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Do you stay close to home where your family and friends are? Do you both have family and friends from the same area or are your loved ones spread across the country?
Do you choose to stay in the UK or do you search for a wedding venue overseas?
Finding the answers to these kinds of questions can prove quite stressful and it’s at this early stage of your wedding planning journey that you’ll soon learn that you can’t please everybody – and you shouldn’t have to!
It is up to you and your partner to choose a wedding venue location that you both love. And trust us; the people closest to you will travel wherever they can to be there.
Here are five tips to help you both choose where to have your wedding, whether you’ve been dreaming about this day all your life or if it’s all new to you.
1. In the UK or abroad?
The first thing you’ll need to decide as a couple is whether you want to get married in the UK or abroad.
If you both picture your wedding day on a beach in beautiful sunshine, it’s safe to assume an overseas wedding might be best to avoid disappointment!
In contrast, those wishing to get married in a church will most probably need to stay in the UK.
It’s also worth considering which of your guests may not be able to travel before deciding to wed abroad. It may be that elderly grandparents or very young children would have to stay home.
Ultimately, it’s about where you both envisage saying your “I do’s”. There will always be compromises to make along the way.
2. If in the UK, do you stay close to home or marry further afield?
If you’ve decided the UK is where you’ll be saying your nuptials the next thing to consider is whether you’ll get married close to home or further afield.
Many couples will choose somewhere that means something to them; so close to where they grew up or somewhere they’ve been as a couple that holds wonderful memories.
Others might just love the idea of a particular place they currently don’t know much about.
There’s no right or wrong way to decide on where to choose a wedding venue, just do your research. Find out what accommodation and local amenities are close to the areas you like so that the decision is practical as well as emotional.
3. What does your ideal wedding venue look like?
Although choosing a wedding venue location can be tough, most couples will have a good idea as to the type of wedding venue they want.
Do you dream of a stately home in the Cotswolds or a chic hotel wedding venue in the centre of busy London?
Perhaps you’ve always wanted a rustic barn wedding or love the idea of getting married outside.
By pinpointing a particular type of venue you both adore you can more easily choose and rule out locations that won’t suit.
4. What style of wedding do you dream of?
How formal or informal do you want your wedding day to be?
It’s helpful to know whether you’re seeking out opulent grandeur to host a more formal, black tie wedding breakfast or whether you’re looking to create a relaxed affair. Are you thinking five course sit down dinner or a help yourself buffet?
What is your usual style as a couple? If you’d label yourselves as a sophisticated pair it makes sense that your wedding day would reflect this about you. If you’re a more casual couple, you’d probably hate nothing more than a formal wedding.
5. DIY or all inclusive
Many wedding venues will help you plan your entire wedding day and will have a list of pre approved wedding suppliers for you to use.
Some wedding venues will offer a much more DIY approach and offer couples the chance to find their own suppliers and arrange the setup of their wedding day themselves.
Most UK wedding venues will offer a bit of both; offering wedding planning support to those who need it and offering a degree of flexibility in allowing you to build your dream day as you wish.
It’s important to understand how much flexibility and support is available to you when visiting your shortlisted venues.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re going; it’s who you have beside you that really matters”
Choosing where to get married should be a fun and exciting experience, and ultimately, you know that wherever you choose will be perfect because it’s yours…both of yours.
One Aldwych is a luxury 5-star boutique hotel and wedding venue situated in the heart of Covent Garden; one of London’s most vibrant and upmarket areas.
For those in search of a stylish city wedding at a venue bursting with history and character, and effortlessly exuding a sophisticated atmosphere and charm, One Aldwych could be The One for you.
An architectural showstopper boasting breathtaking interiors adorned with fine art and exquisite ornamental design pieces, this wedding venue is something very special. One Aldwych is best suited to couples who are really looking to go the extra mile and create an unforgettable wedding day that guests will be talking about for years to come.
Step into the light and bright contemporary entrance hall and prepare to begin your journey – both in marriage and in the exploration of one of London’s most prestigious wedding venues.
Invite your wedding guests to gather in the Lounge at One for welcome drinks, where contemporary artwork will undoubtedly make prevalent talking points.
Allow guests time to peruse the collections whilst you finish getting ready in the elegant and stylish bridal suite. Take a breath; you’re about to marry the One in your picture perfect wedding venue in one of the most fabulous cities in the world.
Take your final, ‘single person’ steps as you wind your way through the beautiful, art-adorned halls and corridors towards the Adelphi and Novello rooms; the most romantic setting in which to take your vows in front of family and friends.
Surrounded by contemporary art and large windows, say “I do” in style against the backdrop of busy London life.
Take each other’s hands and head over to Eneko at One to celebrate your nuptials in style – the hotel’s modern basque restaurant run by acclaimed, three Michelin-starred chef Eneko Atxa. This space is relaxed and inviting yet sophisticated; minimalist design prevails, and it feels distinctly ‘London’ through the achievement of a contemporary-cool atmosphere.
In fact, this beautiful restaurant was recently awarded the ‘Best Restaurant or Bar Design 2017” at the annual Restaurant and Bar Design Awards 2017 for its innovative and modern design.
With the help of award-winning in-house florist, Mark Siredzuk, you’ll dress this contemporary space with bold floral arrangements that transform Eneko at One from restaurant to wedding venue in a floral flash.
Marvel at the floating mezzanine wine bar as you sample a selection of wines from chef Eneko’s very own family winery near Bilbao; posing for photos and catching up with your guests.
Available for exclusive hire and seating up to 110 guests, you’ll make your way to the exquisitely dressed tables and can sit back and relax knowing you’re about to experience some of the best food London has to offer. Your guests will be in awe as they enjoy Eneko Atxa’s Signature Menu to the sound of your chosen wedding music.
Invite evening guests to join you (up to 150 guests in total) as the tables are abandoned in favour of the dance floor, and take a moment; look around and realise what you’ve achieved. A five star London wedding planned to perfection and executed flawlessly thanks to you, and the expert wedding planning team at One Aldwych.
The dedicated events team at One Aldwych Hotel can help you plan as much or as little as you’d like for your special day.
World-class chefs will work with you to build exceptional seasonal menus and they’ll ensure that you and all of your guests are taken care of – irrespective of dietary requirements.
Award-winning in-house florist, Mark Siredzuk, is on hand to design beautiful bespoke floral arrangements that will really bring your wedding space to life. His pieces can be found throughout the hotel, within The Lobby Bar and in each of the hotel’s luxurious bedrooms.
One Aldwych makes for a truly spectacular London wedding venue. Is this The One for you?
Find out more about One Aldwych on their Bridebook profile and start your wedding journey today.
Are you still looking for that utterly breathtaking country house venue in the West of the UK? We’ve simplified your search by choosing 15 of the best country houses in the area that will make your jaw drop.
If you want to find more, use Bridebook’s Venue Search and click ‘country house’ in the filters for more stunning venues like these!
With modern and luxurious amenities combined with a 750-year-old structure oozing grandeur, Elmore Court is the ultimate country house in the West. Luscious views over the Cotswolds will sweep you off your feet!
This newly restored Georgian country house with stunning Devon surroundings is a versatile venue for your big day. Shilstone offers plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces, all of which are truly romantic.
In the midst of the Devon countryside stands Huntsham Court, a truly spectacular venue with striking looks. It takes advantage of 5 unique and spacious reception rooms so that you can enjoy the banquet of your dreams in this manor house setting.
Pennard House has a unique country house environment where you can enjoy the experience of a lifetime with your nearest and dearest. Picture an elegant outdoor ceremony followed by the ultimate wedding party – all with a postcard picture backdrop.
At Bridwell Park Estate there is plenty to explore, as it’s set in 100 acres of dramatic parkland. Not only does it offer the house for exclusive use, but also a chapel, orangery and stables so you can host the most spectacular wedding day in a venue with a difference.
Overlooking Somerset’s Quantock Hills and gorgeous landscaped gardens, St Audries Park is a fairytale manor house that dreams are made of! Sweeping staircases, breathtaking high ceilings and an airy Victorian orangery makes it one of the most sought after manor houses in the West of the UK.
