31 Inspirational Blank Canvas Wedding Venues

Don’t deny it – you’ve dreamt up your perfect wedding and you’ve gone a little OTT on the theme! Instead of starting all over again, why not simply choose a blank canvas venue from Bridebook.co.uk and make your visions come true?

Whether you want a stripped back ‘no-frills’ kind of day, or you’re after something a little more extravagant, we’ve found some blank canvas venues that can be completely tailored to you and your day.

And if you want to carry on the search after seeing these 31 stunning venues, head over to Bridebook.co.uk’s Wedding Venue Search! Enjoy!

1. That Amazing Place, Essex Wedding Venues

The beautifully decorated That Amazing Place is set in the glorious Essex countryside and offers neutral tones as a blank canvas wedding backdrop. With a lush outdoor space and garden pagoda, this country house will accent any theme, no matter how bold or subtle.

2. Marwell Hotel, Hampshire Wedding Venues

This safari lodge-style country hotel boasts a spa, golf course, 5-star service and sumptuous cuisine. At Marwell Hotel, you can expect high ceilings, fresh interiors and a luxurious sheen, making it an ideal blank canvas setting on the edge of Hampshire’s South Downs National Park.

3. Shoreditch Studios, Greater London Wedding Venues

The UK’s capital city is home to Shoreditch Studios, a flexible warehouse and studio space based inside a railway arch. With Victorian brickwork on show and a romantic mezzanine overlooking the main space, you’ll be able to make your biggest dreams become reality.

4. The Outdoor Party Company, West Berkshire

Bridebook.co.uk The Outdoor Party Company

The natural beauty-style blank canvas backdrop at The Outdoor Party Company really is unique. Including camping paddock, fire pit and a small rustic barn, you can create your bespoke wedding in this endless woodland setting of Berkshire.

5. The Granary Hotel & Wedding Venue, Northamptonshire Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk The Granary Hotel & Wedding Venue

Enter the private Fawsley Estate and you will find The Granary Hotel, where converted Grade II-listed barns and a luxury marquee form the beautiful wedding backdrop. This venue has a modern finish but lets rustic features shine through – making the perfect blank canvas on which to paint your ideas.

6. Bashall Barn, Lancashire Wedding Venues

Spectacular views over Lancashire and a fresh quirky interior means you have arrived at Bashall Barn. This totally bespoke venue offers home-made food, a bakery, ice cream parlour and blank but rustic décor, so you can do exactly what you want on your wedding day.

7. Goosedale, Nottinghamshire Wedding Venues

Nottinghamshire’s Goosedale warmly invites you with exposed brick, dramatic high ceilings and statement lighting set within 100 acres of gardens. Dating back to the 17th Century, this exclusive-use venue will allow you to put your very own spin on the look and feel of your celebrations.

8. Merriscourt, Oxfordshire Wedding Venues

Nestled in the glorious Cotswolds, Merriscourt is an unrivalled barn setting with beautiful brick and plenty of opportunity to decorate as you wish. The interconnecting barns offer natural light, a spacious ambience and tonnes of character to add to your day.

9. Furtho Manor Farm, Northamptonshire Wedding Venues

Furtho Manor Farm combines lush fields, a rustic barn and a nearby Church to suit all tastes for your wedding celebrations. This rural Northamptonshire backdrop can be transformed with a bold and colourful theme, or will be equally as beautiful with raw farm-style look.

10. Sunbeam Studios, Greater London Wedding Venues

The Grade II-listed Sunbeam Studios offers plenty of history, fresh white décor and an ideal blank canvas venue for your grand theme. Once the showroom to the Talbot Sunbeam car, this London gem would be the ultimate venue for couples fanatic about classic cars!

11. Gaynes Park, Essex Wedding Venues

In the Essex countryside lies the spectacular blank canvas venue Gaynes Park, comprised of a gorgeous rustic barn, an outdoor barn and a sun-filled Orangery. Oak beams, modern glass and stunning parkland surroundings make this venue an incredible choice.

12. Tadley Venue, Hampshire Wedding Venues

Hampshire’s Tadley Venue is situated at the Herb Farm, where lush fields and tree-lined paths lead you to a festival wonderland. The 4 acres of natural beauty are all yours for the day (or the weekend!), so you can choose suppliers as you wish and create your dream day.

13. Turner Contemporary, Kent Wedding Venues

David Chipperfield is the award-winning architect who designed Turner Contemporary, a luxury blank canvas venue to die for! Taking advantage of Kent’s seaside town of Margate and it’s coastal views, this venue combines full length windows and gorgeous neutral palettes.

14. Stirk House Hotel, Lancashire Wedding Venues

Whether you’re after a simple, intimate ceremony or a grand celebration (or a mixture of the two!), Stirk House Hotel can cater for your every need. The 16th Century manor house in Lancashire offers lots of original features and some modern touches to suit your theme.

15. Upthorpe Wood, Suffolk Wedding Venues

Fancy tying the knot in a magnificent woodland setting on the border of Suffolk and Norfolk? At Upthorpe Wood, you can expect a rustic woodland barn and infinite gardens in which to mingle with your loved ones – a venue with natural beauty as your backdrop.

16. Applewood Hall, Norfolk Wedding Venues

Contemporary class and raw character are combined at Applewood Hall to create the ultimate blank canvas setting. This Norfolk gem is set on the grounds of an orchard, with luxury glamping pods and camping space too, so you can celebrate your day your way.

17. Northease Manor, East Sussex Wedding Venues

Northease Manor warmly welcomes you to East Sussex, where the rolling hills of the South Downs can be enjoyed from all around the venue. Including a thatched roof and rustic beams, this 17th Century backdrop will look stunning in your wedding photos – just simply beautiful.

18. Alpheton Hall Barns, Suffolk Wedding Venues

History and character await you at Alpheton Hall Barns, where you can celebrate your wedding in unique style. With a wide choice of ceremony and reception spaces available, you can be flexible with your day and create exactly what you dreamt of.

19. Old Bridge, Somerset Wedding Venues

This Elizabethan manor house dates back to the 16th Century, and totally encompasses it’s history plus a touch of luxuriousness. Somerset’s Old Bridge is the answer if you’re craving a warm and inviting setting with a plain canvas to plant your ideas upon.

20. Swallows Nest Barn, Warwickshire Wedding Venues

The idyllic rural farm setting of Swallows Nest Barn is located in the Warwickshire countryside. This family run farm venue puts emphasis on helping couples create a bespoke day that echoes their personalities – meaning you can both put your own spin on things!

21. Victoria Warehouse, Greater Manchester Wedding Venues

Exposed rustic walls and an urban warehouse theme can be found in Manchester at Victoria Warehouse. With a 100-year history as an industrial charm of the city, you’ll be surprised how much you can do with the innovative space of this dramatic venue.

22. Westmead Events, Surrey Wedding Venues

Westmead Events boasts 11 acres of glorious outdoor space that you can use as you wish – having a simply beautiful ceremony in the sunshine, before moving to your marquee set up in the lakeside meadow and orchard. Perfect for a blank canvas ‘WedFest’ celebration!

23. Nineteen 32, Tyne & Wear Wedding Venues

This former school near Newcastle is now the vintage-style venue of Nineteen 32. The experienced team here are on hand to make sure your wedding planning is personal, bespoke and goes without a hitch. Here you will find vintage décor and unique charm with an ‘old skool’ vibe!

24. Riverview Manor, Kent Wedding Venues

Overlooking the picturesque river and offering panoramic views of Kent, Riverview Manor is home to a luxury marquee with elegant hanging chandeliers. The neutral background here provides the perfect blank canvas to inject your own colourful theme or ideas!

25. King’s Chapel, Buckinghamshire Wedding Venues

Steeped in years of history, King’s Chapel is nestled within the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire and instantly makes a statement with it’s domed hall. Arched windows and spectacularly elegant chandeliers are the basis to this blank canvas venue, where anything goes!

26. Newhall Estate, Midlothian Wedding Venues

Newhall Estate is a private and exclusive venue in which Newhall House stands – a Baronial Scottish home. On the edge of Edinburgh, this fairy-tale castle venue offers a mixture of plain canvas and bold historical rooms to suit whichever theme you would prefer.

27. Rich Mix, Greater London Wedding Venues

Calling all film fanatics! London’s Rich Mix cinema can play your favourite film at your wedding, with all of your guests in the audience. The indoor spaces of this boutique cinema are vibrant and full of character, while the urban-style garden makes a great mingling point.

28. Darwin Lake, Derbyshire Wedding Venues

The natural beauty of Darwin Lake in Derbyshire‘s breath-taking countryside is an unbelievable blank canvas setting. Celebrate in the Darwin Hall or go alfresco with an outdoor marquee, before retiring to your honeymoon cottage. Not the mention – the lake!

29. Rosewood Pavilion, Cambridgeshire Wedding Venues

Rosewood Pavilion allows you to create your bespoke day within the natural setting of the Cambridgeshire countryside. Enjoy tree-lined pathways and surprises around every corner at this venue – and don’t forget to grab that photo against the stunning sunset backdrop!

30. Fison Barn, Oxfordshire Wedding Venues

Fison Barn - Blank canvas wedding venues

Organise every aspect of your day at Fison Barn, including the decoration and all-important catering. The 19th Century structure, along with the herb-scented courtyard, is an idyllic location to make your dreams become a reality in a secluded rural setting.

31. Brogdale Collections, Kent Wedding Venues

Surrounded by orchards, Brogdale Collections is an inspiring venue with a meadow marquee, rustic interiors and plenty of charm with the chance to tour the orchard by tractor! Utilising suppliers local to the venue and with a miniature railway to keep the kids entertained, this blank canvas is sure to be fruitful!

If you’ve fallen for one of these gorgeous blank canvas settings, make sure you contact the venue through their Bridebook.co.uk profile and book in a viewing (that’s where all your visions can finally start being reality!)

But also not to worry if none of our picks took your fancy – browse through some amazing wedding venues in the UK and simply click ‘blank canvas’ in the filters. Be sure to sign up to Bridebook first.

Still can’t find your dream wedding venue? Have a look at thousands of wedding venues all over the UK:

Don’t forget you can also use other great features on the site to keep track of your wedding planning too – fill in your wedding budget planner, wedding checklist, wedding guest list and read some of our brilliant wedding advice from wedding experts!

Happy planning!

29 Scenic Wedding Venues With Stunning Views

Wherever we go or whatever we do, it’s always nice to have a room with a view – right? Why not have a wedding with an incredible view too by choosing one of these scenic wedding venues with breath-taking backdrops?!

Try your own Wedding Venue Search on Bridebook.co.uk and be sure to click the filter ‘scenic views’ if you’re after a stunning wedding venue with an equally stunning panoramic setting.

Bridebook.co.uk has done some of the hard work for you and brought together the best of the best venues with a view, so sit back and admire the surroundings at these special settings across the UK.

1. Searcys at The Gherkin, Greater London Wedding Venues

As one of the capital’s most recognisable landmarks, The Gherkin would definitely make a statement wedding venue! But how about enjoy fine dining with your loved ones while overlooking the views of London as the sun sets? Searcys at The Gherkin has one of the most scenic views you’ll find.

2. The Horn of Plenty Country House Hotel, Devon Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk The Horn of Plenty Country House Hotel

A Devonshire gem The Horn of Plenty Country House Hotel will take your breath away as you admire the views over the South West of the country. This award-winning venue is in an idyllic location and is sure to make an impression on all of your guests! Beautiful.

3. Flanesford, Herefordshire Wedding Venues

Choose an outdoor ceremony at Flanesford and you can expect glorious 360-degree views of your scenic surrounds throughout. With a 14th Century Monastery on-site and stunning panoramic lake views at the heart, this picturesque wedding venue is a real contender if you’re planning to marry in Herefordshire!

4. Ocean View Windmill Gower, Swansea Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk Ocean View Windmill Gower

Swansea is proud to be home to Ocean View Windmill Gower, a spectacular setting that boasts views out across the countryside and, of course, the ocean! Set on a rural working farm and with the luxury marquee available for your wedding, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the scenic views.

5. The Beacon Kitchen Ltd, Kent Wedding Venues

Offering splendid views over rural Kent, The Beacon Kitchen is a one-of-a-kind venue that showcases luxury décor for a special wedding day. Situated near Tunbridge Wells, this setting is within easy access to transport links, while keeping an air of privacy.

6. Little Quarme Cottages, Somerset Wedding Venues

Nestled in the centre of Exmoor National Park, Little Quarme Cottages offer lush outdoor space and dramatic backdrops of the landscape. Turn your wedding day into a 3-day retreat as you relax in beautiful accommodation while overlooking the Quarme Valley. Could one of the most stunning wedding venues in the UK be the one for you?

