To beg for help finding a wedding venue

[Herbert1234]

So, we're looking at getting married next year. We don't want to spend a ridiculous amount of money. We had hoped for around £5/6000 all in.

We're located on the Shropshire/North Wales border, Oswestry area but happy to travel 20 milesish.

We'd love a barn rustic sort of think, but also into old type halls and that sort of thing. I'd also love a marquee style do but think that'd be too expensive all in.

We were thinking of a late small ceremony of just immediate family and a friend each then a buffet and disco after for around 100. Can cut numbers to about 75 if needs be but I have a massive family that I would like there.

We're mostly interested in yummy food, cheapish booze and a fun party with a close, intimate ceremony. Happy to have ceremony and reception in different places.

I intend to get my dress from jjhouse for cheap too so our major costs are looking to be venue, food and drink.

I'm scratching my eyeballs our trying to find somewhere that isn't just a box in an ugly place or extraordinarily expensive.

Even village halls that are pretty would be great. We've considered everything from doing food ourselves, to getting like a chippy van or something in, to a buffet at a restaurant. So we're pretty open!

Pleaseeee help me find somewhere!

@BikeRunSki for Beddgelert not at all! Our son is named after a hill near there so we're very fond of it!

The legal bit is just that. All the best left-field weddings, the registry office bit had been done quietly with a couple of mates or sisters or brothers to do witnessing, in advance. Which leaves you free to be as creative as you like with the actual special day and vows.

Have a look at Wilderhope Manor YHA. South Shrops but not far off A49. YHA do some exclusive use weddings!

@MoaningMinniee That sounds fab. I love the tipis! Not sure they'd be in our ballpark though. But we shall see. I like the idea of doing the legal part another time too. Have a fab time!

We did this on the same budget, used a church hall and supplied all the alcohol via booze cruise! Totally doable. We had an afternoon tea instead of hot meal which also kept the costs down - cheese platters for evening guests

@roseandveg that sounds fab. Were you happy with how it went? We thought something along the lines of picnic baskets and a cheeseboard afterwards but not sure it'd be too much work!

Every village and church hall is different but remember many will be under quite strict restrictions on noise - we can't have recorded music over a certain number of decibels;noise limiter was installed due to council insistence) and events must finish by 10.30pm. If you want a wedding that can go on later (you will need somewhere licenced as a venue

Pre loved do wedding dresses that have only been worn once and dry cleaned. My niece bought hers there and got it for a fraction of the price. She sold it on there too after her wedding and got back about 80 % of what she paid.

I had this issue with our venue for our wedding in Sept, we luckily ended up buying house with a barn that we're now holding the reception in but we're so going to open this up for reception hire afterwards. It was impossible to find a 'nice' venue that wasn't exclusive use or very expensive. We're getting married at some gardens and then back to ours for a hog roast (yes I know not everyone is a fan of those on here but it suits our farmhouse reception) and a barn dance. We're in Devon so I think too far from you :-/

Wedding at Whittington Castle and party in the village hall.

@stucknoue that's a very good point. This place has a stocked bar and is advertised for weddings so I'm naively hoping they're not as strict. But its a good question to ask when we go.

@caringcarer I love Preloved! My mum has offered me her dress. As much as she looked stunning it's not my type but apparently it's a two piece so I could use the skirt maybe as it's a very plain non hefty one which is what I want, and maybe buy a bodice.

@jiskoot that's so awesome! I could do with friends like you! I'm sure your wedding will be amazing, and personally I love a hog roast! We went to see a barn, and I mean it was literally just that with a makeshift bar and some tables and fairy lights and they were coming in at £3,500. By the time we've done wine, food, dress, rings, decoration it'd be extortionate. This is why the hall is appealing as we can spend ALL that money on good food, cheap drink and a good time!

@tararabumdeay I hadn't thought of Whittington castle to be totally honest! I'll have a look online and get in touch. Thanks a lot!

@randomsabreuse thanks for the suggestion. I think looking at thinks retrospectively perhaps it would be easier to have it very close to home so that most people can stay at theirs rather than adding a cost as I would feel obliged to pay for people's hotels. Plus the travel. We want the emphasis to be on a relaxed and fun do, rather than stressing about the costs involved, as I'm already doing for a few weddings we have been invited to!

No venue ideas, but just wanted to say not to order a dress from JJ’s house. I ordered one for a formal event, paid extra to have it made to measure so I would’ve have to mess with alterations and it was awful. It certainly wasn’t made to measure me. The dress looked nothing like the picture and was crap quality. When I complained they gave me money back not to leave a bad review, which appears to be a common tactic of theirs and hence the reason they only have fantastic reviews on the site!
For the amount I ended up paying, I could’ve had 2 reasonably well made Coast dresses!

Thanks so much for your help guys. Went to the town hall at the weekend, and whilst doable would take so so much work to make nice. We've realised a nice hotel/spa round the corner has really good rates so going in tomorrow to hopefully try and get an idea of what deposit they want. Makes sense as it's reasonable, nice enough, and won't require a million man hours to make remotely nice.