7 acres of perfectly manicured gardens is home to Manor By The Lake, a charming structure with an unspoken quirk. Utilise this stunning building as the backdrop to your special day, before settling down in one of the 12 individually designed bedrooms that scream chic luxury. You’re welcome!
On the border of Bristol lies this one-of-a-kind Victorian country house with 18 enchanting acres of garden. Berwick Lodge is a boutique hotel full of elegant and stylish decor, not to mention the impressive water fountain in the courtyard.
Smedmore House is a seaside manor house on the Jurassic Coast resonates Georgian beauty at its finest. Say your vows in the stunning summer house, enjoy drinks in front of roaring fires, and get awesome photo opportunities on the nearby beach.
A combination of heritage and luxury meet to form the opulent Lucknam Park – the retreat you deserve on your wedding week! Distinguished bedrooms, fine dining, a relaxing spa and a close attention to detail make this country house venue the experience of a lifetime.
The striking coach house and walled gardens of Ballyscullion Park is situated in a picturesque setting in Northern Ireland. Venture into the 18th Century stable block, where you will find classical function rooms to be your blank canvas. Don’t forget the luxurious marquee for more extravagant wedding receptions, too!
The family-run Sparth House Hotel is a truly romantic backdrop for your wedding. Surrounded by glorious woodland in the Lancashire countryside, your guests’ jaws will drop as you float through your wedding day in this spectacular venue.
The cosy yet stunning Nanny Brow is the perfect country house for an intimate wedding. Views over rolling hills will take your breath away while you indulge in the finest foods, to create the most memorable and personal celebration you could hope for.
In the heart of the Brecon Beacons, this Regency Mansion is home to a charming dining room and a Celtic-style banquet room, however is just one of the two fairytale wedding venues on offer. Otherwise, take advantage of the Medieval Gatehouse with 530 years of history, which makes a dramatic compliment to the main structure at Porthmawr Country House.
Denton Hall is an 18th Century manor house in the idyllic setting of rural Yorkshire. Rich history is combined with luxurious chandeliers and sweeping staircases to create romantic grandeur for those pursuing an outstanding country house in the West.
Didn’t find the country house venue you’re hunting for? Are you looking elsewhere in the UK? Simply search for a venue on Bridebook.co.uk by typing in your preferred location and clicking ‘country house’ in the filters.
Remember, you can use Bridebook.co.uk to help you with all the other parts of wedding planning including your wedding budget and wedding guest list.
Set in the grounds of the beautiful Holkham Estate and adjacent to the stately home of Holkham Hall, The Lady Elizabeth Wing is a wedding venue in its own right; offering couples a light and modern wedding space with stunning panoramic views.
The Lady Elizabeth Wing is a wedding venue that truly offers the best of both. A modern contemporary building situated against the backdrop of the historical hall and just a stone’s throw from the glorious north Norfolk coast.
Holkham Hall is an exquisite 18th century Palladian house set in 25,000 acres of parkland. Steeped in history, this grandiose Hall is recognised as being in the top ten most magnificent houses, palaces, and castles in England today.
The Lady Elizabeth wing boasts its own private, secluded courtyard; meaning that this is a space ideal for couples who’re looking for a beautiful, contemporary wedding venue with indoor and outdoor entertainment options, suitable for both small and large wedding parties.
For couples looking to escape the city and celebrate their love at a sophisticated wedding venue set in a breathtaking setting, come join us as we explore The Lady Elizabeth Wing.
The Lady Elizabeth Wing is Norfolk’s best kept secret and it is ideal for couples searching for an elegant and spacious venue that boast views, character and authenticity – traits that one might associate with a wedding at Holkham Hall itself.
Picture this.
The Lady Elizabeth Wing and private courtyard will be exclusively yours for the day and you’ll have complete control over how you want your wedding to look and feel.
Guests arrive at the private, secluded courtyard which offers glorious views of the romantic venue with its large arched windows – perfect for photographs. Perhaps you’ll provide entertainment on the lawn in the form of a musician and a welcome glass of bubbly.
Bridebook Top Tip: Get married on a weekday. Holkham offers a luxury wedding package with everything you need for your special day at Holkham – getting married on a weekday can save you a pretty penny or two and you’ll still have exactly the same experience as you would at the weekend at this beautiful, exclusive venue. Plus, your guests will probably want an excuse to make a long weekend out of their trip to your Norfolk wedding!
We love the idea of reception drinks and canapes served in the courtyard to really maximise the photo opportunities this incredible space presents. Choose live musicians to play your favourite romantic songs as you mingle with guests as newlyweds against this superb backdrop.
After the reception, invite guests inside the light and airy venue for your three-course wedding breakfast and we guarantee you’ll see all eyes widen as guests take in the beautiful airy space and pitched ceilings – decorated exactly as you want them; whether you opt for romantic chiffon drapes or more contemporary white paper lanterns.
Choosing a hand-picked, luxury wedding package at The Lady Elizabeth Wing means you’ll have everything you need for an unforgettable day; from canapes and a three-course wedding breakfast, light evening food and three-tier wedding cake, to a DJ, floral arrangements, wedding organiser, staff and bar facilities.
Watch your very own personalised wedding space transform into the perfect party venue after dinner, as the lights dim, the bar opens and guests hit the dance floor or filter outside to admire the starry sky.
For couples looking to escape the city and celebrate their love in a sophisticated wedding venue on the glorious north Norfolk-coast, choose to book your wedding at The Lady Elizabeth Wing.
It’s time to create unforgettable memories.
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We’re all secretly looking for that special venue to blow all other weddings out of the water – and Weddings at QMUL might just be ‘the one’. With irresistible historic charm and stunning 360-photo opportunities, this is a venue not to be missed (especially if you have that fairytale happily ever after in mind).
Walking up to the grand exterior of the iconic Queen’s building, prepare yourself as you enter this unforgettable venue. You will be captivated by the decadence of the Grade II listed building as you proceed to tie the knot in the white-walled, Senior Common Room which overlooks the grand Victorian Clocktower and the Queens’ Lawn.
Your special day continues as you head to the gorgeous Octagon, where dramatic domed ceilings and multi-coloured literature-lined shelves dominate the space. You and your beloved guests can indulge in a sit-down dinner or luxury hot fork buffet from the talented in-house caterer, and truly wine and dine in style!
And the party doesn’t stop there! Head onto the dancefloor with the Tale As Old As Time-esque backdrop surrounding you and experience a first dance and celebration like no other – surrounded by those you love.
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Saran Deb, Sales Executive at Queen Mary notes; “It’s a really exciting time for us at Queen Mary, as we take Weddings at QMUL to the next level by introducing a new ‘dry hire’ package. We have a great partnership with Greenleaf Event and Catering Management and together we offer couples complete flexibility for their perfect day!”
Weddings at QMUL can cater for up to 220 guests at your sit-down dinner in The Octagon. To hire the venue only, prices start at £5,000 and packages start from £72 per head.
Fallen in love with this venue? We have! Head to their Bridebook profile and book a show-round today.
Just a 5 minute walk from Buckingham Palace lies DUKES HOTEL – which could be your very own palace for the day. This timeless boutique venue is dripping with English heritage and has been recently renovated for an extra touch of deluxe. Could it be your British beauty of a wedding venue?
The iconic venue was Ian Flemming’s inspiration for James Bond’s ‘Shaken not stirred’ martini, and sitting within an empire of British history, this charming building offers the most quintessentially romantic London experience.
With your very own private entrance from Little St James’s Street, you and up to 60 of your guests can enter as VIP’s into the elegance of the ceremony room – St James’s Suite. This stunning room lined with antique mirrors and cosy uplighting is the epitomy of luxury as you say your vows.
Moving onto the drinks reception, you will proceed into the spectacular Drawing Room which is beautifully furnished with a cosy fireplace and sophisticated British decor. Leading into the conservatory and Courtyard Garden, you can roam wherever you please as you clink glasses with loved ones.