7. Leathes Head, Cumbria Wedding Venues

At Cumbria’s Leathes Head, you can expect to find an Edwardian country house hotel, boasting 11 bedrooms, 3 acres of grounds and unrivalled views over the Valley. The interior has been newly refurbished if you wish to marry indoors, or why not take advantage of the lush lawns?!

8. Barns at Llyn Gwynant Campsite, Gwynedd Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk Barns at Llyn Gwynant Campsite

This Welsh gem is a rustic campsite setting surrounded by unspoilt natural beauty. Barns at Llyn Gwynant Campsite offers a more raw and simple approach to your wedding day, where you and your guests can camp overnight – waking up to incredible scenic views.

9. The Compasses at Pattiswick, Essex Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk The Compasses at Pattiswick

Making the most of the glorious Essex countryside right from the entrance gate, The Compasses at Pattiswick helps to create your bespoke day right from the word go. With an interior that echoes rustic-contemporary, this is definitely a stunning wedding venue!

10. Emirates Spinnaker Tower, Hampshire Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk Emirates Spinnaker Tower

Right near Portsmouth Harbour stands the Emirates Spinnaker Tower…we can’t believe you can tie the knot up there either! So if you fancy taking your marriage to new heights (105 metres high to be exact), you can experience jaw-dropping views across 23 miles. Wow!

11. The Hayloft, Cumbria Wedding Venues

The next Cumbrian oasis comes in the form of The Hayloft, a warm and inviting farmhouse with open fires and cosy bedrooms. The venue is circled by The Lakeland Fells and overlooking Lorton Valley – which would make a stunning backdrop to your wedding photos!

12. Skylark Weddings, Northamptonshire Wedding Venues

It’s too easy to fall in love with Skylark Weddings. Set on the rolling hills of Northamptonshire, this exclusive us wooden farm is the depiction of elegant charm. Picture perfect during the day and night, the scenery really does set the scene for an unforgettable wedding day. The scenery AND the luxury glamping domes for you and your guests.

13. Cranberries Hideaway, Devon Wedding Venues

This former dairy farm is the ultimate rustic venue set in 100 acres of farmland. Cranberries Hideaway lies on the Jurassic Coastline and boasts views across Devon and the nearby sea – which can be enjoyed while playing outdoor games in the glorious garden area.

14. Tree Top Weddings, Devon Wedding Venues

Why not step your wedding up a notch and get wed among the trees? Tree Top Weddings helps you create your very own intimate nest in which to celebrate your marriage, as well as showing off some of the best views that Devon has to offer…AND from a hot tub!

15. The Longhouse at Mill on the Brue, Somerset Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk The Longhouse at Mill on the Brue

Within 25 acres of lush greenery nearby to Brue Valley, this Somerset setting really is a picturesque wedding venue dream. The Longhouse at Mill on the Brue is based on a farm and is a family-run venue – who believes that every wedding is special and unique. We love the gardens!

16. Barn Drift, Norfolk Wedding Venues

Barn Drift is an award-winning barn conversion and spectacular outdoor space in which to get hitched. The 18th Century barn is surrounded by endless gardens where you can admire views of Blakeney Point and even sand dunes! Let your imagination wander at every turn.

17. The Boathouse on Priory Bay, Isle of Wight Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk The Boathouse on Priory Bay

If you were hoping for a beach wedding, The Boathouse on Priory Bay is the scenic wonderland of the IOW. This picturesque wedding venue is set up in the trees, just metres away from the water’s edge. Venture down to the beach for some photos or view the scenery from above.

18. Greetham Valley, Rutland Wedding Venues

Greetham Valley is set within dramatic landscapes in Central England, where the Lakeview Suite offers uninterrupted views over the golf course and lovely lakes. It’s flawless classic style ultimately compliments the natural beauty it is nestled within and it’s spectacular scenic views.

19. Bowhayes Farm, Devon Wedding Venues

bowhayes farm wedding party rolling in on moterbikes, with bride in the sidecar

We absolutely love this blank canvas venue. Bowhayes Farm offers incredible views and sunsets, allowing you to put together the most magical wedding day for you and your guests!

20. Pentillie Castle & Estate, Cornwall Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk Pentillie Castle & Estate

This Cornish getaway is not one to miss! Pentillie Castle & Estate offers elegant reception rooms, beautiful lawns and the opportunity for a luxury marquee set up in the lush grounds – meaning you can overlook the glorious scenic views as you celebrate!

21. The Devonshire Fell, North Yorkshire Wedding Venues

The Yorkshire Dales is home to The Devonshire Fell, an exclusive-use country house and hotel sat amongst some spectacular countryside views. With a warm atmosphere and staff on hand to help you create your dream day, you can sit back, relax and admire the views!

22. Hugh McCann’s, County Down Wedding Venues

This Northern Irish oasis is Hugh McCann’s, which dates back 200 years and is sat next to the dramatic Mourne Mountains. If you fancy the sea and a mountain backdrop during your ceremony, wander into the Secret Garden where you can have a super romantic ceremony. This is truly one of the most beautiful wedding venues in the UK!

23. China Fleet Country Club, Cornwall Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk China Fleet Country Club

Sat upon the banks of the river, China Fleet Country Club is one of the most picturesque wedding venues in Cornwall. Have a relaxed drinks reception in the stone-walled farmhouse, or take advantage of the surrounding natural beauty right on the venue’s doorstep.

24. Sandburn Hall, North Yorkshire Wedding Venues

Step into the romantic Grand Hall, where oak beam frames and glass panelling create a spacious and dramatic function room. But don’t forget about those all-important scenic views – gorgeous gardens, lakes and golf courses which you can admire right from your seat at Sandburn Hall.

25. Nettle Hill, Warwickshire Wedding Venues

Warwickshire’s Nettle Hill boasts 7 acres of incredible grounds surrounding its 17th Century farmhouse. With period features and a light-filled conservatory area, this venue is set against unspoilt scenic views to make your day truly unforgettable.

26. Bwyty Mawddach Restaurant, Gwynedd Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk Bwyty Mawddach Restaurant

Adjacent to a majestic mountain range and picturesque estuary, Bwyty Mawddach Restaurant is the place to go if you’re after fine dining and scenic views in Snowdonia National Park. This recently converted barn offers contemporary décor and makes a perfect viewpoint of Wales.

27. The Bear of Rodborough, Gloucestershire Wedding Venues

Located on National Trust land in the countryside of Gloucestershire, The Bear of Rodborough provides a modern yet cosy atmosphere for your unforgettable day. The Terrace Room is the perfect ceremony setting, overlooking the gardens and rolling hills.

28. Greenwich Yacht Club, London Wedding Venues

Greenwich Yacht Club boasts some fantastic views of Central London while sited on the edge of the Capital’s River Thames. Perfect for a nautical theme, this venue hosts some excellent photo opportunities – you can even see the iconic O2 building from it!

29. Dalby Forest Visitor Centre, North Yorkshire Wedding Venues

Bridebook.co.uk Dalbby Forest Visitor Centre

Fancy being at one with nature while tying the knot? At Dalby Forest Visitor Centre you can do just that as your guests look on and experience the panoramic views over The Great Yorkshire Forest. Support the local forestry organisation by having a woodland wedding here!

We can’t believe the incredible views surrounding these venues! If, like us, you can’t get enough of these potential scenic views on your wedding day, head over to Bridebook.co.uk and start a Wedding Venue Search where there will be plenty more venues you’ll fall in love with. Use the ‘scenic views’ filter and type in your preferred location for more refined results.

Click here to see all the scenic wedding venues in the UK!

Remember to use Bridebook.co.uk’s other helpful features, such as the wedding guestlist, wedding checklist and wedding budget that can be completely tailored to you and your dream wedding.

Did you enjoy this article? Check out these similar ones:

The 23 Best UK Country Wedding Venues

25 Cheap Wedding Venues in the UK

20 Best UK Castle Wedding Venues

20 Hotel Wedding Venues in the UK

Have a browse at some incredible wedding venues all over the UK:

Happy planning!

The UK Wedding Report 2018

A Specialist Report for our Wedding Specialists:

Bridebook has analysed data from nearly 3,000 UK couples married in 2017 to gain 56 pages of unrivalled insight into wedding planning behaviours and spending across the UK.

These insights are gathered in The UK Wedding Report 2018 especially for all of our amazing suppliers so that you can understand the changing landscape of the UK wedding industry and adapt your business to the current wedding climate.

Click here to view the report

Why is the 2018 report important and how does it benefit you?

These behaviours are changing year on year, and it’s so important for you as a wedding business to keep ahead of the trends, in order to make your service as targeted and competitive as possible.

The findings of The UK Wedding Report 2018 highlight key trends and areas of spending for UK couples

With brides and grooms from both heterosexual and same-sex couples surveyed, this really is the most comprehensive report on the wedding planning behaviours of UK couples.

View The UK Wedding Report 2018

Key Insights for your business:

Couple behaviour specific to your area – including couples’ spending habits.
The pricing strategy of suppliers in your area.
The most popular wedding dates.
So much more…..

Are you a wedding venue or supplier?

Get listed on Bridebook! Contact [email protected]

Are you are an engaged couple looking for your wedding team?

See the largest selection of the UK’s best venue & suppliers here!

Supplier Stories: The Barns at Lodge Farm explains the biggest challenges faced when starting a wedding venue

Welcome to this week’s Supplier Story! ‘Supplier Stories’ is an original Bridebook Business article series, where we go behind-the-scenes and into the wedding world through those that know it best – the experienced and talented venues and suppliers across the UK.

So whether this is your first story or 10th, enjoy as we look into the industry as a whole, and celebrate a true story in itself! Who says couples have all the fun?

The Barns at Lodge Farm Supplier Story:

This week we’re heading to Essex to meet The Barn at Lodge Farm‘s owner Bryony Graham. Having completed a doctorate, Bryony was drawn back home to her family farm and started channelling all the skills she learned as a scientist into creating this amazingly flexible and adaptable wedding venue just a stone’s throw from London.

So without further ado, Bryony, over to you!

1. Tell us about yourself and your journey in the wedding industry so far.

I’m Bryony, and I absolutely love the farm where I grew up. You’ll find me at my happiest in the filthiest jeans imaginable and some steel toecap boots scrabbling around in the back of a barn (an accurate summary of my childhood) and 18 months ago I jacked in ten years of academic training (including a degree and a PhD) to start a business running weddings and events on my family farm.

2. From Scientist to Owner of a wedding venue, what drew you to the wedding world?

Well, in a nutshell, a rather sad set of personal circumstances. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was sitting the finals of my undergraduate degree, and her illness continued throughout my PhD and postdoctoral career. When she died the year before I got married myself, I completely lost momentum in the lab and needed a change of direction. I felt a very strong draw back to the farm itself where I’d grown up, and after my husband and I got married there ourselves in 2016, I decided that if we were going to make a go of it properly it would have to be all or nothing – so I left my job, convinced him to leave London for rural life (aided by the purchase of a Labrador puppy) and I’ve not looked back since.

3. Do you think barns as wedding venues are growing in popularity or becoming overpopulated?

I think that relaxed and informal weddings as a whole are growing in popularity, whether they be in a barn (which of course naturally lends itself to a chilled out vibe) or in a pub, town hall, field or woodland. Many people have a desire to create a celebration of their commitment to each other that reflects their personalities, and they don’t want to be forced into a restrictive package which doesn’t allow them any flexibility to be themselves. That’s why I think barn weddings have grown in popularity so much over the past few years, and will probably continue to remain a favourite – but more because of the relaxed feel they have, rather than the barn setting specifically.

4. What do you see as the biggest challenge in the wedding industry currently? How will you overcome this?

Without wishing to seem as though I’m reeling out a stock dinner-party answer, Brexit will pose a huge challenge for everyone next year (and of course not just the wedding industry). If the economy is affected dramatically, people may be reluctant to spend as much on their weddings as we have seen over the past few years, and the remarkable growth of the industry may fall quite sharply. Having said that, people will still get married – they just might spend less, and so it’s up to us to come up with a reasonably flexible pricing structure that is prepared to accommodate any potential drop in spending.

5. What trends are you seeing in the industry?

This probably lends itself to our venue in particular as our exclusive use packages mean we’re able to provide our couples with a lot of options, but we’re seeing a significant proportion of our couples opt for very informal catering (food trucks, grazing tables, etc). I personally love this trend as it creates such a wonderfully happy and relaxed vibe, but there will always be a place for the three-course meal too!

6. What is the biggest challenge you faced in setting up The Barns at Lodge Farm?

Securing planning permission, without a shadow of a doubt. Although there was an overwhelming amount of local support for the project, the bureaucracy was endless. It took us nearly two years from start to finish, but we were determined to start as we meant to go on, and not be restricted to only being able to do a handful of events a year. I have always been rather all-or-nothing in my attitude to life (which is at times a blessing and a curse!)

7. It can be difficult for new wedding venues to receive a kick start. Have you had a positive interaction from couples so far?

