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Original poster

I want you to be 100% honest... Wedding venue.

138 replies

PrincessSloth · 14/01/2020 20:36

NC as I've mentioned this to people IRL!

What would you think if you were invited to a wedding in a Holiday Inn?

To be fair, it's gorgeous inside, loads of fairy lights etc and reasonably priced but then I think.... But it's a Holiday Inn Blush

So I want your honest opinions please!

OP posts:
WendyMoiraAngelaDarling · 15/01/2020 06:17

There's a premier inn in London that's housed in a beautiful building right next to the river. I can't remember exactly where but it's such a great location. Would be great for a wedding I think so if your holiday inn has something special about it I can't see why it wouldn't be great. A holiday inn at the airport or just off the motorway? Not so much.

GlitteryGracie · 15/01/2020 06:20

Wow @CalleighDoodle I really hope you're not somebody I'd invite to my wedding,,,, why so much judgement of your friends? Grin

CalleighDoodle · 15/01/2020 06:24

Just facts, nit judgement. Destination weddings pass on the costs to guests. don't see many paying for flights. It is like getting married on a weekday on steroids. Cheaper for wedding party, guest loses a day of paid work on top of cost of attending a wedding. Etc etc.

Dont forget when youre planning your wedding @GlitteryGracie that youre the host. Be a good host.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Weddings
OhWellThatsJustGreat · 15/01/2020 06:27

Wouldn't bother me, my dh best friend and her fiancé are getting married at one of the holiday inns local to us in August.

It's just another hotel venue isn't it?

Iwouldbecomplex · 15/01/2020 06:31

I'd probably think it was going to be a bit cheap and nasty to be honest, because I think of them as budget hotels, but hopefully I'd be pleasantly surprised when I got there and it would put me in my place!

cheeseislife8 · 15/01/2020 06:46

It looks gorgeous OP. I got married in a hotel too, no judgement there, the only difference its that it's in a chain which doesn't matter at all. It's beautiful inside from your pics!

If I were invited to a wedding there, my first thought would be how handy not to have to faff to find accommodation.

okiedokieme · 15/01/2020 06:48

It's a chain, so what? Each branch is different.

Casander · 15/01/2020 06:53

I wouldn't judge and it looks lovely on the photos! As pp have said I'd be happy I could book a room for the night without the kidsGrin

We got married in a registery office and I was worried people would think the same, but it was actually really pretty. We found someone who does photography as a hobby and paid £50 for the digital images and my dress was found on eBay and I won it for £50!

We had close family and friends there, went for a fancy meal afterwards and then me and DH got rid of the kids to the grandparents and buggered off to a hotel for the weekend just the two of us!

It sounds dead cheap and nasty when I write it down but money was tight and we were saving for a bigger house and didn't want loads of debt, it was honestly great.

BarbaraofSeville · 15/01/2020 08:31

Until this thread I had no idea Holiday Inn was considered downmarket.

I thought it was a bit posh. I don't fit in here do I?

Muckycat · 15/01/2020 09:21

I would think you were being really considerate of your guests for points already mentioned- accommodation, accessibility and price. It looks like a proper party venue too with the ballroom. Why not?

MsMellivora · 15/01/2020 09:23

I had my reception in a village hall.

I really don’t care but I do consider my own costs, the last wedding I attended was last August and that was in Chicago. But that was my lovely niece and no way was I missing that. I do a cost benefit analysis for myself. When DH cousin who we are not keen on was getting married we didn’t attend. It would have been approx £500 and a day off work.

One of DH cousins got married in an incredibly expensive country house hotel with extensive grounds. It rained all day, was a storm really. No one had the benefit of those lovely grounds. The longest marriage in my family is my dis, she is almost 16 years older than me and as a six year old she looked like a real princess in my eyes. In reality they married in a rather grim registry office and she was in a horrible nylon 1970’s dress and they forgot flowers so she had no bouquet. They were married for 43 years until she was widowed recently. I have been to 37 weddings and it’s the people I remember. The embarrassing uncle of my friend, the woman with a face like a slapped arse, the woman with a dress that was split so you could see the very top of her inner thigh and almost her knickers, sharing a table with DH cousins uncle and aunt who were divorcing and he bought his OW! A hat blowing off and a car having to do an emergency stop, my friends Dad slapping my backside the dirty old bugger.