Return to St James Suite for your intimate wedding breakfast, where you’ll be wined and dined with three delicious courses. Expect to receive the best service at DUKES LONDON, because the dedicated family-like team here pride themselves on their attention to detail.
The icing on the cake comes in the form of your evening reception, where a DJ and dancefloor can be set up ready for you to celebrate into the night! Or should you wish to have a more low-key gathering, take advantage of your own private bar set up and try out the iconic martini! Who could ask for more?
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“We at DUKES LONDON want to work with you to make your Wedding day as memorable as possible; it is important to us that we remain as flexible as possible to create the day of your dreams, the way YOU want it. Our five star service will remain true from the moment you contact us to the moment you depart. We look forward to warmly welcoming you to DUKES LONDON.”
DUKES HOTEL can cater for a capacity of between 12-60 guests and package prices start from £130 per head for your bespoke intimate wedding.
Are you head over heels with DUKES LONDON?! Visit their Bridebook profile and book a visit today – prepare to be wowed!
Standing tall within a vast deer park fringed by woodland and next to a romantic glassy lake lies Holkham Hall – the perfect place for you and your partner to say “I do” in true regal fashion.
We can guarantee you won’t find another wedding venue quite like Holkham Hall.
This exquisite 18th century Palladian house is set in 25,000 acres of parkland and is steeped in history. In fact, Holkham Hall is classified as being in the top ten most magnificent palaces, houses and castles in England today.
And this one-of-a-kind wedding venue could be all yours for your wedding day.
There are many indoor and outdoor options to choose from when it comes to deciding where you want each part of your big day to take place at Holkham Hall. But our dream wedding at Holkham looks a little something like this…
You approach the magnificent Holkham Hall in a traditional horse and carriage and it’s every bit as spectacular as you remember it. Inside, you know your wedding is waiting to take place.
You step down from the carriage and approach the arched doorway of the great Marble Hall. You pause and compose yourself…
What will you notice first; your guests all turning to face you; your partner standing at the end of the altar before a cascading staircase beautifully illuminated with natural light from the huge arch windows, or will you simply be awed by the abundance of magnificent architecture?
You step into The Marble Hall and are instantly blown away by the enormous, fifty feet high vaulted ceiling, inspired by none other than the Pantheon in Rome. Marble pillars frame this incredible hall; only adding to its grandeur and opulence. Your partner and your guests share in your splendour and are noticeably enamoured by the incredible place you’re graced to be in.
Probably one of the grandest entrance halls in Europe, the Marble Hall delivers a sensory explosion that is bound to leave a lasting impression on both of you and your guests.
Despite the enormity of its beauty and its ability to seat large wedding parties (142 people on the ground floor and 170 people if the side balconies are used) The Marble Hall somehow feels intimate and incredibly private.
You reach your partner and smile; it’s time to speak your vows. Once you’ve sealed your future together with a kiss, it’s time to allow guests the opportunity to say all the things they’ve wanted to say about the venue they’re in.
You decide to hold your wedding reception in The Marble Hall too because this is a space you don’t want to rush out of.
The experienced wedding coordination team have set up trestle tables and ensured champagne is poured and the canapes plated up in time for the reception, so that guests can rise from their seats, collect refreshments and mingle – all without you and your partner even noticing the transition.
After a period of congratulations and chatter about how magnificent Holkham Hall really is, you gather your guests and urge them to move on to the next show-stopping part of your day – promising them it will be worth it.
Your guests are led to the wedding breakfast which is held in the walled garden; a mid-eighteenth century garden boasting a manicured lawn and colourful plant borders – within which you have a glorious marquee designed completely to your taste.
Just so you know…the experienced team of wedding planners at Holkham will recommend the best suppliers to ensure you can find and secure stunning marquees, delicious food, perfect flowers and talented photographers. You design your day exactly as you wish.
Guests step into the beautiful marquee which is twinkling with fairy lights and chandeliers and take a seat in preparation for the bespoke feast you’ve created for them; awaiting the speeches that are bound to make you all laugh and cry.
Just so you know…The Holkham wedding planning team works with several experienced and professional caterers who have been carefully selected for the quality of their food, competitive pricing and friendly and helpful service. You can work with them to build a menu that suits you and your ideas for your big day.
When everyone is suitably full (and probably a little merry) you’ll catch up with friends and family as the wedding breakfast is cleared away; making way for the big wedding party. Night falls and guests begin to find their way to the bar and dancefloor as the DJ or band bring the party to life.
Weddings at Holkham Hall are truly like no other and it’s wonderful to know you’ve stamped your own little piece of history on the place.
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Additional spaces available for wedding hire include:
If you’ve started planning your wedding, you’ll already know that finding your perfect venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make. So with that in mind, here’s our expert guide on how to find the right venue for you.
If you don’t know where to start, have a scroll through Bridebook’s Venue Search. We’ve got the biggest and best wedding venue directory in the UK, so it’s a sure-fire way to find “the one”!
In this video, Bridebook founder (and qualified wedding planner!) Hamish Shephard gives his tips on finding your wedding venue in three easy steps. Whether you’re after initial wedding venue ideas or wondering what questions to ask your wedding venue, this is the video for you.
This day is about you and your partner, and your venue should reflect that! Work together to find a venue that suits both of your tastes. Whether you choose a modern loft, a beach wedding or a grand country house (like Elmore Court, below), make sure it’s what you both want.
Elmore Court, Buckinghamshire
We know, it’s not our most romantic advice – but it is important. And we promise, you can find a gorgeous venue, even on the tightest of budgets! Sit down with your partner and work out how much you want to spend on your venue early on so you know what you’re working with. Need somewhere to start? Your Bridebook has a handy Budget Calculator which will let you know in seconds how much of your budget to spend on your venue.
Rayleigh Windmill, Essex
Where you get married is one of your most important decisions. Between you and your partner, it’s likely there are friends and family spread out across the country (or even the globe!) so choosing the right location is key to making sure as many people as possible can attend. Keep travel connections in mind if you’ve got people coming from far and wide. If you have elderly relatives you’d love to be there, think about how far they can reasonably travel too.
How long is your guest list? Who’s on your A List and who could you do without? Do you want 300 people in attendance or would you rather just have you, your partner and ten close friends? Thinking about how many people will be there and what you want to happen on the day is key to picking the right venue. You don’t want hundreds of people crammed into a space that’s too small for them and the ten-piece band you’ve booked… But you also don’t want fifteen people spread out across an enormous hall.
George Vaults, Kent.
One of the most frequently overlooked elements of any wedding day is the lighting – but we can’t stress how important it is. After all, there’s no point in spending thousands on a gorgeous venue if no one can see it! Make sure to check out what lighting packages the venue offers and whether it will complement the space and work with your wedding theme. If you want a few pointers, our top tip would always be to stay well away from fluorescent and ultraviolet lighting (unless you’re having a glow in the dark wedding, of course!). And if all else fails, explore options for creating your own lighting.
Arnos Vale, Somerset
On your big day, the number one thing you’ll want is for things to run smoothly from dawn until dusk. So do your research! Read reviews and get recommendations of potential venues to make sure you get five-star service.
Sit down with your partner and write a list of non-negotiables. These are your must-haves, the things you and your partner absolutely can’t do without on your wedding day. If you have your heart set on a particular caterer and a venue can’t accommodate that, they’re out. On the other hand, if you decide an ice sculpture is just the thing and they’re willing to make that happen, you might just have found your dream venue!
Duke of York’s Picturehouse, Brighton
You won’t love every venue – but it might just be the venue you least expect that takes your breath away! Even if you think you know what you want, try to keep your mind open to new ideas, themes and locations. You might be surprised at what you find in our directory and how you feel when you visit it. Ever thought about tying the knot in a riverside cabin, at the zoo or in a gorgeous picturehouse?
We can’t stress this enough. Always go and see your top venue choices at least two or three times before you make a decision. There’s no rush to sign on the dotted line, we promise. Take your time because your choice of venue affects every other choice you’ll make.