We have been absolutely blown away by the demand – we finally had our planning permission approved in February this year, and we already have 21 weddings booked for next summer (which we’re delighted with, given the fact we’re only open from June till October and have hardly done any marketing whatsoever!) I’ve loved meeting every single one of our couples, as they’ve all viewed the venue mid-refurbishment and had the vision and faith to book regardless. I’m so excited to see all our plans come together over the next few years – the barns are a stunning blank canvas as they stand, but they’ll be incredible once we’re finished!

8. Have you been able to use your scientific background in this new venture?

Absolutely, although less to do with the genetic analysis side of things and more to do with the project management…! In the lab, you come up with a question, design an experiment to answer the question, do the experiment (A MILLION TIMES), analyse the data, and then start again. You’re constantly juggling a thousand tasks (some experiments take hours, and others take months) and managing data analysis, writing papers and grants, teaching, and so much else besides. I’ve found that running a business essentially employs all of those skills which I’ve had to hone over the years (predominantly due to the finite number of hours in a day and my own lack of sleep…!) I’ve been trained to think independently and that definitely helps – self-doubt is a killer and having the confidence to believe you’ve made the right call and the humility to take a deep breath when you realise you haven’t is really important.

9. As a new wedding venue, do you think an increase in positive reviews for The Barn will help drive the business to success?

Without a shadow of a doubt. Any venue can make itself look spectacular with clever photography, a beautiful website and perfectly curated social media accounts, but true words of happiness from a genuine couple is undoubtedly the most powerful selling point there is.

10. How do you get to know your couples before the big day?

It varies from couple to couple, as some stay in touch more than others, but I communicate with each couple via email a lot during the run-up to the wedding. After they’ve booked, we offer second viewings where they can come back with their families to have a look around and see all the spaces for themselves – I love meeting everyone, and seeing all their relationships unfold. As we also offer couples exclusive use for the entire weekend, I also get to know people on the day before the wedding when everyone is setting everything up and making it all look beautiful. We pride ourselves on being a genuinely family-run business with a very personal touch (I live onsite, so am very much involved!) and we only host one wedding each weekend and one per week for the very reason that we don’t want to be a wedding factory, and we want to get to know each and every one of our couples personally.

11. What is the one piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

This is such a well-worn path, but be prepared to work harder than you have EVER worked in your life – the kind of hard work that will put strain on relationships, make your friends think you’re ignoring them, make yourself doubt every decision you ever make. It is utterly relentless. If you’re the kind of person that thrives on the adrenaline that comes from having an endless to-do list, very little sleep and constant moving goalposts – then go for it. It is the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do. But if you like turning off your emails at 6pm every day to go to the pub, put on Netflix, play sport – forget it. I say this as someone who is utterly hopeless at finding any sort of balance, so I’m not saying I’ve got it right – but the hard reality is that if you drop the ball, there isn’t anyone else to pick it up, so you have to push through whether you like it or not. I have, however, been known to fuel my VAT return with wine just to make it bearable (apologies in advance to the poor accountant who has to pick apart that mess at the end of the year).

12. What do you think makes The Barn at Lodge Farms unique?

My answer to this question has changed massively over the 18 months I’ve been running the business full-time. A year ago, I would have said it’s our proximity to London, exclusive use packages, stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Now, I would say it’s undoubtedly US, as a family and as a place – which is tough to say out loud without coming across as hideously egotistical, but it’s what our couples say so I guess it must be true! When they visit for a viewing, they’re met by myself or my Dad, will probably be followed around by our psychologically flawed cat Tyson (the weirdest cat you’ll ever meet), they’ll hear the history of the farm, and inevitably see how much we love the place – because we genuinely do. We allow two hours for each viewing so people never feel rushed in and out, and have time wander round at their own pace. It’s our home, and we’re inviting people into it because we think it’s bloody great. And there is nothing better than seeing those barns full of people having the best day of their lives.

13. What are your thoughts on Bridebook?

So far, I have been blown away by the professional and personal service I have received – there are quite literally thousands of venues on the app, but all correspondence I have had to date has been incredibly personal and attentive. I know first-hand how much effort that is to maintain (see above…!) and as a result, I value and respect it hugely. The app/website themselves are slick and effective, and we saw enquiries start to come in within a week of being listed, despite the fact we’re new and don’t have a huge amount of content (images, testimonials etc) to add to our profile. Keep up the brilliant work!

Photography credits to Kelsie Low Photography and The Stars Inside.

A huge thank you to Bryony for sharing her Supplier Story. See the beautiful Barns at Lodge Farm here.

Want to feature in your own Supplier Story? Get in touch with Beth at [email protected].

6 improvements to your Bridebook Business Profile that will help grow your wedding business

Bridebook Business’ aim is simple: we want to make sure that your Business profile is seen and matched with as many of our happy couples as possible.

Our Venue and Supplier search is one of the fastest growing Bridebook features; in fact, we’ve seen an increase of 700% in searches since the start of this year!

So to ensure that we can continue to provide an industry leading wedding supplier search function it’s imperative that we continue to innovate and enhance our systems.

The Bridebook team have been working on 6 Business Account updates that will improve your SEO, help you increase and manage enquiries, and simply benefit your business all round.

1. Wedding Venue Analytics Dashboards

Bridebook is launching bespoke analytics dashboards for registered wedding venues to ensure that the benefits of having a Bridebook Business profile are fully realised.

Wedding venues will soon be able to identify:

Search position per county – it’s no secret that the more information wedding suppliers share online, the more visible they’ll be to engaged couples. Wedding venues will now be able to see where they feature in terms of search position and visibility in their county! Adding more information to your Bridebook profile will increase your search position…
Total enquiries received – weekly or monthly enquiries will be featured / COMING SOON: Monthly enquiry breakdown
Review score – wedding venues will be scored based on reviews added directly to their profile. By sharing your Bridebook URL with couples and asking for feedback you can increase your score and benefit from…
Monthly search appearances – identify peaks and troughs in the couple engagement lifecycle and see how adding information to your profile affects appearances month on month.

If these dashboards are as successful as we expect they’ll be, we’ll roll them out to all registered UK wedding suppliers.

2. Wedding Industry Reports

All wedding suppliers registered with Bridebook will now gain access to Wedding Industry Reports; providing the most comprehensive insights into the planning behaviours and spending patterns of couples today.

This free data is essential in helping all UK wedding suppliers strategise in line with what the wedding market of today expects from us.

3. Your Enquiries Manager

Bridebook is excited to introduce Enquiries Manager – one easy to use, organised portal that enables you to manage and track your enquiries in the simplest of ways.

Check out this Enquiries Manager article and video for a full explanation and tour of the system.

4. Advertise Wedding Fairs, Open Days and Supplier Showcases for free

You can now promote your wedding fairs, open days and events for free with Bridebook.

Simply login to your Bridebook Business account, select ‘Fairs & Network’ and add your next upcoming event.

Once added, your event details will instantly appear on your Bridebook profile and we will share your event with our social community of over 250K followers – no catch; it’s all completely free.

5. Bridebook Badges

Bridebook has launched 3 types of digital badges that can be personalised to your business and which link directly to your Bridebook profile.

This means that you can instantly build your industry reputation by adding your personalised Bridebook.co.uk badge to your website or email signature to showcase your profile to potential couples and fellow suppliers.

Simply head to business.bridebook.co.uk, login to your account and select ‘Profile Settings and badges’.

6. Linked Accounts

A simple but fab development is the ability for all wedding suppliers to now set up multiple login emails for one profile/account and multiple profiles under one login account.

This saves you and your team from having to share one set of login details and enables each member of your team to make their own updates under their own profile.

It’s time you started maximising the impact of your Bridebook profile…

To update your Bridebook Business profile, log in to your Business Account HERE . Once updated, you will instantly increase your profile searchability and you will be able to connect with our community of 100,000 couples.

It’s so important that you spend a little time each week adding all the photos, videos and information you love about your business – don’t miss out on enquiries and bookings by not selling your services well enough.

Looking for more tips and tricks on how to grow and market your business? Like the Bridebook Business Facebook Page and receive weekly updates from industry experts and thought leaders across the UK.

Who can I contact for help?

For any questions about your Bridebook Business or your free wedding business account on business.bridebook.co.uk, email our friendly supplier success team at [email protected] who always want to hear from you. We look forward to helping make 2018 / 2019 a successful year for your wedding business!

Looking for more wedding industry supplier stories and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

31 Romantic Wedding Venues in the UK

Are you a pair of lovebirds waiting to swoon over an ultimately romantic wedding venue? If so, you’re in the right place! We’ve dug through our extensive list of venues and picked out some of the most romantic settings of all time where you can tie the knot.

And remember, these are only a few of Bridebook.co.uk’s incredible venues, so if none of these is the one for you, simply start a Wedding Venue Search and click ‘romantic‘ in the filters. Good luck!

Now, let the romance commence…

The best venues in the UK for a romantic wedding

In this video, we show you five of the most romantic UK wedding venues out there – and walk you through what to look for if romance is top of your list when you’re finding your own wedding venue. We’ve even snuck in some tips and tricks to help you make your wedding the most romantic it can be, whether you’ll be splashing the cash or planning a wedding on a budget!

1. High House, Essex Wedding Venues

The High House wedding venue, a married couple walk over a small white bridge in Essex

Dating back to 1750 and having been lovingly restored, High House‘s red brick barn boasts exposed oak beams and a nearby luxurious Bride’s Cottage – not to mention the Monet-inspired bridge over the pond and lush English country gardens. You won’t find a more romantic setting anywhere else in the Essex countryside!

2. Chippenham Park, Cambridgeshire Wedding Venues

a couple kiss on a wooden bridge outside Chippenham Park wedding venue, in Cambridgeshire

The Grade II listed house and surrounding gardens of Chippenham Park are what dreams are made of! Say your vows in front of the castle-like structure, or beside the lake for a waterside ceremony. Then sip bubbly while you stroll the extensive gardens – so romantic!

3. Lusty Glaze Beach, Cornwall Wedding Venues

married couple kiss on Lusty Glaze Beach, a wedding venue in Cornwall

Did your partner propose on the beach? If so, you may be fantasizing about an intimate beach wedding! Lusty Glaze Beach combines golden sand and an indoor cove looking out over gorgeous Cornish views, so you can plan your idyllic barefoot ceremony on the shore.

Explore the UK’s best beach wedding venues here!

4. Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Dorset Wedding Venues

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum in Dorset

This dramatic Victorian villa from 1901 not only has splendid views over Bournemouth from the cliff-top, but also houses a great collection of British art that has taken years to gather. The fantasy-filled Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is brimming with lavish character for a dreamy wedding day.

5. Old Court Chapel Weddings, County Down Wedding Venues

Old Court Chapel Weddings, a nicely illuminated wedding venue in County Down

Old Court Chapel Weddings has a lot to offer a pair of lovebirds! The 19th Century chapel structure is just a short walk from the local church, and also has a glorious yurt-inspired marquee attached!

Add restored stables and natural gardens into the mix, and you’re onto a winner with this romantic Northern Irish setting! It’s without a doubt one of the most romantic wedding venues in the UK!

6. Cambo Estate, Fife Wedding Venues

Aside from the grand house of Cambo Estate, this venue hides something incredible. Explore deeper into the grounds and find the super romantic woodland retreat, where you can set up your perfect day in the forest! The nearby tattie barn will add a touch of rustic to this magical setting.

7. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, West Midlands Wedding Venues

Birmingham Botanical Gardens wedding venue in the West Midlands

Birmingham Botanical Gardens are the epitome of romance! Boasting three event suites and a glorious outdoor backdrop for drinks and canapes, this venue has created the ultimate ‘Love Birds Package’ for any special botany-loving couples!

8. Gileston Manor, Vale of Glamorgan Wedding Venues

Gileston Manor an outdoor wedding venue in Vale of Glamorgan

The wondrous Gileston Manor is a Georgian House with nearby Mughal Marquee set in a glorious landscape of lush lawns. It hides it’s own intimate church, gorgeous Secret Garden Room and the charming Cheese House – so many romantic settings to explore once you’ve tied the knot!

9. Pendrell Hall, West Midlands Wedding Venues

Pendrell Hall a wedding venue in west midlands

Among 6 acres of lush gardens is the exclusive use venue Pendrell Hall. It has plenty of exterior Victorian character and a mixture of classic features with some contemporary decor inside – meaning every room is stunning and can suit any romantic theme!

10. The Coach House – Marks Hall Estate, Essex Wedding Venues

The Coach House - Marks Hall Estate in essex - wedding venue

The romantically-lit Coach House at Marks Hall Estate plays host to exposed brick, iron chandeliers and original wooden frames. Dating back to the 18th Century, this arboretum venue is as rustic as it is romantic – you’ll be sure to get amazing wedding photos here!

