hellenic cnetre
porchesterhal
regents college
st annes church soho
westminser cathedral hall
Conway hall
st lukes & christ church - hall
lauderdale house
There in a variety of locations and some are just church halls and some are historical buildings.
She is on a tight budget also so trying to find something that lets you have your own catering for 150+ people.......which is quite a task for peak wedding season, on a saturday, in london!

Dekazer

Conway hall is gorgeous. We were there for the Betsy Trotwood Winterlude and they had decorated the main hall so beautifully! And, if you do book it, you can go to events like that to get inspiration

I thought the Amadeus centre looked lovely too, and the nearest registry office is ever so grand!

jojo2004

chatnoir wrote: »

Hi,
I'm helping my cousin plan her London wedding for next July. I have found the following reception venues that range in price and venue type:
Abbey Centre
Amadeus centre
central hall westminster
mall galleries
St martins in the field
Hellenic cnetre
porchesterhal
regents college
st annes church soho
westminser cathedral hall
Conway hall
st lukes & christ church - hall
lauderdale house
There in a variety of locations and some are just church halls and some are historical buildings.
She is on a tight budget also so trying to find something that lets you have your own catering for 150+ people.......which is quite a task for peak wedding season, on a saturday, in london!

St Martin's in the Field is gorgeous - the restaurant downstairs (which is where I assume the reception would be) is like a gorgeous vaulted barn/cellar. Very romantic.

TuttiFruiti_2

Dekazer wrote: »

If Indian's your favourite - Brilliant restaurant in Southall are licensed for weddings!

I'm sure you'll find somewhere great eventually. It is hard work, but everything else will fall into place once it's booked.

We struggled with numbers. We wanted a massive party, but the registry offices have such small rooms. The bigger licensed venues were all so pricey. We have compromised by having a relatively small ceremony (60 people) followed by a trip to our favourite (Nepalese!) restuarant, then a much bigger evening reception (up to 300) in a community centre. We're paying £900 for hall hire, plus money for professional decorators (In Southall there are loads as Indian weddings tend to be massive and therefore in venues that are plainer to start with) and a buffet caterer.

Everything included (all outfits, stationery, food, free bar, decor, venues, transport between venues, 2 nights in a 5* hotel, cake - everything) our wedding's coming in at under £9k. Given we have 300 guests, it's not bad going. It can be done the MSE way!

Hi Dekazer,

Sorry for not replying earlier - I've just come back from a last minute holiday in Tenerife with some friends (not very MSE:o)

Thanks for all your advice - we're still working out when to get married and how much we'll have saved as we are planning to buy (#1 priority) a place sometime next year (hopefully)

Can I ask you whereabouts you are having your ceremony, dinner and reception?

Thanks again

TuttiFruiti_2

chatnoir wrote: »

Hi,
I'm helping my cousin plan her London wedding for next July. I have found the following reception venues that range in price and venue type:
Abbey Centre
Amadeus centre
central hall westminster
mall galleries
St martins in the field
Hellenic cnetre
porchesterhal
regents college
st annes church soho
westminser cathedral hall
Conway hall
st lukes & christ church - hall
lauderdale house
There in a variety of locations and some are just church halls and some are historical buildings.
She is on a tight budget also so trying to find something that lets you have your own catering for 150+ people.......which is quite a task for peak wedding season, on a saturday, in london!

Hi Chatnoir

Thanks for all your venue suggestions and apologies for replying so late

We've looked at the Amadeus online and obtained a quote for £1900 +VAT for 4 - 12pm only (on a Sunday) which is slightly above budget

We received a quote of over £3K, venue only, at the Porchester:eek:

We do like the look of Conway Hall, and having the ceremony at Islington Town Hall, but I haven't been able to get hold of anyone there, which is a shame...

I haven't had the chance to look at any of the others, but I'll make a point of doing so over this weekend and will update you (all) on any progress

I/we have considered holding the ceremony at Pitzhanger Manor House (PMH) in Ealing and reception at Linden House in Hammersmith/Chiswick, but:
PMH it only holds 72 seated which doesn't allow us to invite aunts/uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins unfortunately. It *is* beautiful though, and 'only' £700 for 1hr 30mins hire;
Linden House only caters for 80 seated guests, which again, doesn't enable to extend the invite to all of the close extended family:(

TuttiFruiti_2

Dekazer wrote: »

Conway hall is gorgeous. We were there for the Betsy Trotwood Winterlude and they had decorated the main hall so beautifully! And, if you do book it, you can go to events like that to get inspiration

I thought the Amadeus centre looked lovely too, and the nearest registry office is ever so grand!

Hi Dekazer,

You're right - the Amadeus IS lovely (but expensive!)

I've suggested Marylebone registry office (reception venue TBC) - if its good enough for Paul McCartney (twice!) and last nights 'Dont Tell The Bride' couple, it should be good for us!

I'd ideally love to go abroad - somewhere sunny, Ibiza would be ideal! - but as we have 2 young children, and all our siblings have school/college aged children it would be *very* expensive for everyone to go as we'd have to go during a school holiday (shame)