Feeling deflated and like I'll never find a venue for our budget.

Hi Guys

I visted Sopwell house today and we both didn't like it, I felt like crying because they just about fitted into our budget, had the date we wanted and everything.

Our budget is between £5000-£5500 for the ceremony, sit-down meal (60 guests) and 80 in the evening. We could maybe stretch to £6000. Need a weekend day and in the summer months in 2010.

We want our wedding to look classy and individual, we don't get that feeling from any of the hotels we visited inc. Sopwell. It just feels like a conference event with so many people wandering about and other weddings going on.

I'm really down and I'm desperate to find a venue for our budget, any advice on affordable venues we are open to any where in Herts, Beds, Bucks or London.

Thanks

Shimmena

Im no where near London but my venue is a lovely place, and its costing just under 4000 for 80 to wedding breakfast and 140 on the evening. Although we are getting married at a church. We have the whole building to ourselves as it is set apart from the hotel, just a 2 minute walk across the green.

We were thr same as you, we thought we'd never find anywhere to our budget and dreaded the thought of having to skip the breakfast and get married late afternoon and just have a buffet.

Keep looking, Im sure you will find somewhere x

Hi Moonpig25

Thanks, I know we will find somewhere but you know how it can get you down at times when each quote is hitting £4-5 thousand over the budget!

Yours sounds lovely I hope we find somewhere soon...

Speak soon

Shimmena x

Have you tried the list of venues here on Hitched? Also might also be worth contacting registrars in the areas you are looking at, they have a list of all the venues with wedding licences, your budget should be achievable,and there are loads of ways of saving money just ask the brides on here they are experts!

I'm nowhere near you so I can't suggest anything, but you're not alone! We looked at pretty much every venue within a reasonable travelling distance before we found ours.  We had found that the ones in our budget we didn't like and most places were way over our budget.  But the hotel we have now is lovely and will be about £3500-£4000 for 80 people to the breakfast and 120 to a bbq in the evening. We have exclusive use as well for no extra cost which is something most places don't offer.

I know how you feel but you will find somewhere, it's just a bit disheartening now.  The best thing we did was we stopped looking for a few weeks and then went back to it.  Sometimes a fresh start on this kind of thing can help...

Thanks Jules.40

I've contacted most of the venues on hitched that are near us and the quotes are coming up too high, it is usually the venue hire charge or min numbers

that are pushing the price over our limit.

I thought £5500 was a lot of money, but it clearly is not in the wedding world!

Thanks for the advice, how are you doing with your planning?

Shimmena x

Thanks Jem

My HTB has suggested I take a break from looking but I can't arghhhhhh... I can't think of anything else right now and I'm so desperate

to set a date.

Shimmena x

Shimmena - i live in Hertfordshire and am getting married in Hertfordshire. Let us know where you've looked at and we'll see if we can think of anywhere else. xx

My son is getting married at the Pinewood hotel in Bucks. They would fit into your budget.

I am in hertfordshire and my venue is costing around £3750 for the ceremony, sit down meal with drinks for about 50, canapes after the ceremony, evening buffet and a DJ in the evening. I am getting married at three lakes restaurant, westmill farm, ware. There are quite a few venues in hertfordshire that should fit into your 5000 budget. The ones that spring to mind that I looked at,   were tewinbury farm, bluntswood hall, ware priory and south farm in royston. There are a few more but can't think of them at the moment.

Hi Vickyc2711

Wow three lakes looks amazing and very good price, also really like a look of Tewinbury farm. Thanks so much for your help I'm feeling more positive now.

I'll arrange some viewings and let you know.

Shimmena 

x

hey shimmena...i cant help with your location but a couple of things to think about, if you go for a mid-week or even a sunday wedding it can bring the costs down incredibly...also negotiate with the venue, ours were very accommodating with reducing the cost and in the end we managed to get 750, also with all inclusive deals if there is something included  you think you can live without or do cheaper yourself then dont be afraid to talk to the venue about it with a view of nipping the price down.  Good luck you will get there!

Thanks Cotteesgirl x

I completely agree with cotteesgirl - If you're on a tight budget, ditch the Saturday! in some venues its almost twice as much as on a friday/sunday, money down the drain in my opinion (of course some people have to have it then for days off/travel reasons). We're getting married on a bank hol Sunday, so guests will still have the next day off work.

We are getting married in East SUssex and our venue is £2010 for 2010. They were doing a promotional deal for offpeak session. That includes ceremony room, bridal suite for the night, sit down dinner for 50, buffet for 50, wedding planner/toast master and seasonal flowers. Obviously we need to top up price for etc guests though.

My budget is about the same and my sister got married in a similar venue the yr before last with smaller budget - so it can be done!!!

I agree with checking with registrar. ALso look for places that have only recently been doing weddings (the one down the road from ours has been doing it for yrs and I think is a bit cocksure and charges nearly 3x ours and doesnt offer anything more) The other option (if your not having ceremony there) is dont tell them its a wedding. I know a family that did this and it cut the cost dramatically.

Don't give up, but mayb have a bit of a break  xx