2013 Brides and Grooms, and month links.

jtr2803

Ooh I really want to get our venue booked, I haven't even looked at any but I pretty much know the one I want. I used to work there years ago as a waitress so know it really well and I know they are flexible and most importantly - affordable! :rotfl:

I don't think we will be booking it until April though, argh!

catalunya

Im getting frustrated looking at venues... I am trying to keep to a reasonable budget and in a nearby location but everything is either too far away, too expensive, inflexible, no hotel nearby and the like... maybe I need a get rich quick scheme.. any ideas people?!

I thought this wedding planning was meant to be fun!

On the other hand though I have decided a colour scheme and already organised styles of favours and the like... good to see my priorities are right!

Went to my first wedding fair too - on my own - h2b was playing two games of football funnily enough - and I must have looked like a deer in headlights... got a free bottle of bubbly though for being early - knew that being punctual had its benefits!!

Keep me up to date on your searches ladies, good to know we are in the same boat

catalunya

jtr2803 wrote: »

Ooh I really want to get our venue booked, I haven't even looked at any but I pretty much know the one I want. I used to work there years ago as a waitress so know it really well and I know they are flexible and most importantly - affordable! :rotfl:

I don't think we will be booking it until April though, argh!

Being from the same county maybe I need to look into this venue...!

Could you share with me where abouts in Kent it maybe?

jtr2803

catalunya wrote: »

Im getting frustrated looking at venues... I am trying to keep to a reasonable budget and in a nearby location but everything is either too far away, too expensive, inflexible, no hotel nearby and the like... maybe I need a get rich quick scheme.. any ideas people?!

This is what I have found too, we live in Maidstone and most of the venues round here either charge a big flat venue hire fee or have stupid minimum numbers, even for a March wedding . I want it to be local so close friends and family don't have to worry about hotels and expensive taxis etc. I also want somewhere that has a nice outside feature or gardens, not too worried as there is a high chance of rain but a lot of local hotels don't even have that!

White_Sapphire

Hi 2013-ers!

I have a habit of lurking on other people's threads (just plain nosey, really ), and just wanted to say that I found the venue search to be the most difficult and frustrating part of the planning (at least, so far!); everything we saw was not quite right, or absolutely perfect but beyond out budget, etc. At one point I simply couldn't see how what we wanted and what we could afford to have would ever match! We now have two gorgeous venues, within budget. Point is, you will find your venue, even if it's two venues or completely not what you had envisioned at the start of the search, and even if you find yourselves having to compromise a little on less important things.

Always worth thinking outside the box a little too; some venues can't afford to advertise much, and you will often find that the ones that always appear in searches are the most expensive and often the most restrictive.

Good luck with your searches, all!

x

catalunya

jtr2803 wrote: »

This is what I have found too, we live in Maidstone and most of the venues round here either charge a big flat venue hire fee or have stupid minimum numbers, even for a March wedding . I want it to be local so close friends and family don't have to worry about hotels and expensive taxis etc. I also want somewhere that has a nice outside feature or gardens, not too worried as there is a high chance of rain but a lot of local hotels don't even have that!

I agree jtr2803 - I have been looking at Maidstone too (I live in Sittingbourne) and its frustrating that the basic hire fee is often £2-3k! And we are looking at a wedding in November (want to do a winter wonderland theme as I love xmas)!

Going to visit a few more in the next couple of weeks though, hopefully one will work, or I'll love it so much I'll just pay for it!

Thanks for the advice White_Sapphire - its good to know that it was frustrating for most

jtr2803

Boxley House and Turkey Mill were both £3k, even for a Friday and as we are only planning on having around 30/35 people I just can't justify the amount of money .

I also considered Museum of Kent life but that's all based on big minimum numbers and if it is raining I think it will be muddy so also a no-go. I think it will probably be the Grangemoor Hotel because I like the tudor style room and they have a decent garden outside and I know they are good at weddings. Their pacages were really reasonably priced too, more than happy to send them your way if you are interested?

catalunya

Aww that place looks lovely!

Unfortunately it is too small for us - we have 5 families to accomodate - and thats just for starters!

I dont know if you have looked at this place, but I went to see the Weald of Kent and it was really reasonable to hire the two rooms or you could just have one if you were having a small gathering of people. They were really lovely and willing to be flexible.

jtr2803

catalunya wrote: »

Aww that place looks lovely!

Unfortunately it is too small for us - we have 5 families to accomodate - and thats just for starters!

I dont know if you have looked at this place, but I went to see the Weald of Kent and it was really reasonable to hire the two rooms or you could just have one if you were having a small gathering of people. They were really lovely and willing to be flexible.

Surprised to hear it's too small, you must have huge numbers lol! I think the main suite can take a max of 120 for a sit down .

I did look at Weald of Kent BUT...one of my close friends got married there last summer so I don't feel comfortable with getting married in the same place . Most of our family live in town centre and WoK is actually quite far out so it would mean quite expensive taxi's. I also think some of OHs friends would duck out because they couldn't organise a p1ss up in a brewery and would forget to arrange transport etc!

catalunya

Ahhh I'll have to have a look again, as I only saw 40 as a number!

I agree, getting married in the same place is awkward... my OH's stepbrother is getting married at Turkey Mill so that (along with the price!) means it was straight out of the equation!

I definitely agree that distance is a massive issue, I'd love to get married in my local church, literally down the road, but then its finding a venue which is close enough to us, of which there are two/three and one of them is out already.

I hope you get it booked though and then we can look forward to discussing all the next bits like dresses, hen do's and the like