Holkham House, Norfolk
Okay, so this is something you’ll only know when you feel it. It’s a bit like getting butterflies… It’s the moment you step inside a venue and know it’s perfect. You can see yourself walking down the aisle, you can see yourself surrounded by your loved ones… That’s “the feeling” we’re talking about! And it means you’ve found your venue.
Hopefully, that’s helped get you well on your way to finding your perfect venue! Now you know the basics, you can use Bridebook’s Venue Search to start looking for “the one.” You can filter by name, capacity, type and style, as well as location. You can also use Bridebook for the rest of your wedding planning, including managing your budget, creating your guest list and booking the rest of your wedding team.
It really is the most wonderful time of the year isn’t it.
Crisp mornings, cosy knits and frosted fields have got us all dreaming of a white Christmas and for some, the cold snap may have ignited a desire to plan a winter wedding too – real or imaginary (we’re not here to judge).
But where are the best winter wedding venues hiding? Where in the UK could one find that film-like representation of a winter love scene? Thankfully, we’ve scoured the country to bring you a list of the most magical places.
So grab a mug of something hot and snuggle up by the fire to enjoy our 9 Christmas wedding venue favourites.
The Granary Estates epitomise cosy English interiors and you have the option of choosing between two stunning barns linked by a glass walkway and boasting a private courtyard.
Choosing the large barn for your wedding means that there’s space for a large Christmas tree…
Whilst choosing the smaller space makes for a more cosy, warm and intimate festive affair.
Forego the sweet table and finger food and opt to toast marshmallows over an open fire as you party into the night.
There’s something distinctly ‘Beauty and the Beast’ about Clearwell Castle…
Probably the fact that Clearwell is also a magnificent fairytale castle tucked away in an enchanting forest. Yep – that would be it.
Get lost in the snowy grounds surrounded by nature and historic beauty when you choose to have your Christmas wedding at Clearwell Castle.
Is this how it feels to be inside a Christmas tree?
Crondon Park’s 17th century Baronial Hall is one of Essex’s premier wedding venues and at Christmas time, it sparkles…
We think that the main man himself may reside here during winter months when North Pole pressures get a little too much…
Enjoy the cosiest of winter weddings at the timeless and enchanting Woodhall Manor – a quintessentially English chocolate box of a venue.
Fennes is a storybook winter wedding venue made all the more romantic when surrounded by a thick blanket of white snow.
With its Georgian style architecture, high ceilings and beautifully landscaped gardens you’ll feel privy to a grand and exclusive festive affair.
Bring twinkly stars inside for added winter wedding romance…
This beautiful Georgian mansion looks magnificent dusted in snow…
With its huge sash windows and tall ceilings dripping with chandeliers, you’ll be able to enjoy a high society style wedding with views of frosted nature all around you.
When we think of weddings by the sea, we don’t instantly think of winter weddings by the sea. Brrrrr!
But a Christmas wedding at Ocean Kave looks decidedly dreamy…
Ocean Kave is a luxury coastal wedding venue situated in 60 acres of countryside on the North Devon Coast.
Their intimate, all-weather ceremony venue and purpose built reception suites mean that you could get married in the warmth to the sound of crashing waves and the sight of falling snow.
This imposing 18th Century manor house in Hampshire is light and airy yet beautifully decorated for the festive months.
Look up at the stars from the beautiful reception space – decorated exactly as you wish – and fingers crossed you’ll enjoy some snowy views too.
This stunning 5,000 acre estate in Suffolk is recognised as one of the most beautiful stately homes in Britain. And it isn’t difficult to see why.
Choose a romantic Winter Garden Wedding and you’ll be able to enjoy views of this incredible manor house and its landscape gardens, and keep warm at the same time.
If this list of winter wedding venues has left you wanting more, jingle all the way over to our wedding venues search page, or have a browse of some amazing wedding venues all over the country:
Well what a year it’s been.
Whether you’re eager to see the back of it or are feeling super positive about the changes this year has brought you, the New Year signals a fresh start which means out with the old and in with the new.
As we near the end of 2017 and prepare to welcome a new year steeped in brand new opportunities, it’s time to think about what went well this year and decide what we resolve to do in 2018.
We’ve taken a fair few learnings out of 2017 and it is with this new insight that we bring you our recommendations on where you should be focusing your efforts to win more bookings next year.
Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business – whether you’re large or small, B2B or B2C. Your brand is a promise to future clients that you’re a trustworthy wedding supplier who commits to delivering a certain quality of service, consistently.
Brand should reflect whether you’re a high cost, high quality wedding supplier or a low cost, good value for money one, and potential clients should be able to recognise where your product or service sits on this spectrum.
Resolve to answer these questions in 2018 and ensure that everyone you employ at your wedding company understands your brand attributes and what makes you, you.
To do list: once you’ve defined exactly who you are as a wedding business resolve to build a brand guideline document which details all the key brand attributes your team should be aware of and how these tie in to your business objectives. If you currently work alone, this is still a great exercise and will help remind you of your brand values throughout the year.
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from 2017 it’s that reviews matter. And we mean REALLY matter. Newly engaged couples are clocking up hours researching wedding suppliers like you on the internet, and they’re particularly interested in star ratings and reviews.
You must resolve to ask your most recent clients to leave you a review in 2018 and beyond. Showcasing reviews from over a year ago simply won’t do. Potential clients are looking at dates and relevance – they want to understand who you impressed recently.
Go one step further and ask couples who said no to leaving you a review why they made that decision. Appropriately managing negative reviews or opinions can actually help new potential clients see your wedding business in a positive light as it shows that you care about the opinions of couples you’ve worked with and are always looking to improve.
To do list: set up an alert system whenever you receive a booking from a new client for 1 month after their wedding date. This will remind you to reach out to clients post-wedding and ask for a review once they’ve had time to get over the wedding buzz.
Psst: post reviews on your Bridebook Business profile and secure more new bookings than ever before thanks to increased brand exposure (+40,000 couples to be precise).
Does your wedding business feature on multiple sites and platforms across numerous corners of the web?
Well as long as you’ve been strategic in deciding where to feature your wedding services it’s good that you’re showcasing your brand in various places. However you must ensure that you always keep your information up to date – otherwise this increased presence could be detrimental to business rather than beneficial.
Resolve to ensure that wherever you’re present on the web – that means your website, your Bridebook profile or your social media accounts – that you ensure you’re featuring current photographs in your portfolio, new reviews, accurate pricing information and correct contact details.
Millennial couples will do their research and may check out your Instagram profile, then your Bridebook profile and then your website, so make sure you’re consistent.
To do list: it’s really important that you link between profiles to ensure Google knows you’re all joined up as one wedding business. Make sure you include a link to your website on your Instagram accounts and other profiles.
Wave goodbye to 2017 and welcome in 2018 with these key action points and watch your wedding business flourish in the new year.
What did you learn in 2017 about your wedding business or the industry in general? And how will this affect how you do business in 2018?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And what might make one couple watery eyed and besotted could indeed leave a different couple feeling…well…not very much at all.
But as the wedding industry landscape changes so too do the priorities of wedding planning couples, and whilst we cannot say in absolute terms what will make every bride or groom tick, we can’t ignore the trends we’ve identified whilst working with wedding venues throughout 2017.
Here are five key things that couples want from wedding venues today and key trends you should be aware of going into 2018…
1. Beautiful scenery
Unsurprisingly, couple’s look for impressive landscapes and beautiful backdrops when choosing a wedding venue. Couples want to achieve the wow factor and impress their guests, and they want beautiful scenery to form the background of their wedding photographs.
Now your wedding venue doesn’t have to be a manor house set in rolling countryside to reel in landscape-loving couples; success is dependent on how creative you are with the photography you use to advertise your wedding venue.
Include as much scenery in photographs as you can but if your venue is set in a city centre or has limited surrounding natural beauty make the most of nearby scenic opportunities. If your venue sits adjacent to a beautiful park include photos of a bride and groom there; if a village a few streets away makes for a great backdrop, grab your camera kit and take a few shots there.
