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?

Bloody link fail again
Www.huntshamcourt.co.uk

Birdinho that's at least ten grand starting price, above our price range is a bit of an understatement

There are plenty of venues just like that, with that sort of price range, it's the ones at realistic prices that are hard to find.

I'm planning my wedding in the south west at the moment. We are on a similar budget for the venue. We did initially book as place called nan arrow farm near Truro. Its beautiful. Exclusive use of the farm for the weekend, with accommodation for about 15 I think. Purpose built barn for ceremony and reception. You cans do your own catering and drink. I think this is in the region of 3 grand wish.

Another one is mount pleasant ecological park. Porthtowan. They have a barn again for ceremony and. Reception, or thou can have the ceremony in a beautiful amphitheatre worth a big wooden arch thing ( hard to explain)
You can bring food and drink etc. Loads of outside space and the campsitehure is in cvluded in the price of 2 grand.
Alverton manor, rose an vale, scorrier house, little white alice, gweal an moor, st Michaels spa, the old vicarage.

These are all in the south/south west. Most of them are that kind of budget. Hope you find something :-)

Nancarrow farm even. Lol I know a few of what I've mentioned end are a bit different to what you've described, but just thought I'd give it a go

Thanks absentminded, lots to look at! Cornwall is too far though, as much as I would love to get married there, as I'm originally from Cornwall.

Sprowston manor, Norfolk.

Lovely venue. Gardens. We brought in our own cake etc but we had a sit down meal which they catered for... don't know if you could do your own...? Worth asking.

We had 50 guests a year and a half ago. It cost us £2500 including ceremony and meal and bridal suite overnight which was gorgeous.

I also think your best bet is to forget licensed venues - do the legal bits the day before/after cheaply in a registry office and then you can have any kind of ceremony you want at your venue.

This place In Sussex is lovely. We had it for a weekend and big family party. We did mostly self catering, but i had caterers in for the biggest party so I could enjoy it - be we could have one it all ourselves.

Ah sorry couldn't be of any help! Hope you find the right place soon :-)

I saw something like you're describing on Confetti once but I can't remember what it was called.

I agree with maja, that's what I did, saved a lot of money we were able to have exactly the ceremony we wanted and have a quickie another time.

Have you looked at Youth Hostels ? I know some offer weddings.

My friend is getting married in Forty Hall, Enfield, North London later on this year. She is getting married in the coach house but the house is available for exclusive hire aswell. She is having her own caterers but the house has their own caterers if you want to use theirs. It is set in parkland and is beautiful.

Posted too soon I think Forty Hall has overnight accommodation too. It also has an organic orchard & farm which has won lots of awards.

Have you checked all the National Trust venues?

I think getting the legal bit out of the way & hiring a super-sized self catering big house is the way to go

www.knowlemanor.co.uk/house-lettings.php

Knowle Manor

Thanks everyone, I have found the perfect place and booked it!

Ooh! Can you say any more? Is it licensed?

why do you want to do your own food? clearwell castle near us does lots of winter offers, this is thew latest one

An Exquisite Wedding Offer
at Clearwell Castle!!

BOOK ANY REMAINING DATE IN 2013 AT CLEARWELL CASTLE
FOR JUST £5,000!!

And receive 15 gorgeous bedrooms completely free of charge

for the night of your wedding for all dates in OCTOBER
AND NOVEMBER 2013!!

Unexpectedly available- Sunday 20 October 2013

These dates really are limited- call now to find out more details

This fabulous package includes everything you need for 60 guests attending
your wedding and reception!

Exclusive use of the entire house and grounds from midday on your wedding day
A choice of welcome drinks to enjoy during your drinks reception
A delicious three course sit down meal from our delectable seasonal menu
Clearwell Castle house wine served with your meal
Sparkling wine for the toast following your speeches
Succulent finger food served during your evening reception
Clearwell Castle DJ and disco for your evening party
Special discounted rates for up to 15 beautiful bedrooms for the night of your wedding

member it is licenced yes! Don't want to give it away on here though.

jojane I want to do my own food because not a single menu we have looked at at these catered venues sounds appealing. We already know what we want to serve at our wedding. We don't want formal three course sit down style food, we don't want a boring caterer's buffet.

Basically we don't want to go down the boring package wedding route.

We're not planning on cooking it ourselves though We will get a cook in for the day. Buying all our own ingredients and having a cook cook it for us will work out much cheaper and tastier than a caterer.

jojane that castle deal looks good if that's the sort of wedding you want, which I know a lot of people do want!