I need help! How do I actually find the venue we want? Can you recommend me a venue?

[overmydeadbody]

I'm beginning to think we may never find the venue we want in our heads, so hopefully someone can help me come up with alternative suggestions for venues that might work.

I am so tired of searching the internet and finding nothing that we can actually afford.

This is what we want:

• to get married on the site of the reception afterwards, no church or registry office, just one location, so the venue needs a license
  

-to be able to do our own catering and bring our own alcohol

-NOT to be in a marquee, I want to hold my part inside, not in a marquee.

-Budget of 2-3 grand

We had in mind a nice house we could stay in the night before and the night after, with three or four living rooms and a large dining room that can accommodate 60 guests, enough of a garden to use if the weather is good, and exclusive use of the place (no staff wondering around etc.)

Are we doomed? Do we need to change our view and accept a different type of venue?

Where did you get married?

[mummytime]

Where in the country?

Although I think, with such a low budget and not wanting to buy in the catering could be a sticking point.

[mummytime]

Have you even googled it?

What about this site?

[overmydeadbody]

South

Is that budget really that low? That's without food or drink or marquees or portaloos or anything...

What's a 'normal' price for a venue then?

[overmydeadbody]

Um, yes, thanks mummytime of course I have googled it. I have spent weeks googling, I even have a spreadsheet of all the venues I have found so far.

None of them are exactly what we want, that is all.

[BramblyHedge]

Do you have any civic buildings near you? We got married in an old town hall owned by the local theatre. We just did afternoon tea but it wasnt too expensive. My brother held a naming day in a lovely house owned by his local authority.

[Retrofairy]

I think you need more money and even then i think it would be tricky. I had quite low expectations about the type of venue for our wedding but even then found very few venues are happy just to hand over control for the food and drink to you - i think because its such a good money spinner for them. Its been a few years but i think i came across a barn where they would do this and of course church halls but no houses. i think anywhere with a licence for civil ceremonies would be very much in the wedding business and looking to maximise profits.

[overmydeadbody]

Yes I had feared that Retro.

I think we need to rethink our expectations of increase our budget....

[BucketsnSpades]

I would recommend a place in Dorset called Springhead Gardens, your budget will get you exclusive use for the weekend plus it has sleeping space for 40. It's beautiful, I wanted to get married there but we couldn't get our guest list below 80. You would have to factor in the costs of the registrar though, and they may charge an uplift for travel as this venue is fairly rural. Good luck with your plans.

[overmydeadbody]

I will have a look brambley

[overmydeadbody]

Buckets I found that already!!!! Love it, it would be perfect, just worried it is not big enough. Did you ever visit it?

I am just so surprised I cannot find anythgin else similar to it.

[FunnyBird]

I couldn't find the perfect venue for our wedding. Well not one with a license. So we got married in a quick civil ceremony at the register office, and then did the wedding in our ideal but unlicensed venue two days later. Venue cheaper because of lack of license. Ceremony as we wanted it because of lack of outside interference from registrant or celebrant or anyone. Just an idea for you.

[nancerama]

Could something like this work? [http://www.braziers.org.uk/[]]

[elQuintoConyo]

Google St Audries Park, if you haven't already? (Can't link, sorry).
South of Bristol about one hour. They often ditch the 'venue hire' cost.

Apologies if you have already crossed it off your list

Good luck!

[BucketsnSpades]

Yes, it's only open to the public for about four days a year so we went along on one of those days, we saw the dining room and ceremony room and it is small so there would be no pushing the capacity limit, the bedrooms are basic but your guests would be so grateful to you for the free accommodation, the real selling point though is that beautiful garden it would be great for photos, and you could get caterers in or a pop up bar if you did want that side of things done for you. I do love that venue, I even considered trying to operate some kind of timed invite policy to try to get around the capacity limit.

[BeaLola]

What area are you looking to marry in?
One thing that will make licensed venues cheaper is if you do a Mon to Thurs or perhaps a Sunday off peak.
Certain venues will also do all I deal for small ceremonies say around 60

[overmydeadbody]

Bea we want to get married anywhere between East Anglia, Devon and Dorset really. That's where all our guests will be coming from.

So Buckets is there just one dining room and one other room apart from the bedrooms? What about the kitchen? Did you see that? If we invite 60 guests how many can we safely assume won't be able to make it?

[outingmyselfprobably]

www.christmashall.co.uk/

[OrangeLily]

Couldn't you just knock the ceremony bit on the head. Hire a big house type place that has, within walking distance, a small ceremony place nearby?

So for instance a massive posh country house might do a lovely ceremony then everyone walk back to your lovely house afterwards? Bubbles and snacks on the lawn followed by meal in dining room would be amazing.

Try scout and guide places as long as you are willing to use your imagination!!

[BillComptonstrousers]

Wasing Park? It's a wedding only venue, they have a small church in the grounds you can get married in. My friends got married there and it was all amazing. And it's completely exclusive once you're there.

[CatsCantFlyFast]

I know a place in Northumberland but budget may depend on when... PM me if that's not totally the other end of the country for you

[BucketsnSpades]

I didn't see the kitchen and only saw those two main rooms but I think there is a further sitting room too. It's worth a visit to see it, I couldn't find anything to match it in Dorset and I looked long and hard. The closest I got was an orangery in wimborne which is conveniently situated next to a caravan park.

In the end I compromised and we have hired a barn for our church wedding which is happening in two weeks time, we ended up inviting around 100 taking into account plus ones and new babies born in the last couple of years, of that we've had 80 confirmed rsvps 2 maybes, 2 people that kind of invited themselves although they are more than welcome, I must admit it has been great to be able to be so flexible about numbers and that just wouldn't have been possible at Springhead Gardens.

[MortifiedAdams]

Mill on the Brue in Bruton, Somerset? Not sure if they allow own food/booze but worth asking! bit of an off-the+wall ceremony vebue

[overmydeadbody]

Wow, so many helpful suggestions, shall be googling all of these tonight and talking to DP about all the possibilities. I suppose we could get married off site and then walk to the venue! That would work.

Christmas Hall is too small, they only allow up to 26 guests I think.

[OrangeLily]

My thoughts were that most places that have gone to the hassle of becoming licensed will be licensed because they want to host weddings as a business. They are not going to just let you waltz in and not make much of a profit. Hence the licensed venue close by to wherever you hold your reception!

It's a shame you're not in Scotland as the law is different here.

[Birdinho]

//www.huntshamcourt.co.uk This venue// is pretty much exactly what you describe, and like you we searched for ages for something as flexible as sort-your-own catering and no corkage. It is a rare beast. They are absolutely brilliant at Huntsham, and it is beautiful but above your price range I think (though we are asking our guests to pay something towards accommodation which helps)

Hope you find something perfect for you- good luck!