11. Olde England Kiosk, Lancashire Wedding Venues

Olde England Kiosk wedding venue in Lancashire

Olde England Kiosk is a unique setting that your guests will swoon over as soon as they arrive. This Tudor-style woodland retreat emphasises a traditional theme while oozing idyllic romance. Get lost in the grounds of this charming wedding venue with your loved one!

12. Crook Hall, County Durham Wedding Venues

Crook Hall wedding venue in County Durham

If you’re dreaming about a quaint English garden afternoon tea affair, Crook Hall is the venue. Beautiful gardens will surround you as you sip on bubbly and enjoy your special day – but of course if the British weather gets in the way, you can also have exclusive use of the historic Medieval hall.

13. Dunadry Hotel & Country Club, County Antrim Wedding Venues

The professional staff here at Dunadry Hotel & Country Club have over 40 years of wedding experience – not to mention the most dreamy of venues to help sway you! Wood-panelled rooms and cosy interiors invite you inside, where you’ll find a whole world of romance in one place.

See more hotel wedding venues in the UK

14. The Royal Pavilion, East Sussex Wedding Venues

The Royal Pavilion wedding venue in East Sussex

If you’ve ever been to Brighton, you’ll surely have seen the Indian architecture of The Royal Pavilion. What’s inside is even more spectacular though, as this Regency Palace houses extravagant Chinese-inspired interiors and grand splendour dating back to 1823. Let this dreamy wedding venue completely sweep you off your feet!

15. Winters Barns, Kent Wedding Venues

Winters Barns boasts two fabulous L-shaped barns that can each be easily transformed into ceremony and reception venues in the one building. Set in the outstanding backdrop of the Kent countryside, this is the place to be if you’re looking for a little bit of secluded luxury with your partner to be.

16. Pencarrow, Cornwall Wedding Venues

The Georgian stately home of Pencarrow stands in Cornish countryside with panoramic landscape views. This uniquely restored setting offers a dramatic comparison to the traditional look of Pencarrow House, with stunning gardens adjoining. Enjoy the best of both worlds at this romantic venue!

17. Larchfield Estate, County Antrim Wedding Venues

Larchfield Estate a wedding venue in Antrim

Irish charm Larchfield Estate is one of a kind for an utterly romantic day! A 19th Century Barn, Orangery and Stables are possibilities for your big day, along with jaw-dropping Walled Gardens. You might have trouble deciding on the most romantic ceremony setting here!

Discover more beautiful outdoor wedding venues in the UK

18. Howsham Hall, North Yorkshire Wedding Venues

Howsham Hall wedding venue in North Yorkshire

Howsham Hall offers incredible historic features and luxurious decor within the Grade I listed Jacobean building. This private home will become yours for the weekend, where you can have super romantic photos near the dramatic staircase!

19. Gate Street Barn, Surrey Wedding Venues

Gate Street Barn romantic wedding venue in Surrey

Nestled in the hills of Surrey is Gate Street Barn, a structure erected from oak trees that were lost to a hurricane. The Granary’s woodburning stove and picturesque views of the working farm will totally sweep you off your feet in this romantic setting.

20. Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa, Cheshire Wedding Venues

Crabwell Manor Hotel & Spa a castle like wedding venue in Cheshire

Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa is a Cheshire gem with a romantic castle-like exterior. With history going back as far as the 11th Century, the versatile function spaces within the venue help you to feel like a Prince or Princess for one day only!

21. Blakelands Country House, Staffordshire Wedding Venues

Blakelands Country House romantic wedding venue in Staffordshire

The family-run country house of Blakelands allows you to completely design your romantic day from scratch. On-site, there is a fishing lake and 15 uniquely-designed rooms that add not only a spin of class but also a totally personal touch.

A great DIY venue with little restrictions, which means you and your partner can turn it into one of the most charming wedding venues in the UK!

22. Pennard House, Somerset Wedding Venues

Pennard House a dreamy wedding venue in Somerset

Pennard House is a dreamy location full to the brim with magical gardens, woodlands and interiors oozing romance. Across the lawn sits the 14th Century village church, so if you’ve got your heart set on a church wedding followed by a quaint reception – this is the place!

23. The Talbot – Ripley, Surrey Wedding Venues

This recently renovated historic coaching inn is The Talbot. The new contemporary look offers the ultimate romantic backdrop, where exposed beams are weaved with elegant fairy lights. It still retains original features though, including cosy fireplaces and traditional entrance gates. It’s a charming wedding venue!

24. Lains Barn, Oxfordshire Wedding Venues

Lains Barn romantic wedding venue in Oxfordshire

Lains Barn boasts a majestic celebration area in the main barn, where sweeping decorations from the exposed wood can make this space into a rustic yet romantic venue. The barn doors open up onto the courtyard, where you can have an al fresco experience on the lawns.

See our favourite barn wedding venues in the UK

25. Talhenbont Hall, Gwynedd Wedding Venues

Talhenbont Hall is a wonderfully romantic wedding setting with a boudoir to match! The Bridal Suite is furnished exquisitely, so you can feel like royalty with a four poster bed – and therefore have the wedding night of your life at this private country estate.

26. The Lodore Falls Hotel, Cumbria Wedding Venues

Married couple pose outside The Lodore Falls Hotel a wedding venue in Cumbria

The Lodore Falls Hotel is one of Cumbria’s finest venues with stunning natural backdrops. Named after the Lodore Waterfalls, it offers lake views and, of course, the most incredible photo opportunities you could ever hope for!

27. Busbridge Lakes, Surrey Wedding Venues

This is Busbridge Lakes- an exclusive family run marquee wedding venue in Surrey. Set in the grounds of a beautiful garden with 3 lakes, uniquely hidden in its own private valley. How romantic is this? We love it.

28. Eastwood Park, Gloucestershire Wedding Venues

Eastwood Park a wedding venue in Gloucestershire

Another fairytale venue for romantic couples is Eastwood Park. In 200 acres of meadows and gorgeous landscapes, this 18th Century charm has a choice of flexible function spaces where you can play out your ideal romantic day the way you’ve always wanted. It’s a dreamy wedding venue, perfect to celebrate your love!

29. Askham Hall, Cumbria Wedding Venues

Your romantic wedding venue search is not complete until you’ve seen Askham Hall. Rustic oak ceilings and gorgeous exposed stone walls are on the menu at this stunning setting, along with a touch of contemporary decor and romantic lighting. Sweet!

30. Stanton Manor Hall, Wiltshire Wedding Venues

Stanton Manor House wedding venue in Wiltshire

Stanton Manor House boasts an idyllic orchard, rose gardens and a 12th Century church close by! Situated on the border of the Cotswolds, this Wiltshire countryside gem caters for any size of romantic celebration, in whatever way you want to make memories.

31. Cote How Late District Weddings, Cumbria Wedding Venues

Last but not by any means least, we present to you the glorious Cote How Lake District Weddings! Naturally secluded by woodland and river fell, set amongst the most stunning scenery in the UK, this venue screams romance to every couple that walks through the lush grounds.

If these romantic settings have inspired you to find your ultimate wedding venue, try a Wedding Venue Search over at Bridebook.co.uk and select ‘romantic’ along with any other filters you fancy!

Don’t forget, Bridebook.co.uk have plenty more features for you to use in your wedding planning. Add your wedding guest list, wedding budget planner and personalised wedding checklist to your online planner – and throw away those hundreds of dogeared pages that you continue to lose!

Not the wedding venues you were looking for? Check out these locations:

Wedding Venues in Northern Ireland

Wedding Venues in Lincolnshire

Wedding Venues in North East England

Wedding Venues in Essex

Wedding Venues in Birmingham

Happy planning everyone!

How reviews help wedding dress, makeup and accessories suppliers generate bookings

Popularity has always been a surefire way to secure business; and online popularity – which translates to reviews – is one of the most powerful ways to show the world you’re liked, respected and worth investing in.

Reviews are particularly important in the wedding industry.

In today’s world, we Google before be book, buy or visit.

And just a few positive reviews can reassure couples you’re worth checking out, whereas negative reviews or no reviews at all will fill couples with dread and suspicion.

But why take our word for it?

We’ve reached out to Bridebook Award Winners 2018 – that is, the most impressive, talented and successful wedding makeup, dress, menswear, jewellery and accessories suppliers we’re working with right now – and asked them to explain in their own words how powerful they believe reviews are in helping them reach award-winning status.

Bejouled – Bridebook’s Jeweller of the Year

What are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

Benefit 1 – I think the biggest benefit to having reviews is that it shows potential customers that you are a quality supplier, with loads of happy previous customers! I think many consumers will look at reviews before contacting any wedding suppliers as they can trust what others have said and look to their experience with that company.

Benefit 2 – Having great reviews also lets us know that we are doing a great job! There is nothing better than seeing your customer showing off their sparkling jewels, over the moon with the finished result. One of our favorite parts of the job is getting positive feedback and making our customers happy makes everything worth it.

Benefit 3 – A great benefit of reviews is having all of our wonderful Thank You cards on display in our Boutique which shows customers when they walk through the door that we are loved by some many previous customers. We have had many say that seeing all of the lovely cards sealed the deal for them!

How does the review process work in the UK wedding jewellery sector and can you identify any areas that could be improved?

I think most reviews these days come from Facebook which is great as it’s a platform that most people are active on. However, we try to push reviews across all our platforms such as Google, Bridebook, Vows Awards etc so we have great reviews across the board.

The only downside to the review process is that sometimes you can receive a negative review from someone who has never even been in contact with the company and that can impact your overall rating as a whole which can in turn impact the opinion of potential customers with regards to your brand. I think if a better screening process was put in place to validate reviews it would stop this from happening.

Dani Roberts Makeup – Bridebook’s Bridal Beauty Therapist of the Year

What are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

Real customer feedback so that I can improve the service I provide in the future.
Gives future clients reassurance and an insight to what I can provide for them on their big day.
Shows your experience in the industry and that you’re a reputable business.

How do you generate bridal beauty bookings?

I currently use social media and post photos of my work as advertisement. I also have a lot of bookings through word of mouth and recommendations.

Do online reviews play a part when couples contact you via word of mouth referral?

I think they do as I direct them to my website and Bridebook profile so that they can get an idea of my style and pricing, view my work and so that they will be able to read reviews for that extra level of reassurance.

Sarah’s Wedding Boutique – Bridebook’s Wedding Dress & Accessories Supplier of the Year

How does the process of review giving / collecting work in the wedding dress and accessories sector?

Reviews are usually given following a purchase or once the bride has become a ‘Mrs’. This enables the bride to give genuine feedback on our Bridebook profile based on their wedding dress buying experience from start to finish.

Is it more important to win approval and good feedback from fellow suppliers rather than brides? Why?

Approval from both suppliers and brides are equally important with regards to working relationships and productivity. Both go hand in hand in terms of business success and a positive attitude is infectious! We have a great rapport with everyone involved. I believe this is an important strength which should never be underestimated.

What are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

It is important to receive feedback from our customers to know we are doing things right.
To promote customer and shop awareness.
To boost staff morale and confidence.

Whitfield & Ward – Bridebook’s Menswear Supplier of the Year

What are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

Reviews give our customers an insight into how we operate and what to expect when they come in to see us.
They give customers confidence and trust in our service and products.
More importantly, reviews let us know if we’re delivering the great customer service we promise and if there’s anything we need to improve on.

Could you estimate what proportion of the reviews you receive are from men versus women?

Approximately 70% men vs 30% women.

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Reviews are the difference between converting an enquiry into a booking, or not.

Take our advice and the advice of award winning, expert wedding suppliers today, and start harnessing the power of reviews for your wedding business.

For more information and interviews with award winning UK wedding suppliers, check out our Review Series.

How reviews help wedding food suppliers generate bookings

Food glorious food…what’s a wedding without a caterer or cake?

Food is usually at the centre of any social occasion and nowadays we all choose places to eat based on recommendations from friends and family or based on online reviews and star ratings.

We cannot emphasise enough how important reviews are in helping wedding caterers and wedding cake makers generate bookings.

Couples simply cannot choose between the thousands of foodies – good, bad and ugly – without a little guidance. And the best guidance comes in the form of real reviews and recommendations from the couples you’ve cooked, baked and served food for in recent weddings.

In the spirit of letting others do the hard work for us, here are two award winning Bridebook wedding suppliers to explain how important reviews are for wedding food suppliers.

Cakes by Nina – Bridebook’s Wedding Cake Maker of the Year

Nina, how does it feel to win this award!?

Thank you so very much – I’m truly over the moon! I’ve already seen some benefits of winning as I’ve had a few consultations with couples who were on the fence but when they saw that I’d won, they visited my website and Bridebook profile page, read my reviews and decided to go with me.

Amazing! So winning has proved how important reviews are for you.

Absolutely. Clients often comment that they have read my reviews before deciding to come and see me. Reviews are really important as it is a nerve wracking decision deciding who is going to do the best job making your wedding cake.

