To be mildly annoyed that some pubs can’t get their head around the fact that even though this is a wedding I’m trying to book, it’s a small affair!

[SweetMarmalade]

I live in a lovely area with some stunning pubs.

I’m having the tiniest of weddings, want to head off to a local afterwards, handful of family coming along.

Manager of one lovely pub, ‘don’t really cater for weddings’doesn’t know what corkage is, thinks we’ll be pissed off dining with the ‘regulars’
Another pub in the area is far more accommodating and knows what they’re talking about but this young manager (and I’m not being ageist here) doesn’t seem to have a clue. Such a shame as the venue is stunning!
I wish I’d just asked to book a table and rock on up!

This ain’t no bridezilla but pubzilla! Why do people fall apart the minute you mention ‘wedding’!

Of course you can take alcohol to a pub if they agree. they charge corkage to make up for the cost of glasses, serving, etc and their lost profit on what you would be buying from them. It's a totally normal business proposition for them and plenty of places do it for events. If the pub does events it is bizarre that the manager wouldn't know what it was even if that pub has a policy against providing it.

OP YANBU to be mildly annoyed. it is madness how mad the whole wedding business is and also how myopic some small businesses can be. Agree with others to just not mention that it's a wedding. Hope you find a great place that makes for a joyful day.

So dont say it's a wedding and drink the champagne at home job done.

As others have said, dont tell them it's a wedding. Tell them it's a family party or a family gathering. Obviously they will work it out when you turn up in a white dress but by then they will have already quoted you the price and it will be too late.
YABU to bring your own champagne though. Most pubs will sell champagne or at least prosecco - if you want a wedding in a pub you need to buy your alcohol from them.

I think it’s a bit cheeky to ask for corkage when your only having a few guests.

Just book a large table at a nice pub and don’t tell them it’s a wedding but do buy your alcohol there (it’s cheeky to take your own), I’m guessing there’s not going to be speeches? If there are then you need to respect other people eating there.

@Lovemusic33 only a few guests amounting to approx £350 for food PLUS drinks! On a mid week early afternoon sitting!

People are focusing on the bloody corkage question! It’s not such an outrageous request!

@BoomBoomsCousin thank you.

@BoomBoomsCousin pressed return too soon!

Thank you, I thought for a moment I lived in the the land that time forgot and it was only ‘round these parts’ I’d heard of such a thing.

I also think that the difference between the two pubs is that pub A -who quoted me a corkage fee - owns the pub and pub B - whose Manager didn’t have a scooby doo - doesnt!

We had a last minute small early morning wedding (registry office could only do the ceremony at 9.30!). Went to a pub for our wedding breakfast, I think we booked a table. But we did buy the champagne from the pub, we got a second one free because everyone was so excited when they realised we had just got married. It was a brilliant day. Just go for it.

As others have said, dont tell them it's a wedding. Tell them it's a family party or a family gathering. Obviously they will work it out when you turn up in a white dress but by then they will have already quoted you the price and it will be too late.

Everyone says this, but what actually happens? I think most people would be too worried about the risk of the pub moaning at them or even just being a bit arsey when they turn up on the day, it isn’t the kind of thing you want to be dealing with in your big white dress.

@vikkimoog I really should have listened to Dp when he said don’t mention it’s a wedding, in fact I was ‘aghast! but now I wish I’d listened!

Good on you for just rocking up in your dress and balloons! I should have done this!

You can't bring alcohol to a pub!

Of course you can, provided you have asked permission in advance and are paying corkage.

I have been having a similar problem OP. We wanted to book afternoon tea for after our very small wedding. The posh hotel we are staying at on the night (and the place we met) seemed the obvious solution but as soon as I mentioned a wedding they chucked in another 250 room hire fee. I just wanted a private corner. The small wedding struggle is real.

@gamerchick wish I’d just booked the venue and not mentioned it was a wedding! It’s just a simple ceremony and a lovely get together with family and wanted the lovely pub to sit in afterwards, that’s bloody all. Wedding gets mentioned and people start looking at you sideways!

I didn't know you could take alcohol in with you either we used to have an either or situation where I used to work either a bar open or private event with private alcohol! I would just say I want to book a family gathering and leave it at that they don't need to know it's a wedding till you get there! I hate the wedding premium places have these days!

@Butterbeeeen it’s a bloody nightmare isn’t it! Why can’t venues realise that some of us just have simple tastes and don’t want the whole shi bang!

@XXcstatic thank you!

@somersetmama glad you had a wonderful day!

I might have to look for venue number 3 and just arrive, all newly wed and blushing

Get DH to ring and book a table for Granny's Birthday. Small family celebration.
Then turn up in your dress for dinner.

Get your partner or mum to ring and book it as an engagement meal for family only, so could you please have a nice quiet area/private room if available with space for the engagement cake for X number of people including elderly relatives so will be a civil affair. No mention of weddings.

@missnevermind I’ll be looking like Granny if this mither continues

Ah it’s awful when your dp is right. Luckily it doesn’t happen often to us.

Is it a second wedding? Sometimes if you say it is a second wedding that tells people it’s more low key.

@Fluffycloudland77 no it’s our first, one and only.

With both venues it actually seems like they want to tuck us away somewhere in a side room!

We’ll be good, promise!

That's a real shame and a pretty poor show from them. We had our wedding and including us we had 22 people for a meal afterwards. We talked to a local pub and initial said "family get together" and about halfway through the conversation admitted it was a wedding and nothing changed! That is how it should be. They were awesome and even wrote us a bespoke menu (we ordered in advance given the numbers) and let us tweak to make sure we had some interesting dishes for those of us that wanted them and their homemade pie and a good soup made it on the list for those with simpler tastes!

Good luck finding somewhere that will get with the programme.

You could say it’s a second wedding and still wear white. I know someone who got married in white twice.

The brochure cupboard at work would have something to say about that.