Oxford area wedding...

MrsTinks

ARRGGHHH!!!!

We're still looking for a wedding venue... Long story short, we found a venue, but once I added up all the costs I decided I just couldn't justify the prices and the over all wedding cost. So we didn't go ahead and book it. I then contacted our local pub to see if they'd have it there (we'd pay of course!) but no... they don't wanna close the pub to the public on a friday at all and you can't close part off...
So plan c - resturant in Oxford... lovely place! Not taking any wedding bookings as the "future of the resturant is very uncertain at the moment and they don't want to risk letting anyone down" which I think is very nice of them to warn us of and not take bookings... However this leaves me with no clue as to what to do next! So far the venues have kind of dictated what we were doing as to how many for reception etc and now I am feeling very very lost! I want the venue to be pretty (who doesn't) and if they would allow us to bring our own booze then even better!

Anyone know of somewhere around Oxford/Bicester/Aylesbury/Buckingham kinda area?

T

Destined_to_be_skint

Tell me about it, I still haven't foudn anywhere myself in NW London. have you tried local village halls?

MrsTinks

Yeah I have looked at a few and honestly I can't believe how yucky they are... I wouldn't consider having a meeting there let alone a wedding!
The one in my Village is horrid! It's a post war prefab thing, the car park floods, it's looking manky and the inside... well... :eek:
I might have a look at sorrounding villages but there I guess parking mght be an issue... Will have to have a look. Found a Golf club in silverstone that actually looks VERY reasonable! £350 for the marquee hire which is one of the really nice ones complete with floor and everything and heating... (it's a may wedding... weather could go either way!)

Fen1

Have you tried Oxford University? Some of the colleges hire out their halls (beautiful), but I think it might be term time for your wedding.
Or you could try the further education colleges in the area: some of them have dedicated catering and hospitality suites, and all the trainee chefs there are out to impress.

MrsTinks

Ooo hadn't thought of that Fen1 thanks!
I thougth of one possibility as far as village halls are concerned - got really excited about it - told OH what I was thiking about and planning... and he said: "I don't want it in a poxy village hall!" :eek: "he'll find the money somehow and if it costs £10k it costs £10k"
I just had a major flip at him (there is no way on earth I'm spending £10k!!!!!) and he's agreed he'll come look at the hall and listen to my ideas... the ideas from another poster on how to decorate the hall sounded so great (different thread in here) that I suddenly saw lots of possibilities! And the money we'd save I can spend on really really nice food and drinks instead! We could afford a band and the other things I had excluded due to cost so if I can only get him to see this he might still go for it!

Maysie

hi, might be an idea to post on a more local forum my local one is www.witney.net (14miles from oxford) people post regularly and i am sure someone will know somewhere good in the area

I did try to google an oxford forum but there where loads :O

hilstep2000

We've just come back from my stepsons' wedding. They live in Abingdon. They held it at the Upper Reaches Hotel. It's right on the Thames, has a lovely garden, and a mill wheel in the resaurant! They did a wonderful sit down and buffet in the evening, and there are lovely gardens for photos too.
They have a website: http://www.upperreaches-abingdon.co.uk/
Hope this helps!

skintchick

I'm a Henley girl, and there are a few places round here:

Bix has a tithe barn you can hire although Ic an;t find a web page (I've seen one but can;t get it on google, try the parish council)

Badgemore Golf Club is CHEAP and really nice - a friend had their wedding there and it was nice

Henley Conservative Club has a lovely function room that is VERY cheap - £80! I had my 30th party there and it holds 120 people and beer is cheap too

MrsNurseyC

Don't let the fact your local won't close for the day put you off. There's loads of beautiful country pubs in the area Tine, I'm sure the answer won't be the same for all of them.
You'll get some gorgeous pictures of your wedding party in the countryside too- pub beer garden or wedding reception in the gardens of a stately home- there really isn't much difference in looking at the photos!

Little_Miss_Penny_Less

Local to us there is an old converted barn that holds weddings (receptions & ceremonies) that is rather lovely, and reasonably cheap, well compared to what some other places ask! Try www.lainsbarn.co.uk for a peek...

NaughtyAngel2007

we are having a grand wedding for a grand at shillingford hotel. such a lovely hotel just outside wallingford. we are from abingdon.

the grand (£1000) includes the wedding , a few drinks ,the dinner after and hire of the room in the evening for the party. great deal.:T