What are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

It gives you a stronger brand presence and supports potential clients in their decision making process.
It helps put people’s mind at ease in this competitive market when you cannot be too sure of what you might be getting.
It gives people the chance to read what real customers think of your service as well as see your product so helps you develop as a business and generate bookings

Circa Events – Bridebook’s Wedding Caterer of the Year

Olivia, congratulations on becoming Bridebook’s Wedding Caterer of the Year.

May we ask, what are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

Potential clients can see real-time, honest reviews from real couples!
It drives traffic to our website
It boosts our reputation with other suppliers and venues which in turn gives us more business opportunities

When you post reviews, do you do so on multiple platforms?

Dependent on the review and the wedding venue, we might post reviews on Facebook, our website and Bridebook. Where we post usually depends on where the client referral has come from in the first place.

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That’s certainly given us food for thought (excuse the pun) with regards to just how impactful reviews and recommendations are for wedding food suppliers.

Do you have any comments to add about your experience of the power of reviews as a UK wedding food supplier?

For more information and interviews with award winning UK wedding suppliers, check out our Review Series.

How reviews help wedding planners generate bookings

Soniamarie Loves has been announced as Bridebook’s Wedding Planner of the Year.

With over l0 years in wedding and event planning, owner Soniamarie has worked with couples from all walks of life – planning, managing and coordinating weddings of all types and budgets both in the UK and abroad.

Soniamarie really does love everything to do with weddings; that much is clear from the fantastic reviews we’ve seen on her website and on her Bridebook profile.

“I love to make my clients happy, to give them the wedding that they have dreamed of and to treat it as if it were my own by giving every detail of your day the care and attention that it deserves.”

Reviews may have gotten Soniamarie noticed and helped her win this prestigious wedding planner award but we wanted to know in her own words just how powerful she feels reviews are in helping Soniamarie Loves grow as a business.

We asked Soniamarie, what are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

Benefit 1 – reviews help to sell a service. Being a wedding planner can sometimes be difficult to “sell” as it is an intangible service and not something which you can demonstrate to a client or show them before they buy. This is where reviews come into play and they have really helped me win new business.

Reviews are the undiluted words of a couple, their friends and family from the weddings that I have planned, managed or coordinated and they are based on personal, first hand experiences of my work. I think that it is pretty hard to ignore how a service has made someone feel.

That is what people relate to and it has meant that prospective clients do not have to solely rely on my own words about how I can add value to their wedding day, they can read my reviews.

Benefit 2 – reviews never expire. Once someone has provided me with a review or testimonial, it is there and can be reused and promoted at any time without limit. That is a free and invaluable advertising tool for my social media, website, brochure and any other marketing tool I want to use them for. Oh, did I mention that they are FREE forever?!

Benefit 3 – reviews help to increase your credibility. When couples are searching for a supplier on a directory for example, they do not know that supplier personally and so have to rely on the content they find on their profile page.

Being a supplier with a number of reviews will make you stand out from the crowd and give weight to the services you provide. For me, reviews show that I know what I am doing and that I am an experienced planner.

If you think about it, not all of the people who have left a review can be wrong and there must be some truth in what they have said. I personally think that my reviews have worked wonders for me, they are as good as word of mouth and I have definitely gotten business from them.

In your experience as a top wedding planner, do you often receive rave reviews without having to ask for them?

I would say that it is 50/50. I tend to get reviews by way of ongoing feedback during the planning process from my clients and even suppliers that I work with, without asking. It can be a simple as a “Thank you, that was really helpful” or “You are a star!” I class these comments as reviews too as it is all feedback on my work and I am so grateful and humbled for all feedback.

I have been pleasantly surprised by some of the reviews that I have received from couples who were so happy with my service that they have sent me videos while on honeymoon! I couldn’t ask for more than that!

There are of course times when I have had to follow up with a client for a review which I do not mind doing and equally they have not minded supplying for me. I try not to be pushy with it as I am dealing with newlyweds so sending me a review is not at the top of their priority list immediately after their wedding day.

Patience is key. I believe in the service that I provide and because of that, I am confident that my clients will not mind sharing that experience with others to help me promote my business.

That’s so great to hear! And we completely agree that every kind word should be considered a review. Do you think it takes a lot of time and discipline to successfully manage the review process for your business; from requesting a review right through to posting it?

Yes, I do. You need to be on top of it and it definitely does require time and discipline to obtain reviews and then use them most effectively.

I can honestly say that I am not always the best at doing this and I know that I could use them a lot more than I do. It is so easy to be so engrossed in my client’s “wedmin” that I forget to make enough time to work on this is important part of my business.

I think that it is really important to capture raw emotion and feelings while it is still fresh in the minds of the couples you work with, so seeking the reviews as soon as possible is key. Snooze and you will lose.

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That’s certainly given us food for thought with regards to just how impactful reviews and recommendations are in the wedding planning industry.

Do you have any comments to add about your experience of the power of reviews as a UK wedding planner?

For more information and interviews with award-winning UK wedding suppliers, check out our Review Series.

3 places wedding suppliers must be to never need to worry about bookings again

When it looks too good to be true, it sometimes isn’t.

It’s tough these days trying to decide where your business should feature online, isn’t it?

Resources are often scarce and busy wedding suppliers like yourself don’t always have the time or money to feature on all the platforms that promise to get you noticed.

We get it.

But what if we told you that we’ve got inside information that suggests that there is a ‘magic mix’ of core, online marketing platforms that every UK based wedding supplier must take advantage of to win bookings?

All you need to know to mix your own magic formula are these three little words…

Website, Social, Bridebook.

Let’s break it down…

Continuously invest in your website. Update it, nurture it and promote it. It’s your online business card and portfolio.
Advertise your service or product on social media. Share good feedback, take photos of the weddings you work on and test out paid advertising if you’ve got the budget and the time.
Create a free account and profile on Bridebook. The UK’s number one wedding planning platform is currently helping over 100,000 UK couples plan their wedding. How can this huge audience search for you if you’re not listed on the directory? Did we mention it’s free?

The only one of these three magic ingredients that we’re guessing you don’t already know plenty about is Bridebook, so allow us to enlighten you.

Bridebook Business – the free profile that generates over 15,000 enquiries a month

70,000 UK wedding suppliers just like you are currently setting up free Bridebook Business profiles to tap into the whopping 1 in 3 UK couples who’re currently planning their wedding with Bridebook.

100,000 newly engaged people is a whole lot of love; are we right?

Did you know that on average, over 15,000 enquiries are sent to UK wedding venues every month? That’s 100% return on investment.

Of course, the more time you spend updating your profile the better, as Bridebook’s sophisticated algorithm reads the information you provide to put you in front of relevant couples.

So the more information you give the easier you’ll be found by the right kind of couples.

Bridebook was given 4.5 stars for excellence in supporting wedding planning couples and in generating business for suppliers. And you know first hand how trustworthy and important reviews and star rating are.

On that note, we’d like to leave you with a few of our reviews that might encourage you to make the best decision of your business life.

Happy reading.

Oh…and if you’re ready to jump on the Bridebook bandwagon just contact us here or call us on 02080686859.

Looking for more wedding industry supplier stories and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

Essential questions you should be asking your couples in 2018

We know it can be difficult to squeeze in all of the essential things you absolutely must do to fulfil your role as wedding supplier.

But did you know that setting aside just a few minutes to ask your potential and existing clients the right questions at the right time is one of the most important and impactful things you can do to help grow your business?

Your most powerful source of knowledge is your consumer base – that is, your couples.

The insights you garner from clients and from losing potential clients can really make or break your future as a wedding industry professional.

So here’s our essential guide to the questions you need to be asking your couples and at which stage of their wedding planning journey.

Stage 1 – enquiry received

Send the couple an email thanking them for their enquiry, congratulating them on their engagement and inviting them to discuss their requirements in further detail. You can do this in the form of a wedding venue visit or by scheduling in a Skype or phone call to, for example, understand what the couple like about your wedding business and to talk them through your portfolio.

Tip – although email is the preferred form of communication for 88% of wedding planning couples, try to initiate a face to face conversation or phone call after you’ve received their enquiry. Half of couples say that they prefer in-person contact with the wedding suppliers they choose to use.

Not all wedding suppliers are good at doing this.

How professional will you look and how much will you stand out against the competition if you ask to meet the couple to discuss cake designs or insist on a phone call to introduce yourself as the couples potential wedding decorations supplier?!

Set the bar for excellent service and fantastic communication early on.

Stage 2 – after the venue visit or initial introduction

So you’ve met the couple face to face or at least spoken with them over the phone.

You should have gathered all essential information such as both of their names and contact details, and established when the couple are looking to get married (this is important regardless of whether the couple choose to use your services or not, as it enables you to track enquiry volume against seasonality).

A day or two after the visit or post-enquiry discussion, email the couple to follow up and express how much you’d like to work with them.

If it’s a yes…

If you receive positive news from the couple and they choose to use your wedding services, send them an email expressing how pleased you are to be able to help them create their dream day.

Here are some real examples of questions you could then ask your new clients, courtesy of the wedding venue Hedsor House:

What made you choose Hedsor House?
What were your favourite and least favourite things about Hedsor House?
Did you feel that pricing was good value at Hedsor House?
What other wedding venues did you consider along with Hedsor House? How did it compare to these other venues?

If it’s a no…

If you receive a rejection from the couple and they let you know they’ve chosen another wedding venue or supplier, you could ask:

Which wedding venue did you choose in the end?
What were your reasons for choosing this wedding venue over Hedsor House?
If you could do anything to improve or change Hedsor House and make it your ideal wedding venue, what would it be?

If it’s gone quiet…

If you don’t hear back from the couple after a week or so, you could email them to say:

We hope Heacham Manor is still in the running to be your wedding venue however if you have chosen not to hold your special day with us, we’d love to know which venue you did eventually choose, and what the deciding factor was?

It’s important that you learn from the ‘no’s’ and try to understand why couples don’t choose your wedding services. This knowledge can and will help you convert more enquiries into bookings in future.

Stage 3 – post wedding

Once your journey with the couple has come to an end and you’ve contributed toward delivering their dream wedding day, you can ask for final feedback and a review direct on your Bridebook profile – just share your link!

Tip: wait at least two weeks before asking the couple for feedback as they are going to be on a wedding high and you don’t want to seem inconsiderate.

Here are just some of the questions you can ask a couple after their wedding day (pick a handful that work best for you and your wedding business):

How would you rate your overall experience?
How well was your initial enquiry dealt with?
Do you remember who you dealt with?
Would you agree that the website is easy to navigate and understand?
When choosing us which other wedding venues made it on to your shortlist?
What was the deciding factor that made you choose us?
How would you rate the event staff on the day?
Which caterer did you choose?
How would you rate your caterer?
Were you happy with the service you received from your suppliers (both recommended by us and others)? Please do give us details if any failed to meet your expectations or exceeded them…
Would you recommend us to friends/family/colleagues?
Would you use us for future events?
Did you stay overnight with us? If you did stay overnight with us, how would you rate our guest accommodation?
What was your favourite thing about your experience with us throughout your wedding planning journey? What was your least favourite part of your experience?
What would you improve about our wedding business?
Would you be interested in appearing on our website in a Real Wedding feature?
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
We’d love to hear if we did a particularly great job or if there’s anything we can improve on…
Are we able to share the content of your responses for marketing purposes?

Ask the right questions at the right time in the right way.

How you ask your couples these questions is up to you.

We recommend using a simple survey tool like Typeform or Survey Monkey. Alternatively, start with an email and follow up with a phone call or face to face meeting. But remember to be flexible in communicating with the couple in the way that suits them best and works well enough for you.

Don’t ask too many questions and make sure you revisit the answers regularly and really use the insights these answers provide to help drive your wedding company forwards.

Ultimately, it’s essential for you to remember how important the answers to these questions are in helping your wedding business grow and develop.

Any questions? I hope so…

Looking for more wedding industry supplier stories and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

7 trends wedding suppliers need to know about Millennial couples in 2018

The UK wedding market is jam-packed full of Millennials. Fact.

In fact, out of the 250,000 weddings per year in the UK the vast majority of couples are aged between 25-39 (aka Millennials). Source: The UK Wedding Report 2018 by Bridebook.co.uk.

And those digitally devoted information absorbers are now demanding a different approach from wedding suppliers. They’re looking for an altogether more open wedding market. They want you to overshare examples of weddings you’ve worked on – but don’t hound them or they’ll swipe left.

They might not have tons of time for you but they sure as hell want you to lay all of your cards on their perfectly designed wedding breakfast table.

#itscomplicated

So here’s the rundown of exactly what engaged and soon-to-be-wed couples of today expect from their wedding entourage for the approximate 20 months that they’ll be engaged and working with you…

1.Be online when your couples are

Unsurprisingly, the most popular time of the week for wedding planning is after work, with 63% of couples stating that evenings were the time they were most likely to be online.

