Wedding venue for 100ish people - does anyone know somewhere nice but not too pricey?

[BertieBotts]

We want something fairly central in the UK, not too far out to the edges, but have a fairly wide range - pretty much anywhere from Oxford up to the Lakes.

Probably not going to have a huge amount to spend - so bonus would be allowed to sort own drinks/food - there's no way we can afford a free bar but would like to provide some drinks to start off.

DP has a massive family, around 30 immediate family (including children and partners) and then more who are more distant but he'd like to invite because they've helped him out in some way.

I have 16 people I would invite from my family, including partners and kids, and I don't know if all of them would be able to come. Then there's our friends we were just totting this up last night and realising we're going to end up having a big wedding whether we like it or not! If I invite everyone I want to invite that's around 40 people, counting a couple that DP would probably invite too, and DP is probably around 60-80. I'm hoping we can cut it down to under 100, though, I think that's fair? FFS, he's an introvert and he has more friends than I do

But yes - we're looking to have a scout around websites and order brochures today, so any ideas would be fantastic as I have no idea where to start.

[bulletwithbutterflywings]

What is your idea of 'not too pricey'?

[BertieBotts]

Ah sorry - should probably have said that! We are looking to get married in 2014 and have worked out we can probably save around £4000 by then (although I worry this may be optimistic). I don't know whether we will have any help from parents etc. We were thinking maybe £2000 max for the venue? Is that realistic?

[LtXmasEve]

We got married at The Valley Hotel, Ironbridge. We chose a later ceremony (1630) followed by a Barbeque at 1800 - meant we only had to feed guests once. We had 100 guests at £10.00 a head (this was 8 years ago), plus 'Pimms on the Patio'. The service was about £300 and they gave us a discount on rooms as we booked the whole hotel. There are a lot of other B&Bs in walking distance, at a variety of prices. We had a pay bar, but paid for the Pimms and the wine on the table.

The Valley is a Best Western Hotel and as a bonus we joined the Best Western club to get discounted rooms etc

The Valley was lovely, the ceremony room well decorated and quickly turned into the reception room whilst we were in the bar/patio. The gardens were beautiful for photos, the BBQ was fab and all our guests still talk about how relaxed and loving the day was.

Our whole wedding 'experience' cost us about £5k including out honeymoon in Mexico. I understand that's quite cheap!

[Milliways]

Look at some old school buildings. DD just had a beautiful wedding in an old Private school that looks like a posh hogwarts so needed no decorations it is all panelled wood and fancy glass with a huge roaring fire place (but in the back of beyond in Shropshire). Also - don't say "wedding" as the wedding rate to hire is normally 5x the "room hire" rate!

We invited just over 100 and had about 96 on the day. A buffet cost £14.95 a head (Salmon, beef, ham and various salads, puddings and tea/coffee) and we DID provide a free bar - and was amazed at how much was not drunk. We bought cava & OJ for welcome drinks, red & white wine for the meal, budweizer, a selection of mixed ales, magners cider, more wine, ginger beer, coke & lemonade and it really was not too expensive with supermarket & warehouse deals (and I have enough left to last a year!). The champagne toast was bought in last Jan sales in Sainsburys - they do 25% off when you buy 6 bottles occassionally.

Glasses were hired, delivered & collected from the venue, caterer provided the crockery, cutlery etc and tableware. We had to set it all up day before and take down the day after, but it was worth it for the savings.

[BertieBotts]

Ooh those both sound good! Milliways I'd read that before about not specifying "wedding", great tip. Can they not then try to do anything when they do find out it's a wedding? I suppose if you organise all your own stuff rather than taking their "wedding service" then it is just room hire, really...

[emsyj]

Have you thought about looking at civic buildings for hire? We hired the local town hall for £500 and we could bring our own caterer (no approved list, you can self-cater if you like) and we had to use their bar, but it was very cheap and corkage was £3 a bottle including glasses, service, chilling the white & fizz the night before etc.

[Milliways]

Well, the bursar at this school did know it was a wedding, but they were a young couple who managed to sweet-talk him. They got all the bits of the school they wanted (including a fantastic gallery that overlooks the hall) for £800 where the wedding rate is £3000! I mean, if it was a 21st birthday or a wedding - and you are doing it all yourself, what difference does it make to the staff there?

We also arrived at venue from 4:30 and ate at 6pm so only one meal. We served mulled wine, tea/coffee, mince pies & various cakes for a few hours after the service (1pm start) at the church so that those not coming to reception could all socialise, so it was very relaxed. Also gave the Bride & Groom a headstart to get the posh photos taken before the crowds arrived.

[Milliways]

Oh, and no corkage to pay!

[ZenNudist]

here was a very good spot for a wedding and not too pricey. My friends decorated it with fairy lights and pics of themselves. It is one of those where you have to make some effort yourself. It's in the lake district. They got outside caterers and bought all their own booze & got glass hire from sainsburies in cockermouth. Ipod dj etc. The farm did afternoon tea for guests as well which was lush. There were a few nice bedrooms in the b&b for the family and wedding party. Lots of b&b's nearby for guests to stay. A very reasonably priced option I think.

[BertieBotts]

Corkage?

[ZenNudist]

Lots of places especially wedding package hotels charge a fee for each bottle of your own wine they open! It's a racket. Basically to make the profit they would otherwise make on selling you wine. It's still cheaper than paying hotel wine prices.

Do you want a church or registry office wedding & separate venue , or do you want ceremony & reception under one roof?

[Scheherezade]

We've hired our village hall , holds 200 for £6 per hour.

[Beaverfeaver]

My wedding was originally booked at the Five Arrows in Waddesdon (part of Waddesdon manor estate) not far from Oxford and would have been very affordable.

Instead we got married at Broadoaks Country House in The Lakes and as it was booked last minute was a good deal too

[Beaverfeaver]

My sister got married at Notley Tythe Barn in along Crendon and our of season the prices are very reasonable