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’!

@AngelsOnHigh thank you! I had to scroll back wondering if I’d actually dreamt of my ‘we will be buying drinks at the pub’ replies!

I know she will be paying for drinks, she still asked for corkage when the pub could order champagne in.

@ScarlettBlaize Not my circus, not my monkeys

It's because weddings tend to last for hours e.g. 2pm-midnight whereas parties would be circa 7-midnight. Depending on what you want there may well also be additional time to set up / clear away afterwards.

Ive run a venue and I'm afraid about 80% of weddings are a lot more hard work than a normal party. Lots more staff time taken up over small issues, demands on decorations, set up, using other djs/caterers/ expecting a far high level of staff service etc etc. Often much more mess and drunkness and fights! Kids running everywhere h&s nightmares. Obviously not all weddings but thosw ones fucked it up for the rest of us.

Can I just recap.....

We WILL be buying drinks from the bar! I REPEAT! We WILL be buying drinks and probably LOTS of drinks at the bar!
There are TWELVE of us!
TWELVE! Not TWENTY!
Plenty of venues allow corkage!
Both pubs actually have rooms to stay over night if needs be.
For TWELVE of us we’re planning on a couple of bottles of bubbly! That’s all we asked to bring to the venue. We didn’t demand we asked if they allowed corkage!

We did afternoon tea after our wedding - didn't mention it was a wedding when we booked.

A couple of weeks after, a lovely man rang me and offered me 10% of my money back because it was a wedding reception!

I think the moral of this story is DON’T mention it’s a wedding and mention corkage and you’ll be stripped nekkid and beaten with your Aunt Nellie’s old slipper!

Granny’s 80th it is!

I'm amused (but I'm sure that @SweetMarmalade is wearing thin on that front) at the complete lack of understanding of the type of occasion being planned here. Nothing rowdy, just a meal and a few drinks around lunchtime. It's hardly a debauched affair!

OP, good luck- I did similar myself, and it was absolutely perfect. We ended up buying cava from the pub for toasts, and just told them in advance how much we wanted. I hope you have a beautiful day.

@BitOfFun thank you so much! You totally get it so I’m going to thank you again!

I’m hoping it’s perfect too. Glad your day was just as you planned.

Our wedding lunch two years ago, we had 6 people total. I booked it as a "family lunch" at a local pub that did meals, asked if it was possible to have a table in their side annex so it would be "cosier". We rocked up in suits, wedding dress, and carrying a bouquet However we opted not for champagne at the meal as 2 out of the 6 would be driving afterwards, so everybody just had what they wanted to drink.

My dad had his wedding reception at a local golf club (ceremony was in registry office).

He knows someone who works there and she advised him to book as a birthday party as as soon as they hear wedding they increase the price!

You need the pub we go to, gave them an idea of style and food. Helps we practically live in said pub so bar me in a big frock, it will be like most Saturdays when the landlord does food and we have a laugh.

I wish I’d just asked to book a table and rock on up!
You’ve got it in 1

I got married with just me my OH DSIS and DMIL and our DC there then went to pizza hut for our reception because that's where the DC wanted to go. Whole wedding only cost £700ish but was perfect.

It's a bit cheeky to take your own booze to a pub is it not?
Maybe but we took our own champagne when we got married because, even with corkage (we wangled a deal) it was much cheaper to get it on offer in Sainsbury's than pay pub prices. We were already paying for meals and other drinks so I don't think it was cheeky at all

@Harls1969 exactly our thinking! Thank you!

And just to make this completely clear once and for all, we plan on taking a couple of bottles of champagne, NOT crates of beer etc. We will be spending ample on drinks at the bar.

I’ve never bought champagne in a pub, I don’t even like it but would it be worth asking how much 2 bottles would be? Or if trying to keeps costs down then Prosecco. It may make the difference in getting the venue you really wanted.

There were 12 of us for my wedding and it was lovely.

I'd be really, really careful about the "not mentioning it's a wedding" thing. It used to be common ground, and a way to get it cheaper... but now it's often covered in contracts.

You might not sign a contract for a pub booking but they might argue that you've changed the scope if you book for a 12 person dinner and turn up in a wedding dress... if you're not wearing a wedding dress or you'll get changed first, that won't be a problem, but I'd be worried about pissing off the people responsible for my venue otherwise.

Can you phone the venue that you want back and explain what you're after - low key reception, ideally with X on the menu, and taking in 2 bottles of your own champagne, for 12 people... and ask which bits they can help with and which are non-negotiable. Then see which is closest to what you want!

Best of luck

Why not just to 'spoons in your normal clothes and have lunch?

Weddings are a PITA. I wouldn't touch them with a 10-foot barge pole if I were running a pub or restaurant. Too many demands.

I agree, Anchor. The place is not bound to honour your booking if you turn up in a dress and want to take over with speeches and toasts and crap like that.

You're asking for a 'reception' under the guise of 'it's just few of us and we'll pay corkage' but want a set menu.

The pub you want does not want to touch it, I understand why.

Book a private room.

If you want to be all 'relaxed' and Kate Winslet bangers and mash about it. Turn up in jeans, order off the menu and buy ALL the booze.

An you are not 'mildly annoyed' you're a CF and BVVU.

You might not sign a contract for a pub booking but they might argue that you've changed the scope if you book for a 12 person dinner and turn up in a wedding dress
and you think that would be legally binding? That they can change the contracted price based on what you're wearing?? give over

It's very simple, do not go in wedding attire, do not bring champagne, do not ask for a special menu, book a table for 12. Turn up.

Otherwise, book a wedding reception. With all the ther 'reasonable' requests you are bound to have.