Bridebook has discovered that the majority of enquiries are sent between 7pm-9pm so as a wedding supplier, you need to be active at these times. And of course the faster you are able to respond and interact with these enquiries the higher your conversion rate will be.

Where possible, keep an eye on your inbox over the weekend as Saturday (40%) and Sunday (37%) also show higher than average wedding planning activity.

2.Contact couples in the right way

For yet another year running, email is the preferred method of communication for initial enquiries (85%) and ongoing contact (88%) between couples and suppliers.

Interestingly though, half of couples also want in-person contact with the suppliers they’re working with.

However, you choose to answer your initial enquiry, remember to ask your couples how they would like to be contacted from there on and ask when is best for them in case evenings and weekends don’t suit.

3.Never underestimate the importance of reviews and recommendations

For yet another year running, couples have rated reviews and recommendations from friends and family (71%) as the most valuable source of information when booking wedding suppliers.

It is now more important than ever that you showcase your past work and triumphs wherever and whenever possible because 76% of couples read 8 or more reviews before booking a wedding supplier.

More specifically, 59% of couples said that they wanted to read online reviews from couples you’ve worked with in the past before making a decision on whether to contact you.

4.Understand how couples are choosing to spend their wedding budget

Did you know that the national average wedding spend in the UK in 2017 was £17,913 – excluding honeymoon? In London, this figure rises to £31,837.

So what are these big spending Millennial’s actually doing with their wedding budget?

The good news is that the money being spent on suppliers has increased by an average of 12% year on year. Consider this when reviewing your prices and ensure that you’re still pricing competitively and are not underselling your services by pricing too low.

Marquee hire (24%) food and drink (23%) and venue dressing (22%) are areas of spending that grew the most year on year.

5.Couples need interaction

The wedding industry is an unknown for most couples when they first dip their toe in our world and as such, we should be willing to guide them through the process.

This is the most important day of their lives and they are spending a lot of money so you have to prove your worth and show them that your business is worth investing in from the get go.

Be their friend and their partner throughout the wedding planning process. By communicating in the right way and offering the right kind of advice without being pushy you’ll ensure that couples have confidence in you and trust your expertise.

6.Couples depend on your photos

It is so important that you show couples what you do and what you offer with real, visual examples.

Keep your website and Bridebook profile up to date with the latest and greatest photos from weddings you’re most proud of.

Wedding venues – make sure that you’re showcasing great quality external and internal photos. If you aren’t blessed with acres of glorious grounds take photographs of other assets that surround you – whether rolling countryside or big city hotspots.

Makeup artists, wedding stylists, florists – photograph your work yourself and ask photographers and videographers for permission to use a couple of their photos or stills from the day (remembering to credit them).

Try to evoke a “that could be us” feeling with every visual you share.

7.Diversity is important to Millennial couples

Diversity is a problem that we are facing in the industry and we as suppliers should be tackling it head-on.

We live in one of the most diverse countries in the world and to ignore that is to ignore and potentially offend your potential customers.

As a start, be gender inclusive and try not to use phrases such as ‘normally a bride and groom have this or do that’. Consider your use of ‘bride and groom’ in the content you write and speak, using the term ‘partner’ or ‘couple’ instead.

We should be making every couple feel confident, comfortable and unique.

Wedding suppliers; ask yourselves…

…are you working with millennials or against them?

Are you interacting with them at the time and in the ways that they want you to?

Are you showcasing your business at it’s best – including reviews and beautiful images to really sell how great you are?

Bridebook can help you adjust to what Millennial couples want and need. Set up your own Bridebook page now to start promoting your business in a quick, easy and effortless way.

Looking for more wedding industry trends and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

How reviews help wedding photographers generate bookings

Samantha Jayne Photography has been announced as Bridebook’s Wedding Photographer of the Year.

Her natural, relaxed, storytelling style captured the interest of so many engaged couples last year and it’s clear to see how happy her newlywed clients are with their photographs thanks to the reviews left for Sam on her website and on her Bridebook profile.

Reviews may have gotten Sam noticed and helped her win this prestigious award but we wanted to know in her own words just how powerful Sam feel reviews really are in helping Samantha Jayne Photography grow as a business.

We asked Sam, what are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

In today’s digital world the online presence of reviews is HUGELY important!

As much as you can promote the value of your own business, nothing is more credible than a glowing review from a client.

Benefit 1 – reviews give potential clients an insight into the services and the experience you provide. Little things that matter to clients can stand out in these reviews.

For example, this is one of my favourite reviews from a bridesmaid last year:

“Sam is bloody fantastic. She was there for the bride, Katie Fox, from disgustingly early o’clock to get some pre-glam shots. She was helping wherever she could when asked but also doing a dozen things that she had anticipated would help before being asked. She had obviously spoken to not only the bride and groom but family in advance to arrange surprise staged shots that would make the bride blart even harder (sorry Katie face!)

“She was on table tops, on the floor, on counters in every corner and crevice to get the perfect shot. At one point we joked about her getting upon the beams in the barn and she was genuinely looking for a way to gain access to the rafters for a good aerial shot of the dance floor. She puts kids at ease and rounds them up without missing a step.

“When asked how long she was staying she said as long as the party is on she would be there. The woman refuelled with a fruit shoot ffs. Her photos are stunning, they completely capture the personality of the couple and their day from barely sun up to the last glass of fizz is put down.”

This bridesmaid has since been recommending me to everyone she knows.

Benefit 2 – online reviews can also benefit your business by shedding light on your brand’s personality. How you respond to a review (whether it’s positive or negative) has just as much impact.

Reviews build trust….would you rather hire someone who has a lot of happy customers or someone without? I know which I’d prefer.

Benefit 3 – online reviews will also improve your Google ranking! Google pulls data from external online review sites for it’s search quality. The more positive reviews you have on these sites the higher your rankings will be in organic search results.

Wow. So reviews are pretty darn important then! In your experience Sam, do couples make an enquiry before or after they’ve read reviews about your service?

In my opinion most couples make an enquiry after they’ve looked through my work and read through reviews. As stated above it gives them a level of trust in me and an insight to the kind of person I am. Then I meet up with them to discuss their day, answer any other questions they may have and put them fully at ease.

—————————————————————————

That’s certainly given us food for thought with regards to just how impactful reviews and recommendations can be for wedding photographers.

Do you have any comments to add about your experience of the power of reviews as a UK wedding photographer?

For more information and interviews with award-winning UK wedding suppliers, check out our Review Series.

Looking for more wedding industry supplier stories and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

John Nassari – the story behind the man, the photographer and the artist

“I’m a photographer – but I’m also a storyteller.” John Nassari

John Nassari certainly is the storyteller he proclaims to be; as much is evident in his incredible work which has won numerous accolades, and in his desire to continue to change the future of photography with the help of immersive technologies.

But what about the story behind the storyteller?

How did John Nassari get to be one of the most recognised and appreciated photographers in London today?

We met up with him to find out.

This is the story of John Nassari.

How it all began

At the tender age of 13, Cypriot born John was handed a Zenith VM by his stepfather. It was a Russian film camera and it was the best birthday present he’d ever received. Over the next few months (and as it turned out, years) John experimented with this camera and learnt all about the basics of photography with the help of his devoted parents.

“My father had this magical way of discussing aperture and shutter speed. I remember I just got it…it just made sense to me.”

John would write down the F stops and shutter speeds that he used for each photograph. He’d take the same picture but in different ways; changing how he exposed images and noting the different effects these changes had.

“Most of it was rubbish but my mum pulled a few aside and questioned why I’d photograph that particular shape or shadow. I used to say I don’t know – it just caught my eye. And that’s when I started to play around with form.”

John knew from very early on that this was what he wanted to do. He’d been captured by the art of photography.

Nurturing his passion

Within the next 12 months, John had joined a local camera club and found himself developing real photography skills alongside a group of older gentlemen – all of whom were hobbyist photographers. It soon became clear to the club members that this 14-year-old boy had a very special talent for photography that reached far beyond the realms of a hobby.

A member of the camera club donated a darkroom to John and other members began to lend him equipment and teach him things that they themselves had learnt about photography.

“They were so kind to me” says John. “ I was so shy at the time. And then I started entering these competitions and actually winning them. Everyone was really thrilled for me.”

John went back to the camera club that helped him perfect his craft 10 years later to teach photography, and to his joy, some of the original members were still there.

Carving a niche

John was always interested in form, and particularly in shadows, colours and textures. John would photograph objects and landscapes more than he would people early on in his photographic journey.

Still life was John’s first love, and it is a love that has stayed with him throughout his career.

“When I shoot table decorations for weddings – that’s still life – so of course, I’m still shooting what I love to shoot most. I really enjoy it. It’s a technical process rather than the process of shooting a person. People came into my work later on.”

John pursued an academic career at the University of Arts in Rochester, and it was during this more practical period of his education that he began to shoot people.

By the time John reached 28 years of age he had completed his MA in Visual Culture (which was more theory than practical) and chose to undertake his dissertation on people, which is ultimately where some of his finest work begun to materialise.

“I think at some point or another, most photographers turn the camera on themselves. Maybe not directly on themselves but on their family. And that’s what I did.

“I began to think about ‘the self’ and about family, and I managed to take around 2,000 pictures in 2 years with my 35mm lens. In those days, everything I shot was with a 35mm. I’d photograph all kinds of occasions.”

“I went to see a curator with this collection of family photos and they asked me: “what’s the story?” I couldn’t really answer. As a body of work it just didn’t fit. So finding the story and meaning behind me and my family was a journey of exploration which involved me digging deeper to discover as much as I could about my background.”

At this stage of his career, John begun to explore emotion, family and relationships through the lens.

“I became focused on the subject of belonging and in turn, I rejected objects and aesthetics in favour of emotion.

“Emotion is a hard thing to capture. It’s not just about someone laughing. To capture raw emotion in a beautiful moment demands something more than a smile. The most powerful images – whether they include a touch, a look or a smile – capture an isolated moment; perhaps between a newly married couple whilst they’re surrounded by relatives dancing.

“How you convey that emotion within an aesthetic frame is what makes a photograph truly powerful.”

A defining moment that changed you…

Dad and Me is one of John’s most recognised and best-loved photographs. It won the Taylor West Award at the National Portrait Gallery in 1999 / 2000 and is one of the defining shots that signalled a shift in John’s career. He was officially on the map.

So how was the idea executed?

“Well I asked dad to go shopping – I gave him a budget and asked him to buy himself something and to also buy me the identical outfit. He asked me what it was all about – he didn’t get it but he participated and did it, and came back with these two matching outfits – one for each of us.

And so we put on our outfits and I set the timer on my camera for this self-portrait.”

“The outcome is a photograph about ambivalence. It’s about the relationship I have with my father and possibly the ambivalent relationship that many men have with their fathers.

“Conflict and contradiction are key – this photo suggests imitation and me wanting to be like my father; of course I admire him and look up to him, but there’s this tension about not wanting to actually become him.

“You admire your father but you don’t want to become him. We’re holding hands which implies intimacy but there’s also this distance between us – we’re not smiling.”

A defining moment in wedding photography…

The Cyclist is an iconic piece from John’s wedding collection and has won awards for its metaphorical display of two lives and two journeys intersecting at a pivotal moment.

“I had everything planned out perfectly. I was in position; I’d stopped traffic temporarily and guests were preparing to throw confetti as the couple emerged from the church. And then just as the sky exploded with colour a cyclist tears through the shot… I was so angry at the time but somehow had the presence of mind to keep shooting despite the interference of the cyclist.”

When John explained what had happened to the newlyweds they just smiled and said: “typically Cambridge”.

In the days that followed the wedding, John became more and more intrigued about this man – the cyclist. He wanted to enter the photo into a competition but needed permission from him. Plus he wanted to find this mystery man from a human interest perspective and enlist the help of others to create a bit of a buzz.

John reached out to the Cambridge News and they loved the story. It soon made it into the Metro and people everywhere started talking about the photograph and ‘the man’.

Eventually, Archie Wood – a Cambridge student – came forward as the mystery cyclist. In fact, he was late for his physics exam because he was speaking to John! John made it up to him and sent Archie a signed, framed copy of the photograph that had made him one of the most famed cyclist in the photography world.

What’s next for John Nassari…

As someone who doesn’t like to sit still for very long, it was to be expected that we’d soon see something groundbreaking from John.

Nassari 360 is an immersive, interactive, explorable 360 digital experience, which layers content in the form of a curated gallery of senses and environments.

People are able to view photographs, scroll around to see what lies beyond the frame, and hear the sounds of people and their surroundings.

Nassari 360 is to be launched at The Photography Show on 17th March at NEC Birmingham.

John is also close to completing an online wedding photography course which is designed for both aspiring photographers and established photographers outside of wedding industry.

Stay tuned for more from John Nassari and the latest in wedding photography news.