It’s all about offering the best your local area has to offer and showing newly engaged couples what their wedding photos could look like should they choose your venue. You’re the expert of your local area so make your landscape work for you
2. Couples are willing to spend more for perfection
Couples are certainly still cost conscious but the majority are also more willing now than ever before to stretch their budget if you can offer them their perfect wedding venue.
And what makes your wedding venue perfect for each couple is heavily based on your ability to be flexible and offer each couple the opportunity to customise your venue to suit their big day.
You should focus on selling your space and ideas of how the couple in question could utilise different areas of your venue in different ways.
Empty rooms won’t get couples excited so if you can’t set up a demonstration of how their wedding could look be sure to talk through ideas and show photographs of rooms decorated for previous weddings.
Be sure to let couples know that they can decorate and transform your space to suit them – personalising lots of little elements to make their big day truly unique to them.
Tip: Be transparent with your pricing. Couples are willing to spend more if you’re open, honest and work with them to build a wedding package that fits. List your pricing parameters and share photographs and details of wedding open days at your venue on your Bridebook profile for free to attract more couples in 2018.
3. Photographs of real weddings at your venue
One of the most important marketing tools at your disposal are photographs of real couples and real weddings held at your venue.
Couples want to see examples of how weddings look and how certain spaces are used. This helps them to imagine their own wedding day at your venue which in turn, makes it much more likely that they’ll choose to book with your venue.
[Old Thorns Manor Hotel, Golf & Country Estate]
Getting hold of these kinds of photographs is largely dependent on you forging good relationships with local photographers. Strike up a deal in which you promise to include the photographer on your preferred supplier list in exchange for access to a handful of the photo’s they take for each wedding held at your venue. Or take your own photographs with a good quality camera and ask permission from the couple to use them after the wedding.
Tip: choose a photograph of your favourite real wedding to use as your Bridebook profile photo and show newly engaged couples what they could have if they chose to get married at your wedding venue.
4. The bar is a big deal
It’s no secret that us Brits know how to have a good time (ahem…drink). So it should come as no surprise to learn that bars are important business. Couples are more interested in having well stocked open bars at their wedding now more than ever before.
Ensure your wedding venue advertises a good bar space and include various examples and creative options on how to dress the bar and make it into a fantastic feature of the evening.
Couples are loving signature cocktails so include this as an option, and advertise a qualified mixologist as part of your bar package to wow couples and their guests. The bar is evening entertainment in itself.
5. Indoor / outdoor wedding options
Couples are loving the idea of outdoor weddings but unfortunately, the UK climate isn’t really best placed to reassure us that this is always possible!
Being able to offer both indoor and outdoor spaces to newly engaged couples is really important and could mean the difference between you securing a booking or not.
Work with whatever outdoor space you have to offer – whether a large lawn or a rooftop deck – and showcase photographs of the space being used for weddings on your website, on your Bridebook profile and on all marketing materials.
If you’ve not got any outdoor space to offer, try bringing a little of the outdoor indoors! Adorn your wedding reception rooms with bundles of floral arrangements and hanging plants to show how romantic flowers indoors can be as beautiful as anything anyone else has to offer outdoors.
Now you know what couples look for in wedding venues today, make sure you’re marketing your assets in the right way to attract more couples and secure more bookings in 2018.
Have you identified any other trends in couples searching for wedding venues this year? Share your feedback in the comment section below.
They’ve always been man’s best friend but the integration of dogs in everyday (human) life is ever increasing, and we’re seeing cuddly canines pop up everywhere; online, in marketing and in advertising campaigns for all kinds of organisations and across all kinds of industries.
And the wedding industry is no exception.
Our furry favourites now have their own Instagram accounts
And they’re being used to market all types of products and occasions quite simply because they’re pretty darn irresistible and are more likely to attract people’s attention.
Check out all of those #dog inspired hashtags used by Blenheim Palace!
And who could ignore the latest addition to the Hedsor House family?! Almost 800 people couldn’t
More and more couples are including their pets in their weddings and it’s time for you, as a forward-thinking, business savvy wedding supplier, to take advantage of the opportunity this presents in helping you market your business.
Dogs make you look. And look again. They grab our attention and they make us feel. Emotions and memories stay with people; they’ll remember your wedding venue or service in association with that oh so gorgeous picture of a pretty pooch.
It’s no surprise that many couples opt to include their pets in their weddings. I mean, is there anything more adorable than a ring-bearing dog?
We’re a nation of dog lovers so try not to isolate the couples who’re set on including their dog in their wedding day,
If you’re concerned about ‘dogs on the loose’ potentially damaging your wedding venue why not insist that couples use a dog sitter? You could even partner up with one so that they’re on hand for you to recommend to couples.
Tip – a good selling point when asking couples to use a dog sitter is to explain that the sitter is primarily there to make sure that the dog has enough time to develop a level of comfort around guests, and that the sitter is there to act as your pet’s guide.
A dog sitter is responsible for bringing the pet to the ceremony, taking him home after and watching him during the reception so you’ve really very little to worry about.
Hockering House welcome dogs at their ceremonies – who doesn’t love a dog walking down the aisle:
As a photographer, you’ll want to be prepared to capture pets in action so ask couples in advance whether they’re doing anything special on their big day – like inviting pets along. It also means that you can brainstorm fun photo ideas for your clients and their beloved dogs.
Pets play such an important role in a couple’s life and for many ‘pet parents’, family festivities such as weddings would not be complete without their involvement.
As a result, it’s becoming more common for couples to include their furry companions in their wedding day. So as wedding suppliers, you should consider how to cater for pups at your wedding venue or incorporate them in your business plans to ensure your wedding services appeal to a wider audience of dog loving couples.
What do you think about the idea of dogs at weddings? Total pawfect or a no go?
We’re dreaming of a white Christmas. And with that, we’re also wishing for a successful snowy season for you and your wedding business.
But why rest your dreamy head in the wintry clouds when you can create your own winter wedding success and secure seasonal bookings?
On the twelfth day of Christmas my wed-pro gave to me…
…“twelve excellent tips on how to make your wedding business stand out over the Christmas period.”
Ok so our version of that crimbo song may not have the same ring to it but our advice is worth its weight in gold.
We’re gifting you with twelve tips on how to make winter weddings your thing so that you can build a dream vision of your wedding services and attract couples dreaming of a winter wedding.
1. Wedding venues – carry a camera (or a photographer!) with you everywhere.
The weather is unpredictable and you never know when those flakes of snow may fall or when you’ll catch a newlywed couple snuggled by your venue’s roaring fire over a steaming mug of mulled wine. Christmas 2017 is a wonderful time to capture sparkly moments that you can advertise on your website, and appeal to couples hoping to get married in the winter of 2018.
2. Wedding photographers – do what you do best.
We don’t have to tell you what makes an inspiring winter wedding photo – you’re the experts. But as winter weddings aren’t yet as popular as fair weather weddings, take a look at the world around you and capture the season itself if you’ve no winter weddings booked to photograph.
Showcase a gallery of frosted flowers, iced lakes and mugs of hot mulled wine and cinnamon sticks by a fireplace to draw in attention from winter wedding loving couples. You need to sell a story to capture hearts.
3. Wedding florists – stick to seasonal flowers.
Upload shots of berry bouquets and holly adorned garlands to your social accounts and website. Think brides in fur boleros holding frosted flowers in the snow and sell your services visually.
4. Wedding caterers – create seasonal menus.
What winter warmers can you conjure up to offer prospective couples before they’ve even thought about exactly what they’re after? Whether you’re a fresh produce and wholesome food provider or an elegant a la carte caterer, now is the time to be creative with your culinary skills and whip up winter menus that no other wedding supplier could rival.
5. Winter wedding cakes
if you specialise in making beautiful wedding cakes make sure you’re not seasonally biased! Present photographs of your wonderful winter collections of cakes on your website to show how versatile your skill set is and how dreamy winter wedding cakes can be.
6. Wedding transport
If you’re in the specialist business of wedding transport make sure you’re optimising your website to get to the top of google results for all sorts of specific terms, including phrases such as “winter wedding transport”.
