Choosing the perfect...... wedding venue

The other day, a friend asked me which wedding venue I’d recommend in their local area.

As a wedding planner, I am familiar with quite a few venues and it’s really easy to just list all the beautiful ones that look good and have capacity for the number of guests you are inviting. But for me, the perfect wedding venue has to have so much more.

You might have an idea in your mind that you want to get married in a particular style of venue. You might like the idea of a barn reception, or saying ‘I do’ in a Highland castle for example. Maybe you’ve got your eye on an English country manor house. But take it from me, there’s more to choosing the right venue than just looking at the bricks and mortar.

The Bingham Hotel, Richmond, Surrey

http://www.helenjonesphotography.co.uk/

For me, it’s mostly about the people.

Everyone you come into contact with at the venue will be critical to your enjoyment of the day, so it’s really important to choose one with exceptional customer service.

Depending on the size of venue, you will often come across several of the venue’s staff. Larger venues have sales staff that show you round, talk you through the benefits of a wedding at their venue and eventually take your booking. Different staff from the operational team will then manage your wedding day. Smaller venues are likely to have one or two people who cover off both these areas.

My advice would be to spend some time at the venue beforehand to get a real feel for the people. If you are thinking about having a civil ceremony and reception at a hotel for instance, book a meal or an overnight stay well in advance so that you can sample the customer service for yourself.

Is the receptionist courteous? If you’ve been for a visit once or twice, do they recognise you and welcome you personally? How is the service at dinner? Was the food inspirational and well prepared? Do the staff smile and look happy? All these things will impact on your day.

Bisham Abbey in Buckinghamshire

http://www.lordandleverett.com/

I’ve been married for nearly a decade now. My husband and I return to our wedding venue every year. Why? Well, the staff at the hotel were true professionals in the run up to our big day and were nothing but outstanding on the day itself. We remember their amazing hospitality and I can hand-on-heart say that they have been consistently outstanding every year since.

If ‘customer service’ features highly on your list too, you might be interested to know that in the coming months I will be revealing some of my favourite wedding venues that tick this all important box.

A lakeside wedding venue with character

We were recently approached by the owners of Bellows Mill to take on the role of Wedding Co-ordinator at their beautiful wedding venue which is perfectly situated for Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire brides.

Bellows Mill is an idyllic old watermill nestling beneath the Chiltern hills and is a really stunning location for an English country wedding.  It has an attractively converted barn which can accommodate up to 60 people for a civil ceremony, and for larger weddings of up to 120 people, there's a marquee which sits beside a pretty lake.  The beautiful and extensive grounds provide the most perfect photographic opportunities.

We love this venue because with no staff, no fixed menus and no set ideas, you can build your wedding from scratch and shape the day you really want - with my expert guidance of course.  What could be more perfect than that?

If you would like to see it for yourself, or to check on availability, please give me a call on 01296 663 726 and together we can start to make your wedding dreams a reality.

Favourite Wedding Venues...Shendish Manor

A piece about some of our favourite venues is well overdue on this blog.  We've been privileged enough to work at some really stunning ones, so writing about them all is just a matter of time.  We thought we'd kick off with one that we saw only today.  It was the perfect day to see it, as the sun has been shining here in this part of Hertfordshire for a full 8 hours or more!

Here are our thoughts on Shendish Manor. 

You kind of have to ignore the drive to the venue, if we are truthful, as Apsley and Hemel Hempstead aren't that easy on the eye. (For us anyway!) Don't let that cloud your judgement though, as once you turn off the main road and the Manor greets you at the end of a long driveway, it really is a pretty sight. 

The house itself is steeped in history.  The origins of the Shendish name go back to Norman times, when William the Conqueror’s brother is believed to have sub-let the farmhouse which was on the site to a Ralf de Chenduit, whose surname gradually became corrupted over time to the current Shendish pronunciation.

In 1853 it was acquired by Charles Longman who demolished farmhouse and built the present Shendish Manor.  In the first world war it was used an army camp.  Now it's a gorgeous venue for weddings and other events.

We liked the whole feel of the place.  It felt intimate, even though the newer part of the venue has a capacity of 350 people!

We particularly loved the gardens.  As we said earlier, the sun was shining and that always helps, but the grounds were absolutely stunning with mature trees, old brick walls, and a beautiful Gazebo which is licensed for outdoor ceremonies.  If you are hunting for a venue with the option of getting married outdoors, this one is certainly worth a look!  Tell them Clare Beckwith sent you!