Looking for more wedding industry trends and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

Why every wedding supplier website needs an FAQ page

Does any industry compete with the wedding industry when it comes to the sheer volume of questioning? Was that another question? Anyway…

We’re guessing that there are probably more questions asked throughout the wedding planning journey than there are in any other events industry.

Questions from guests to couples, couples to wedding suppliers and suppliers to couples; not to mention questions from suppliers to suppliers…and the list goes on.

Nowadays, more and more engaged couples are building wedding websites to help them easily manage questions they receive from guests, and by sharing answers to all the questions they’ve already been asked they can help inform guests without having to speak directly to each of them about the same things.

Makes sense, right?

So if couples have realised the huge advantages of having FAQ-style question and answer pages, why haven’t all wedding suppliers?

Realising the many benefits of FAQ pages

FAQ pages tend to be the ones that customers visit most but website writers think about least.

So why does this disconnect exist?

It’s a mystery to us. Perhaps the FAQ page just isn’t sexy enough. But there are plenty of companies doing it justice and even stamping their personality on the page in the form of creative answers.

Here are 5 core benefits to including an FAQ page on your wedding website:

Reassuring couples that you’ve got their questions covered and that they’re not asking anything you haven’t heard before
Improving the efficiency of first meetings with couples by providing answers to common questions beforehand, allowing you to focus on the details that matter most
Opportunity to improve SEO through targeted content development
Earning trust by showing you’re a professional expert in your field
Allowing couples a snapshot of your personality by creatively answering their questions

Whether you’re a wedding venue, a wedding photographer or a wedding caterer, you’re probably asked the same sorts of questions every time you meet a new couple.

Are we right?

So an FAQ page will save you heaps of time.

Deciding on questions to include, and structure

When choosing questions to include in your FAQ section, focus on relevancy and any opportunities that allow you to develop answers into pages and encourage further engagement.

To start, think about the questions couples always ask you before and after booking, such as…

Does your wedding venue provide the option of a late night extension?
What are your deposit and payment terms?

If you end up with an extensive list of questions, group them into categories such as “Deciding on which wedding photographer to book” and “What to ask once you’ve booked your wedding photographer”.

Categorising your questions not only helps your visitors to navigate the FAQ page easily it also helps you ensure that you’re organised and are including all important questions.

Structured content also brings with it great SEO benefits, seeing as Google likes order. Being able to read a content-heavy page by category and tagged headers makes Google-bots happy.

In terms of how you write content for an FAQ page, make sure that you write your questions from your customer’s perspective (e.g. “How do I…”) and answer from your business’s perspective (e.g. “You should…” or “We provide…”).

And remember that your FAQ pages are a great place to convert interested couples into your next wedding booking. End each answer or page with a call to action that links to more information about your services, prices or the question/answer topic.

Tip: it’s important to update your FAQ page with any new customer concerns as they arise. Remember, all website pages should be regularly updated so that they don’t go stale!

Leveraging your FAQ page for SEO purposes

One of the great, secret benefits of FAQ pages is that they give you the opportunity to search engine optimise your website beyond that of ANY competitor – if you do it well.

Here’s how…

List out all of the questions you are regularly asked plus any questions you think potential clients would type into Google when researching a wedding supplier like you.

Even if your target audience isn’t searching for topics related specifically to your wedding brand, they might be searching for answers to questions related to the wedding industry in general via search engines.

You could include queries like…

What questions should I ask wedding photographers before booking one?
How much should a wedding venue cost?

Then link from these questions to content/landing pages that answer in detail and continue the journey from question to conversation to (hopefully) conversion.

By adding content or landing pages that are optimized for specific search queries and that further expand on answers to popular questions, Google will read you as highly relevant in your industry which means your wedding website will rank higher in results pages and subsequently, couples will be able to find your company more easily when searching for wedding suppliers like you.

Plus, having more detailed answers to popular questions on your website will encourage newly engaged couples to think of you as an industry leader in your field. They’ll likely choose the wedding supplier who’s ‘in the know’ when it comes to making that booking.

Get drafting those frequently asked questions today!

The FAQ page is often an afterthought for many websites. But used strategically, it can add a lot of value to your wedding website and your business on the whole.

Get started today – you can thank us later.

Any questions?

Looking for more wedding industry trends and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

Are reviews important sales tools for wedding venues?

15 minutes with four award-winning UK wedding venues

Do brides and grooms really care about reviews when it comes to wedding venues?

Surely they either fall in love with a venue, or they don’t – right?

You know that your wedding venue is far more than the bricks and mortar it’s made from. It’s about ambience, decor, service and comfort. It’s about supporting a couple in helping them create their dream day.

So reviews count.

They help a couple envisage their big day and decide whether the experiences of other happy newlyweds are the kinds of experiences they themselves want for their wedding day.

Rather than continue to tell you how important reviews are, we thought we’d let four award-winning wedding venues do it for us. Here are their thoughts on the power of reviews…

Woodhill Hall – Bridebook’s Winning UK Wedding Venue 2018

Bridebook: Tell us about your success with reviews so far, as a top UK wedding venue…

We’ve found the value of reviews is paramount to our business.

I think our key to receiving such successful reviews is that we’re a family run business that really gets to know our couples. From day one, they feel like part of the Woodhill family and we really get to know the couple, their family and friends. As a result, couples don’t feel like they’re reviewing a business, as one of our couples explained, it feels like you’re reviewing family. Reviews which are left by our couples always make us smile from ear to ear and we’re proud to showcase them on our website and with providers such as Bridebook.

Reviews also provide such a great opportunity to reflect on the team’s performance as well as allowing us to look back on how great the couples big day was. Often reviews from couples will mention a funny story or an element of the day which really stood out and it helps the team relive how great their day was.

Have you seen/felt the difference reviews make to the number of enquiries you receive? Any stats to support?

100% yes. We continue to be surprised by the number of enquiries we receive by couples who are interested in the venue and have chosen to visit us based on glowing reports from couples who’ve married with us, guests at weddings or even suppliers sharing how nice they found the venue. In 2017, 24% of all our enquiries came from couples who’d read reviews about us and out of those, 74% booked with us which is amazing. If it wasn’t for hearing about or reading a review they may have never visited us at all.

What are the top 3 benefits of having reviews in your personal experience?

True impartial representations of the venue by ambassadors who’ve been there, done that and enjoyed such a wonderful experience.
They provide a window into your customer service standards.
The more you showcase the more weight it adds to how good you and your business are.

Dodmoor House – Bridebook’s East Midlands Wedding Venue of the Year 2018

At which point in the wedding planning process do you ask couples for a review?

We wait until the wedding has finished, about a week or two after (depending on our couples’ travel plans). We find that it’s good to really give them a chance to reflect on all aspects of the wedding and give them time to relive it all.

How do you ask for the review?

We send an email to our couples and also ask them to send over any photos for a blog post or real-life wedding feature. We like to keep our couples involved in the ‘Dodmoor family’ for a long time after the wedding!

What are the top 3 benefits of having reviews in your personal experience?

It gives potential couples the opportunity to read real, honest opinions about our venue and the service we provide. It helps people to see where we shine and help them make a decision to book us for their dream day!
Receiving reviews from couples can help us to learn where we can improve. There’s always room for a little improvement!
We get really excited when a review comes in from one of our couples or a guest at one of the weddings; it really builds up morale within the team and gets us all pumped up to run our next wedding and do it all over again!

The Grand Hotel, Tynemouth – Bridebook’s North East England Wedding Venue of the Year 2018

Have you ever received a negative review and if so, how did you deal with it?

So far I do not think we have had a bad review which is incredible to be able to say.

If we did receive a negative review then we would look at what has been mentioned and act upon this and contact the couple to address any issues.

What are the top 3 benefits of having reviews in your personal experience?

It is good to get feedback on the hotel and hear back from our couples about their wedding experience.
It is reassurance that we are doing our job well when we receive glowing reviews.
It is good publicity for the hotel and for potential brides to see these reviews.

Redhouse Barn – Bridebook’s West Midlands Wedding Venue of the Year 2018

What are the top 3 benefits to having reviews in your personal experience?

Reviews are hugely important to us. We aren’t a huge fan of ‘pushy sales’ techniques and often letting potential couples see the fantastic reviews we have from previous weddings says a lot without us having to.

It gives potential couples a lot of confidence that what we are telling them about the venue and the food is true and often better than expected.

Recommendations are definitely the best form of advertising. I had one couple who visited us recently and the groom was very open and said that he wasn’t originally interested at all in a Barn wedding but his fiancé told him to spend a bit of time researching us (as she was desperate to come for a viewing) and after reading through our reviews on Facebook he knew it was where he wanted to get married before he actually visited!

Who asks couples for a review at your wedding venue?

We never canvass our couples or their guests to review the venue after their wedding so we are very lucky to receive some lovely thank you cards from most couples following their big day and we often upload those ourselves to share the love!

As mentioned above we don’t like to be too pushy and that extends to chasing people after their wedding to write something lovely about us. Generally, couples and their guests will take it upon themselves to review on social media or send us something in the post. It’s a testament to the fantastic service and hard work of the team here that people will go out of their way to review the venue, food and service.

Where do you showcase your reviews (online and offline)?

We like to showcase our reviews on all of our marketing platforms and social media. I try to keep these updated as much as possible with the latest reviews.

I don’t tend to like using older reviews as a lot can change in a couple of years so It’s nice to show new couples that this review was from a wedding from the summer just gone rather than from 5 years ago!

We use Facebook a lot already and I am starting to get better with Instagram which I would like to post more reviews on but I’m just getting to grips with it.

Offline we have a big file in the Barn full of all the thank you cards we receive so when potential couples come to view the Barns they can have a flick through!

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Reviews are the difference between converting an enquiry or a venue visit into a booking, or not.

Take our advice and the advice of award-winning, expert wedding venues today, and start harnessing the power of reviews for your wedding venue.

Looking for more wedding industry trends and couple insights? Head to the Bridebook Business Hub, the home of wedding industry knowledge.

The Meghan Effect

The “Meghan Effect” has already begun making it’s mark on the UK wedding industry. Harry and Meghan’s wedding is the most viewed wedding in history, and the trends it has created have already taken hold.

The royal wedding gave the world a great distraction from global politics with Harry and Meghan receiving more global Google traffic than Donald Trump over the weekend, and 6 times more traffic than Brexit in the UK.

The highest levels of global internet interest came from the UK, with New Zealand a close second. Commonwealth countries filled up most of the top spots followed by the USA. North Korea showed was 41st most interested country in the world in the Royal wedding, even ahead of Britain’s neighbour, France at 46th!

There’s no doubt that it is wedding trends and the wedding industry as a whole that Harry and Meghan’s historic wedding will truly make a lasting impact. Below are just the initial trends Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s leading wedding planning app, have identified, from cake flavours to national attitudes towards multiculturalism and second marriages.

Castle Wedding Venues:

Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s leading wedding planning app, has seen an impressive 32% increase in searches for castle wedding venues between Friday the 18th and Monday the 21st.

Stella McCartney & Environmentally Friendly Wedding Dresses:

Stella McCartney is renowned in the fashion world for focusing heavily on sustainable, environmentally friendly, and animal free fashion. This was certainly not lost on Meghan who’s decision to have Stella design her second dress was a pointed one. It should come as no surprise, then that we have seen a 160% increase in searches for “Stella McCartney wedding dresses” and a 12% increase in “sustainable wedding dresses” since the royal wedding.
Perhaps more telling is not so much the interest in the designer, as the interest in the striking halter neck design. While searches for Stella McCartney are already starting to reach its original levels, interest in this unique wedding dress style has stayed piqued. The search term “halter neck wedding dresses” saw a 235% increase in searches on Saturday evening and Sunday, a trend that Bridebook.co.uk expects to be a lasting one for at least a few years to come.

Givenchy, Clare Waight Keller & Boat Neck Wedding Dresses:

Givenchy wedding dresses did not see quite the same boost in interest as did Stella McCartney, however there has been a striking burst in interest in boat neck and silk wedding dresses, a direct effect of Meghan’s big moment when first revealing her wedding dress on Saturday morning.
This is of particular interest to the wedding industry as wedding dress trends have been overwhelmingly dominated by lace and long sleeves for the past 7 years since Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. Bridebook.co.uk experts confidently predict that these trends will finally give way to the this new way of slick, unadorned modernity in wedding dress styles, as indicated by the 87% increase in interest in boat neck wedding dresses, and the 110% increased interest in silk and satin wedding dresses.

Unadorned vs Dramatic Wedding Dresses:

Bridebook.co.uk’s experts, from the UK’s leading wedding planning app where 100,000 weddings are planned a year, predict that Meghan Markle’s choice of first wedding dress will have much greater an impact on wedding styles than simply one’s choice of dress material. For the past two decades, wedding dresses have acted as a “showstopper” in themselves, intricately adorned with beading and lace, motifs and elaborations. Meghan’s wedding dress, and the way it complimented and highlighted Meghan’s natural beauty, is sure to usher in a new era of attitudes towards wedding dresses where the dress’s purpose is to draw attention to the bride’s beauty, as opposed to drawing all the attention to itself.