7. Wedding decorations
Between November and January wedding venues should build a festive atmosphere to really set the scene for winter wedding lovers. Make a real statement and create a winter wonderland of your very own; transporting couples to a Christmassy world adorned with fairy lights and scented cinnamon candles.
8. Wedding planning
Although wedding planners are typically behind the scenes you should absolutely boast about the weddings you’ve helped plan on your website. Optimise your site for wedding planner searches by season.
Did you know long tail keyword searches are one of the best ways to target smaller but more engaged audiences? Try including phrases like “wedding planning for winter weddings” and ask permission to use photographs of winter weddings you’re particularly proud of.
9. Wedding entertainment
Bands and musicians…why not include a couple of christmas favourites on your playlist or share on facebook? Who knows; your rendition of the Pogues, Fairytale of New York, could help you win the hearts of a newly engaged couple keen on a festive affair!
10. Wedding dress
The perfect winter wedding dress is stylish, demure and elegant but with practical elements to keep the bride warm. A faux fur throw is always a great winter addition but could you offer something different? Be daring and creative with your winter bridal wear collection and turn heads for all the right reasons! Dress your shop front to reflect the change in season and make sure your website showcases the best in winter bridal wear.
11. Wedding accessories
Remember to invest in a new collection of closed toe shoes for your wedding boutique in winter, and it may be worth investing in a few pairs of white wellies to ensure you’re offering an ‘all eventualities covered’ one-stop-shop for brides. Sparkly hair decorations work particularly well in winter as do velvet headbands decorated with crystals or feathers.
12. Wedding makeup
Winter makeup can be a much more enjoyable affair than summer makeup, as makeup artists need not worry about the bride sweating off her foundation and more! Embrace the colder seasons and show your talents for fair foundations with peachy pink blushed cheeks, icy tones for eye makeup and a bold red romantic lip. Show your best season makeup trends on your wedding website.
This winter is your chance to show couples getting married next year how well you cater to winter weddings and how beautiful and romantic a frosty affair in the UK can be!
The greatest gift of all is love….however why shouldn’t you have some lovely new things for your home to go with all that happiness?!
Our friends at The Wedding Shop share their tried and tested tips to help you create your dream gift list.
“When looking around your home it can be hard to see the need for a twelve piece dinner set or additional glassware. However, it’s good to remember that your gifts are bought by your loved ones to mark the start of your new married life together and will build the foundation for your future home. So, pick gifts that are going to stand the test of time and that you will cherish in years to come. You won’t regret it, even if your other half does grumble about storage space!” – Jade
“You will be so surprised at how generous your guests are, so make sure you have added enough so that your guests don’t run out of options to choose from. It is also good to pick gifts at different price points so that everyone can buy you something you’ll love, regardless of their budget.” – Alice
“Don’t be afraid to add something that you absolutely love but that comes with a large price tag, such as furniture or a piece of art. Group gifting lets your guests contribute as much as they wish towards a statement piece and if it doesn’t get fully purchased you can move your funds to make up the remaining cost.” – Lara
“Guests like to know they are contributing to something special and personal to you. So the most important thing is to have fun choosing gifts that you absolutely love. Don’t feel you need to choose just practical gifts or gifts you think your guests want to buy. Your quirky picks are what makes your gift list completely unique to you.” – Melissa
“Even if you only really want cash, we suggest adding physical gifts to your list too. Guests always prefer the choice of both. Your list is the perfect opportunity to update and upgrade your tired home essentials, so there will always be something that you need. When it comes to creating your cash funds, be specific. Guest like to know exactly what their contributions are going towards and what you have planned for the cash.” – Ryma
And if you haven’t picked a gift list yet, be sure to visit Bridebook’s wedding gift list comparison!
And why not check out the exclusive Bridebook Shop here!
The Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards 2018 are here! Whether you’re a fairytale castle or an alternative wedding dress designer, a self-trained florist or a french pastry chef, you’re all eligible to be recognised for the incredible work that you do in the British wedding industry.
The Bridebook.co.uk Wedding Awards 2018 gives all of our venues and suppliers the opportunity to win a prestigious Certificate of Excellence, and to be crowned the 2018 Winner in your respective category. The awards are free to enter. To do so, you simply need to collect reviews from your 2017 couples on your Bridebook profile. The Awards close on December 15th, so be sure to start collecting your reviews if you haven’t already! (Find your profile, under your respective category here).
Read on below for all the details you need and more…
Have any questions? Check our frequently asked questions below! If you can’t find the answer you are looking for below, you can email [email protected] directly.
What are the Bridebook Wedding Awards 2018?
The Bridebook Wedding Awards are our chance to shout from the rooftops about the amazing work done by Bridebook wedding venues and suppliers. From exceptional couple’s service, to jaw-dropping creativity, we’re lucky to be part of a world that just overflows with passionate and talented business owners. The annual Bridebook Wedding Awards is our way of sharing this enthusiasm!
This year’s Awards will be centered around reviews from real couples who tied the knot in 2017. Certificates of Excellence will be awarded according to the number of positive reviews for each supplier, and the Winners will be selected by a panel of expert judges from those suppliers. Read on below for the full details!
When are the Awards running?
The Awards will count all reviews made by 2017 couples or their family members up until 11:59pm on the 15th of December, after which any new reviews will not be counted.
The 2018 Certificate holders and the overall Winners will be announced on February 15th, 2018.
How can I enter the Awards?
We have good news – it’s completely FREE to take part! All registered Bridebook suppliers will be eligible to be awarded a Certificate and be considered for 2018 winner titles. By having no cost associated, we ensure that all suppliers can be represented and have the chance for recognition.
How do I get reviews?
Need a little guidance to get things started? Here’s our suggestions for the best way to gather those reviews and to move you one step closer to getting the recognition you deserve!
And don’t forget, for the reviews to count they must be made directly on your Bridebook profile.
How are the Bridebook Certificates of Excellence awarded?
The Certificates of Excellence are designed to recognise and celebrate suppliers who have contributed to the wedding industry with exemplary service, regardless of their size or the amount of weddings they complete in a year.
How are the supplier category winners chosen?
Each supplier category will have one 2018 Winner. (The only exception to this will be for venues, where each UK region will have one winner.)
Judging Process:
What can I win?
Certificate Winner:
If you qualify to be a recipient of one of Bridebook’s Certificates of Excellence you will be provided with a custom badge to proudly display on both your website and your Bridebook profile. Being a holder of such a badge will also boost your profile standing in the Bridebook listing. With your badge and a boosted Bridebook listing, Certificate winners can expect a lot more attention, more couples, more bookings, and more quality business leads for you! You will also receive a printable digital copy of your Certificate of Excellence to display with pride.
Venue & Supplier Category Winner:
2018 Winners will receive a personalised grand trophy to display at work or at home, a badge to display across your online channels, a boosted Bridebook listing and exclusive social media exposure to Bridebook’s 300,000+ followers!
How do you keep the awards fair?
One of our main priorities is to ensure all venues and suppliers feel that the Awards are a fair and exciting experience. Having taken on board feedback from last year’s Awards, we have decided to give the customers the say. Who better else to be the judges than the couples themselves!
Other efforts include having the Awards free and open to all venues and suppliers (not just those that pay an entry fee), just like how Bridebook is free to be listed on, ensuring all aspects of the wedding industry are fairly represented. Bridebook also has proprietary algorithms in place to check for suspicious activity on all reviews and will be implementing a thorough verification plan upon completion.
Which reviews count?
How do you make sure the reviews are authentic?
Bridebook has taken a number of steps to ensure only authentic reviews are shared, including:
If your query isn’t answered in the information above, don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] and we’ll do our upmost to assist you!
In recent years, wedding technology has advanced somewhat and we’re seeing pioneering businesses lead the way with innovative new ideas on how to make the wedding experience, even more, WOW for next-gen couples.
This is largely in response to millennial couples expecting technology to play a big part in their wedding day (as well as in the planning and research phase of their wedding journey) now more than ever before.