There is also the observation of how the bride and groom seem with each other. That’s the most important thing. I blame a lot of pressure and expense on the rise of that perfect pic for social media.

JacquesHammer · 15/01/2020 09:25

We got married in a hotel because we had family coming from all over and it was easier. Plenty of rooms, masses of parking, no need to travel between venues etc.

In my heart of hearts would I have chosen it? No, but we had a lovely day, it was relaxed and easy for everyone who came and it was a blast. Pretty much what weddings should be!

morrisseysquif · 15/01/2020 09:32

I wouldn't care, people are there for the couple not the venue.

AfterSchoolWorry · 15/01/2020 09:34

If you're happy with it then do it!

Personally I dislike modern hotels and the cookie cutter fairy lights thing at weddings nowadays, but it's not my wedding!

It's yours!

Sadiee88 · 15/01/2020 09:36

I did go to a wedding in a Holiday Inn. My young cousins married in one a few years ago. Nothing wrong with it at all. Plus their still happily married and not in debt! Much more important, than spending lots if money on snobby guests! Wink

GojuRyuLover · 15/01/2020 09:42

@MsMellivora The embarrassing uncle of my friend, the woman with a face lke a slapped arse - did you come to my wedding?! Shock

@PrincessSloth OP, your venue looks amazing. It doesn't matter where you get married or what anyone thinks, as long as you and your DP are happy! It's your money and your wedding and the venue won't matter to your guests in a year or so but you will always remember your special day.

My Uncle is getting married in a registery office and having the receiption at a labour club. The couple are really happy and I'm sure it will be an amazing day. You don't need to spend lots to be happy, but do what is important to you on your wedding day.

Congratulations btw! Grin

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/01/2020 09:45

I think it could be lovely OP. I've been to wedding venues which have the wow factor but once your inside unless it's truly spectacular you don't notice it for long. Plus often these places are a ball ache to get to with little affordable overnight accommodation. A HI I'm guessing will be easy to get too?

Once you e decorated it to your taste it will be wonderful. If it was me and my wedding I'd rather spend a bit less on surroundings if it meant I could afford to treat my guests to a lovely meal and a few glasses of wine.

Congratulations btw Grin

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/01/2020 09:47

For what its worth the amazing venue weddings I've attended are often decorated inside pretty much similar to those in a chain hotel. it's as if the staff in both have had the same generic wedding decoration training.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/01/2020 09:48

I bloody love a wedding - not much chance of one in our family and friends circle now until the kids grow up Confused

forevercurious · 15/01/2020 09:53

My friend got married in a holiday inn, I can honestly say it never once crossed my mind to judge the venue. It was a lovely day with good food and music.

Ginfordinner · 15/01/2020 10:04

Shock at the snobbery on this thread Hmm

The number of threads on here where posters have complained about a venue being in an expensive hotel is ridiculous. IMO people who think the venue/destination is more important than the wedding have lost sight of what getting married is all about.

After all a Holiday Inn isn't exactly a spit and sawdust local.

BlastEndedSkrewt · 15/01/2020 10:14

I think it would be lovely, personally I don't understand why people spend such huge amounts on weddings, DP & I have always said we'd rather pay £15K off our mortgage than on a wedding.

We're getting married in the Caribbean in August, total cost for wedding & 10 nights all inclusive for x 3 people comes to £4600

wowfudge · 15/01/2020 10:30

I've been to a HI wedding where the hotel was an extension to a former church building. They kept the nave so the wedding took place in what was effectively a church. It was a really fun reception with group dancing. Sounds hideous, but pretty much everyone was on the dancefloor for hours.

Original poster
PrincessSloth · 15/01/2020 13:35

Funnily enough the vair posh hotel in the town that is charging 4 x the price for the same thing looks much and such the same inside the actual weddingy areas.

I'm going to see it in person next week. DP isn't totally sold, his reasoning being for the rest of our life we will say "We got married in a Holiday Inn" but my argument is how often does that come up in conversation Grin

OP posts:
tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/01/2020 13:41

We got married abroad and after an outside civil ceremony (pretty but basically a town hall square) we had a lovely dinner in a local restaurant (gorgeous food) then karaoke/drunken dancing in an Irish Bar. It was fantastic and totally fuss free, and we loved it.

I'm sure lots would turn their nose up at that but hey ho Smile