Getting Married in May:

In 2017, May was only the 5th most popular wedding month in the UK with only 9% of wedding being held in the month. Bridebook.co.uk has already seen a 16% increase in wedding dates being scheduled for the month of May since Saturday. Bridebook.co.uk predicts that this is both due to the beautiful weather the UK has been experiencing, and experienced on the day of the royal wedding, as well as a boosted interest in seasonal and local flowers with May being the peak time for blooms. Interest in seasonal local flowers has been steadily increasing since 2010, from 28% to 64% of couples saying they chose seasonal, native flowers for their wedding.

Philippa Craddock Flowers:

Royal wedding florist Philipp Cradock must have impressed the engaged population of the UK on Saturday with her gorgeous choice of green and white flowers and foliage, structured into striking arches and abundant decoration. Bridebook.co.uk, the UK’s leading wedding planning app, has already seen a 210% increase in profile views on the wedding supplier booking platform.

Second Wedding Dresses:

Though the trend of brides having second wedding dresses has been on a slow but steady rise since 2010 (from 4% of UK brides in 2010 to 8% in 2017), Bridebook.co.uk predicts to see this increase exponentially, riding on the success of Meghan’s second wedding dress. The overwhelming success of high street wedding dresses in just the past couple of years is sure to play a large part in this, making multiple dresses just as affordable an option for all no matter your budget. Watch this space! The second wedding dress is on the rise.

Bride Speeches:

Meghan was not the only brides giving a speech on her wedding day! Bridebook.co.uk, the wedding planning app on which 100,000 UK weddings a year are planned, has revealed that of the roughly 5,900 other weddings that happened on May 19th, 27% of them had brides giving their own speech.
Bridebook.co.uk expects to see the number of brides giving speeches at their wedding continue to increase. The UK has already seen a 50% increase since 2010, however the high profile nature of Meghan’s decision to give her own speech is sure to see this figure grow at an ever increasing pace, in line with the trend of weddings veering more and more away from traditional, outdated and sexist practices.

Attitudes on Second Marriages:

One of the most exciting prospects of the “Meghan effect” is much larger than the fabric she chose or the shoes she wore. This wedding and the massive celebrations that surrounded it are the ultimate example of how second weddings can be just as much of a celebration as the first. All too often, second weddings aren’t treated with the same fervour by both the participants and outsiders. However, Bridebook.co.uk are thrilled to see Harry and Meghan’s wedding as once and for all laying to rest the myth that second weddings shouldn’t be just as much of a celebration as first.
Any stigma attached to second marriages is gone. If Meghan can get remarried by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a royal chapel in the presence of the Queen under the eyes of the world, anyone can. Everyone should rightly feel fully empowered to celebrate their marriage to the maximum, even if it is not their first marriage.
The rise of the “even-bigger” second-marriage. No longer will second marriages be frowned upon or hidden, it is time for them to be celebrated!

Solo Aisle Walk:

Though Meghan did have Prince Charles walk her down the aisle, there was a definitive first half of the walk that Meghan owned on her own. Walking yourself down the aisle shouldn’t simply be a last resort for those who are unfortunate enough not to have a father to walk them. In fact, it should be quite the opposite! It’s a mark of female empowerment and independence, eschewing the outdated traditions surrounding the “giving away” of the bride.
13% of brides walk down the aisle with someone other than their father, including brides who choose to walk alone. Bridebook.co.uk expects this figure to only continue gaining momentum as some of the oldest wedding traditions are altered or pushed aside to make way for modern, feminist couples. And if Meghan can do it with billions of watchers including The Queen, so can you!

The Revival of Church Weddings:

Not everything is about breaking tradition! In fact, the UK wedding industry is currently seeing a revival of church weddings and ceremonies, a trend that has been steadily in decline since 2005 as couples opted for non-traditional and marriage licensed venues.
This renewed interest in church weddings, with Bridebook.co.uk seeing a 22% increase in searches for church venues in the last 3 years alone, is significantly influenced by the increased flexibility with the church service. Just as Meghan made her very royal church service her own (the Bishop! the gospel choir!), so can British couples in most churches. Gone are the days of weddings being restricted by strict tradition and protocol, and hello to soul sing along services!

The End of the Traditional Wedding Cake:

RIP so-so marzipan and stodgy fruit cake – expect the world of wedding cake flavours to explode! Bridebook.co.uk has already seen a 34% rise in searches for non-traditional and, even more on trend, seasonal wedding cakes. Longevity is no longer the priority for cakes, it’s all about the flavour!

Less Bridesmaids, More Friends:

Is it the end of the bridesmaid, and the rise of the supportive bride tribe? Meghan’s decision to forgo having any adult bridesmaids is not an unusual one. It’s clear she has no lack of friends she could have included, but likely decided to avoid the social intricacies of inviting only a limited number of friends to be a part of the bridal party by having none at all. Over 18% of UK brides stated that they did not have any adult bridesmaids for the same reason in 2017.
Also consider the fact that the average age for getting married is older than ever before, meaning that friends and family may have children or other duties that make them not as available to be at your beck and call. By forgoing adult bridesmaids, a trend Bridebook.co.uk predicts will sweep the UK in the coming years, you aren’t limiting yourself to your girlfriends (since when does your squad need to be all girls?) and forcing them to wear matching outfits, but can still benefit from having your supportive squad through the day regardless.

Planning your wedding?

Bridebook.co.uk is the UK’s number one free wedding planning app, with over 16,000 registered wedding businesses and more than 100K couples planning their wedding with us.

Are you are an engaged couple looking for your wedding team?

See the largest selection of the UK’s best venue & suppliers here!

Are you looking for wedding advice? Start with these:

The Ultimate Wedding Budget Breakdown

21 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Venue

22 Wedding Saving Tips

Engagement Photoshoot Ideas : 3 tips to get you started

Engagement Photoshoot Ideas

You’ve just got engaged. You’ve told your friends and family. And now you’re starting to think about the wedding planning.

But before the manic planning begins, some people like to take some time to relax and create some special memories of the engagement. This is the “engagement(or “pre-wedding”) photoshoot”. This may(or may not) be for you. It’s not for everyone so feel free to skip this hack if it’s not of interest. If, however, you do want a pre-wedding photoshoot but are struggling for inspiration, we have outlined some engagement photoshoot ideas to help kickstart your creative thinking.

We also have a wonderful Pinterest packed with inspiration.

1. Location

Do you have a special location that has become important to you and your fiancé? This could be the location of your first date, the location of the proposal or just a place that you have both spent a lot of time together. These places are likely to hold more emotional value to you than a generic beach somewhere. The photos will tell a much richer story(that perhaps only you know) that you will be reminded of with every look.

2. Style

There are many different styles of shoot you can opt for. The most common would probably be:

Romantic – the good old-fashioned “looking at each other with puppy eyes” picture.
Playful – messing around in a field with enormous smiles
Quirky – using props to add humour

3. Props

Try using some props to add a dash of playful humour to your photos. Don’t go prop-crazy! Just do 1 or 2 shots using a prop to avoid your album looking like an Etsy pinterest board.

If you choose to use some props in your photo shoot, here are some of the most popular options.

Bunting with romantic wording
Giant lettering
Scrabble tiles
Books with titles that are applicable to your lives
Hand written signs and chalkboards
Picture frames
Balloons
An umbrella
Suitcases
Flowers
Printed photographs
The engagement ring

To make this even more personal, try thinking of something that represents who you are as a couple or encapsulates your interests.

Ultimately, there are no set rules when it comes to doing an engagement photoshoot. Follow what feels natural and makes you feel most comfortable.

Why Wedding Professionals Market Their Business With Bridebook

When it looks too good to be true, it sometimes isn’t.

It’s tough these days trying to decide where your business should feature online, isn’t it?

Resources are often scarce and busy wedding suppliers like yourself don’t always have the time or money to feature on all the platforms that promise to get you noticed.

We get it.

All you need to know to mix your own magic formula are these three little words…

Website, Social, Bridebook.

Let’s break it down…

Continuously invest in your website. Update it, nurture it and promote it. It’s your online business card and portfolio.
Advertise your service or product on social media. Share good feedback, take photos of the weddings you work on and test out paid advertising if you’ve got the budget and the time.
Create a free account and profile on Bridebook Business. The UK’s number one wedding planning platform is currently helping over 100,000 UK couples plan their wedding. How can this huge audience search for you if you’re not listed on the directory? Did we mention it’s free?

The only one of these three magic ingredients that we’re guessing you don’t already know plenty about is Bridebook, so allow us to enlighten you.

Bridebook Business – the free profile that generates over 15,000 enquiries a month

100,000 newly engaged people is a whole lot of love; are we right?

Did you know that on average, over 15,000 enquiries are sent to UK wedding venues every month? That’s 100% return on investment.

Of course, the more time you spend updating your profile the better, as Bridebook’s sophisticated algorithm reads the information you provide to put you in front of relevant couples.

So the more information you give the easier you’ll be found by the right kind of couples.

On that note, we’d like to leave you with a few of our reviews that might encourage you to make the best decision of your business life.

Happy reading.

Oh…and if you’re ready to jump on the Bridebook bandwagon just contact us here.

The Review Centre

Knockwood Bespoke Receptions

“Put simply, it’s such a wonderful advertising platform.
For us at Knockwood Bespoke Receptions, we have only just started out and with money being fairly tight with starting a business, I can’t believe Bridebook is free. We’ve had many more enquiries via Bridebook than I believe we would have without it!”

Kelly J Photography

“Lots of my bookings have come through Bridebook in the last few months, whereas normally directories don’t tend to send much traffic my way.”

James Riley Videos

“Its got me a lot of business, it’s easy to use and not too saturated with people within my profession so you stand out more.”

Innes House

“I usually tell all my couples about Bridebook for planning, I use it too. It’s professional, clean, has really helpful articles, and one of my favourite places for advertising.”

Cripps Barn

“It’s an excellent platform for ideas and support through the wedding planning process, giving you insights to excellent venues and suppliers.”

Neal Laver photography

“In 12 years of business, Bridebook is the only online wedding directory/service that has delivered results for me.”

Contact us now to claim your free Bridebook profile.

How to Plan a Minimalist Wedding

Minimalist Wedding

There are many reasons you may be drawn to the idea of a minimalist wedding. It may be the money-saving benefits of minimalism, or perhaps the relaxed feel that is created by lack of clutter. Whatever the reason for pursuing a minimalist wedding, take a look at some of the ideas below which are guaranteed to strip back your wedding with “minimal” effort!

Let’s start with the obvious:

Get Rid of the Unnecessary

Minimalism is all about less “stuff” so getting rid of the unnecessary elements of your wedding is key to achieving that minimalist look. Think primarily about decorations…..what do you really need? Try to focus on just 1 or 2 key elements and make them the focal point of your decorations. If you are getting married in a pretty venue, try to keep it stripped back and let the venue shine through.

Minimalist Wedding Decorations

If you are using white table linen, try not to put too much on the table as you want the linen to be the main feature. Sharing-platters for example will cover too much table space and will lead you towards a share-y feel rather than a minimal feel.

Minimalist Wedding Flowers

Likewise, the flowers should also be kept simple. Don’t use too many colours in bouquets but instead stick to just 1 or 2 colours. Good options for minimalist arrangements are white roses, plants or even vegetables. If you are opting for wildflowers, try neat arrangements rather than the messy look.

Handmade Décor

There is a good opportunity to make some of your own décor by using what is lying around. I use the word “make” very loosely. Simple examples are using old jars as vases and filling them with long plant stems. Likewise, use the jars as candle holders for tea lights…..cheap but effective.

Naked Wedding Cakes

Strip down that cake! Naked wedding cakes are a refreshing alternative to the traditional iced affair. If you, or somebody you know, are comfortable with baking, you may be able to make a naked-cake yourself to save some money. The beauty of naked-cakes is that they still look good even if they are lop-sided.

Simplified Menu

Keep the menu super-simple. Stay away from anything too elaborate and stick with simple dishes with only a few ingredients. Chicken is always a good choice. If you want to be a bit more quirky but still keep things minimal, try a buffet table or a Pizza bar!

Paperless Invites

This is a great way to save some money. If you don’t hold too much affection for the paper invite, go paperless and send your invites via email, Whatsapp, Facebook or Instagram.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that a minimalist wedding is easy because sometimes it can be even harder to achieve than a non-minimalist wedding. In most cases, however, a minimalist wedding is a good way to save some money while creating stunning elegance at the same time. It’s not for everybody but some people just love the idea of a clutter free-wedding.I