1. Something old something new
We’re not the only wedding business to have detected a surge in the popularity of online invitations between 2016 and 2017, and sending digital invites has become normal custom for many younger wedding planning couples in particular.
In 2018 we’re expecting to see a resurgence of the physical invitation but with a modern ‘techy’ twist.
We predict that on pretty printed wedding invitations, couples will start to ask guests to download an app and scan their personal invite to RSVP, or at the very least, visit their wedding website to respond.
2018 is going to be all about streamlining and efficiencies. Couples want to keep their weddings personal but also make their own lives easier, hence the decision to collect RSVPs all in one place – online.
For wedding stationery suppliers in need of a little inspiration, Interactive Wedding Invitations is a UK based wedding supplier that specialises in making real wedding invitations come to life.
2. Virtual wedding planning
Wedding industry experts expect couples in 2018 to go fully mobile with their wedding plans, using platforms like Bridebook to help them plan their big day.
Millennials want to be able to plan their wedding on the go and have access to all the information they need there and then – right at their fingertips.
According to a Forbes article on tech trends that will shake up content marketing in 2018, 69% of digital media engagement happens on mobile platforms across all industries right now.
Experts predict a continued increase in the entire wedding planning process happening online and we’ll begin to see more and more wedding suppliers developing processes and systems to facilitate this change in behaviour.
3. Photo apps will become the norm
We’re seeing more couples choosing to use photo sharing apps for their wedding day in addition to (not instead of) a professional photographer.
Photo apps like Scripin, mean that guests can be actively involved in the happy couple’s wedding day -taking photos and videos, sharing them with all the other guests in one simple and easy to use app, that you can download after your wedding so you get the complete picture!
4. 3D wedding planning designs
We’ll soon wave goodbye to loose conversations about reception layouts and colour scheme blends because 3D design tools that help couples virtually design and plan their reception rooms and then explore them in 3D are coming in 2018.
These tools do already exist and are becoming increasingly popular within the US wedding industry, so we predict they’ll be crossing the pond into the UK very soon.
These design tools enable couples, suppliers and venues to collaborate in an interactive, real-time way to create beautiful layouts and styles within the room specified.
Couples simply drag and drop wedding themed items into their real wedding venue or a template venue created to the exact measurements of the real deal.
They can then start designing how their day will look – making it almost impossible for wedding suppliers to misinterpret a couple’s requests and in turn, reassuring the couple that everything they’ve chosen works well together.
We expect to see future wedding technology trends build from this idea, and have seen similar examples of virtual wedding planning support in the form of Brookfield Barn which offers 3D virtual tours of their facilities on their website – helping couples and suppliers work together throughout the planning stage without having to actually visit the venue in person.
5. Hidden action cameras
Expect to see GoPro’s in brides’ bouquets, in vicar or registrars’ top pockets, in brides’ hair, on pets walking down the aisle, and even on bottles of alcohol and disco balls!
As a wedding photographer, get creative and go one step further than offering drones. Incorporate action cameras as part of your premium wedding day packages and impress the couples you work with in 2018.
6. GIF Photobooth
We’re seeing the already very popular wedding photobooth give way to the GIF booth in 2018.
A GIF booth captures a selection of around 3-5 photos and then automatically animates them into a GIF that is instantly shareable there and then. The booth also provides printouts of the single shots as well so you still get all the benefits of the original wedding photo booth.
7. 3D Printing
3D printing is nothing new but we predict an increase in popularity as 3D printing helps facilitate some truly unique and special ideas such as 3D Wedding Cake Toppers of the actual bride and groom (both humorous and personal!) and 3D Wedding Cake projections.
Couples will start to experiment with printed cake designs and personalised 3D projections to make their wedding cake come to life.
This process is unique and requires a lot of time but the results are stunning
8. Social will play an even bigger role
Couples will continue to find new ways to integrate technology into their wedding day plans; adopting things like custom Snapchat geofilters.
This year, we’ve also seen more wedding venues offering live streaming as a service in wedding packages, indicating a shift toward incorporating social and tech into standardised wedding packages.
Whilst we don’t think anyone expects all wedding suppliers to tick all the techy boxes any time soon, it’s important to keep abreast of industry developments to ensure you’re not lagging behind.
What technological advances do you think will hit the UK wedding industry in 2018?
Will your wedding business be investing in a techy upgrade next year?
Where do quality wedding enquiries come from? Well isn’t that the million dollar question.
Whether you’re inundated with wedding enquiries of a mixed quality or are struggling to get enough leads to your inbox, it would be pretty handy to know exactly where you should be focusing your efforts and resources to guarantee the best quality enquiries, wouldn’t it?
Well we’re here to tell you that if you can invest a little more time in being strategic in your approach to lead generation and begin to build insights around your target audience’s behaviours you could very quickly streamline your marketing efforts so that they focus on the channels that bring YOU your best enquiries.
Before we look at where you can find quality enquiries you must first determine what you consider to be a high quality enquiry for your wedding business.
We use a traffic light system to categorise the types of enquiries we typically receive and to determine where they fit in our priority list. This helps us to decide where to allocate our resource.
Here’s what a traffic light system could look like for your business:
Green = newly engaged couples with a wedding date, location and budget in mind
Amber = couples who seem to be contacting many suppliers to ‘get a feel’ for what is on offer
Red = secret shoppers or individuals reluctant to give you much information about themselves
Once you’ve established what a good lead looks like for your business it’s time to go through your enquiry database from the past few months or year (depending on the volume of enquiries you’ve received – you should ensure you’re working with a large enough sample size) and organise your enquiries into categories to see which channel has been working well for you historically, over the short-medium term.
It is important not to entirely dismiss a channel that appears to be delivering lower quality enquiries unless the volume for that channel is also very low.
High volume enquiry channels mean exposure. You’re getting noticed. These channels are worth closer inspection to see if there’s anything you could be doing to filter your enquiries further and ensure only the ‘Green’ enquiries make it through to your inbox.
This is the formula we use to help us decide how to approach each channel, post enquiry analysis:
High volume, low quality = opportunity
High volume, high quality = lead gold
Low volume, high quality = opportunity
Low volume, low quality = dead wood
The ‘lead gold’ channels are the ones you simply cannot do without and they’re the ones that are already working well for you. Take a closer look at these channels and make sure you’re doing all you can to make sure they continue to work well for you.
The ‘opportunity’ channels are there for your exploration. You’ll need to invest time and effort into optimising your business presence on these channels in an attempt to generate higher quality leads and filter out the Red enquiries altogether. Make sure you set yourself a deadline to revisit and re-measure the success or failure of ‘opportunity’ channels. You should be looking for short-medium term improvements in their performance to justify your resources being invested there.
The ‘dead wood’ channels are those that have consistently delivered poor quality leads and disappointing volumes for a prolonged period of time. You should cut your losses with these channels and allocate your resources elsewhere, where they’ll be more impactful.
Company website
Your website should be a high quality enquiry generator. It will most probably fall within the lower volume, high quality category which means there’s a definite opportunity to work on optimising your website and increasing traffic to it.
And more relevant traffic to your website means more, high quality leads.
Tip: read Using local SEO to attract local brides and grooms.
Social media
Social media is a tricky medium to call in terms of predicted success rate as it depends entirely on your objective for each social channel.
Many wedding professionals find Linked In is great for networking with fellow suppliers but it’s certainly not a channel for attracting couples.
Facebook and Instagram are probably the best two social platforms for attracting newly engaged couples however actually generating quality enquiries on social platforms is tough.
The fundamental nature of social media is that of fast content consumption and skim reading behaviour, and your messages are broadcast to a vast, broad audience which means it’s a lot trickier to use social channels as lead generation platforms.
Social media is better placed as an attraction tool – helping your wedding business improve local exposure so that couples want to find out more about your wedding business rather than make an instant enquiry off of the back of a social post.
Wedding directories
It is commonly believed that enquiries coming through third party websites such as wedding directories are of poorer quality and that couples enquiring through these channels are just looking for discounts and cheaper suppliers, regardless of whether they’re professional or not.
This kind of stereotyping is harmful, as it deprives many wedding pro’s of an excellent opportunity to benefit from a high volume of quality leads. As mentioned above, where high volume is concerned there is at the very least an opportunity to receive excellent quality enquiries if you approach featuring on wedding directories in the correct way.
Choose the right third party platform. A UK based platform such as Bridebook focuses on location based searches to ensure couples searching for wedding suppliers are shown the most relevant wedding companies possible. This is good for couples and it’s good for you.
Most wedding planning platforms are free for suppliers to register with. You can feature your wedding business on Bridebook completely free which means the risk associated with receiving what you deem to be a low quality lead is minimised because you’re not actually paying anything for it.
Optimise your business profile by adding tons of relevant information about your wedding services, location, pricing and reviews. This is likely to get you noticed in search, help filter out any time wasters and ensure you only receive informed enquiries from couples with real intent to book your wedding services.
If we could ask our readers to take away one key thing from this article it would be to remember that your business is unique and that what works for you may be very different to what works for a fellow wedding supplier.
Of course, sharing tips between wedding pro’s is helpful but be sure not to let preconceived ideas about certain channels discourage you from trying them out.
As long as you adopt a strategic approach to identifying which channels work best for your wedding business and you ensure that your wedding business has a presence where your potential clients are hanging out, you can’t go far wrong.
Remember, millennial couples behave differently to the generations before them and you need to be where they are. This generation of newly engaged couples will browse wedding services and suppliers on multiple platforms. They will do their research and use tools such as Bridebook to ensure they’re getting the best supplier for the best value.
It’s now up to you to be strategic in your approach to choosing where to feature your wedding business. Be where your audience are and provide tons of useful information to filter out the ‘Q&A via email’ process.
Do these things and you’ll snare the highest quality enquiries in the wedding industry.
Working as part of a small team can have big perks – both for employers and employees.
We all have to start somewhere and it’s reassuring to know that even companies like Apple and Facebook would have started with a handful of experts before growing to employ hundreds of thousands of people all across the world.
What we do know first hand is that having a small, quality team of skilled, engaged and motivated employees beats having a large team. But knowing how to keep that team engaged, motivated and productive is the key to making sure your small team delivers big results for your wedding business.
Here are five ways to get the most out of a small team…
1. Hiring the right people
Being selective with who you employ is paramount for a company or team of any size but hiring the right people is even more crucial for small teams. And the right person isn’t necessarily the one with perfect experience.
Ensuring that a new members personality fits your wedding company culture is key as you’ll need new additions to be hard working, ready to get stuck in with all manner of tasks and able to thrive in a small team environment.
You’ll need to make sure that you’re hiring a people person too. The wedding industry is a public facing one so personality is key.
The impact of hiring the wrong person can spread throughout the entire team quickly and it can negatively affect the performance of your wedding business.
2. Cultivate a culture of respect
The benefits and challenges of a small team are that you’ll be spending a pretty significant proportion of your lives together. This can result in a close team with great relationships but it can also mean frustrations and disruptions are likely.
By encouraging all employees in your small team to have respect not only for each other but for the business, you maximise the chances of developing a professional yet relaxed environment for all team members to flourish in.
Boundaries are important when small teams become good friends as well as colleagues.
Be sure to arrange team building events to show you support relationship development but be clear that work time and down time are two separate things. And make sure to include all team members in decision making – giving everyone a voice by holding regular team catch ups and encouraging an open forum of discussion and idea sharing.
3. Ensure clearly defined roles and responsibilities
It is especially important that you ensure everyone is clear about their tasks and responsibilities within a small team. This prevents people stepping on each others toes and competing within close proximity. That isn’t to say that you should discourage collaboration on certain tasks; simply ensure that day to day tasks don’t overlap between colleagues for more streamlined operational efficiencies.
4. Invest in learning
Having a smaller team means that you can invest more time and money in helping them develop and grow as individuals. Offer to send employees on training courses or to wedding industry conferences and they will become valuable assets to your business.
5. Ensure your people have fun and a good work-life balance
Encourage your team members to have lives outside of work and you’ll enjoy the benefits of happier team members who spend less time doing a better job than someone who’s burnt out and demotivated.
Be sure to celebrate successes and arrange fun activities as a team to acknowledge a job well done.
A small team can be as successful (or even more) as a large team as long as they’re managed in the right way.
In a small team, each team member has even more responsibility in ensuring your wedding business is successful; so hire well, reward right and ensure everyone pulls their weight, and you’ll pride yourself on having the best team in the industry.
Start with good people and success will follow.
Did you know that Targeted Account selling is now recognised as the number one approach in lead generation by successful wedding suppliers?
Targeted Account management – or taking a strategic approach towards developing relationships and partnerships with specific companies or industry heavyweights – is being hailed as a game changer in B2B marketing for 2018.
For suppliers, the wedding industry has long been centred on winning customers in the form of engaged couples. And whilst this is still the case, 2017 has seen a surge in wedding professionals choosing to focus more of their time on developing relationships with other wedding suppliers and wedding venues instead.
The benefits of referrals and preferred supplier lists is only really just beginning to be capitalised upon by UK wedding companies.
However the success of these partnering relationships is so significant that we predict business and bookings in 2018 will be driven largely by B2B relationships and targeted account selling and management.
Targeted Account selling is based on you identifying the very best potential customers for your product or service, and then spending time, efforts and resources on targeting that audience with personalised messages and communications.
It’s about being proactive in your approach to securing new wedding bookings rather than being reactive to enquiries that come through to your inbox.
This means building strategic B2B marketing objectives into your marketing plan – be that partnering with wedding venues, forging mutually beneficial referral relationships with other wedding suppliers, spending more time networking and even speaking at events and exhibitions.
Your key accounts will be the ones that generate the most bookings for your business and in accordance with Pareto’s 80:20 rule, you should spend more time (80%) on the smaller proportion of clients (20%) that bring you the most business (80%).
1. Take your time and do your research
Learn as much as you can about local wedding venues and local wedding suppliers.
Do your research before approaching potential partner suppliers and find out who the decision maker is for the wedding venue or organisation you’re approaching.
You should have the name/s of one or two people you want to reach out to when discussing preferred supplier lists and referral agreements – don’t settle for sending a generic email to a generic address.
Swot up on all kinds of information about the wedding pro’s you’re targeting. What have they announced recently on their website? Which events have they attended or sponsored?
The key is to know more about your targets than your competitors do so that you leave a lasting impression and come across as professional, personable and knowledgeable.
2. Be clear and persistent in your communication
If at first you don’t succeed…
Reaching target wedding suppliers and receiving even an initial response may take multiple attempts, and whilst you should persist to get noticed be sure that each communication is clear, simple and focused, not harried.
The content and medium of communication should vary for each attempt you make at contact. Try emailing your target once then following up with a phone call before reverting to another email with new content. If that doesn’t work, perhaps try attending a local event or researching where the wedding venue or supplier may be exhibiting.
Be creative with your communication attempts and develop a system that works for you.
3. Prepare your marketing material in advance
When you hear back from your target account contact they’re likely to want to arrange a meeting with you, and knowing the wedding industry as well as we do, that meeting is likely to take place pretty quickly.
Make sure you’re ready to accept their meeting invitation by pre-preparing marketing materials ahead of time.
Prepare standardised questions that you can tailor to suit each wedding supplier as well as your portfolio of works, and have a think about any referral fees, rates and USP’s you can sell to partner suppliers that might work as an added bonus to them working with you (e.g. a successful blog you own or awards you’ve won that position you as an industry leader).
Wedding suppliers – start building an account list today so that you can focus your sales and marketing efforts in the right place and on the right people in 2018 and beyond.
Target Account selling is a structured, repeatable methodology that enables you to efficiently build a network of distribution channels – that is, suppliers and wedding venues who will market your services to their audiences to help you win more bookings.
This Targeted Account approach will help you reduce marketing costs and rely less on more resource heavy avenues such as online advertising.
Partnerships and referrals are a surefire way to earn the trust of engaged couples and are one of the best ways to win new business in an era of savvy consumers.
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