Did you just get engaged and now wonder where to start with wedding planning? One of the biggest decisions you'll make is choosing the venue for your special day. This decision can be extremely difficult, especially if you haven't nailed down the feel you are going for or if you have been to many weddings and aren't sure where to start. So here I’ll break down the main types of venues so you can figure out which one you're leaning toward.
Country House or Manor
Ideal if you want beautiful grounds, elegant interiors, and a romantic yet polished atmosphere.
This option screams black-tie, more polished wedding. One thing to consider is the colour scheme inside the manor house, and try to create a wedding theme that complements it. That way, the house will stand out and complement your decor.
Wedding planner recommendation: If you are looking for this type of venue in the Midlands, check out Prestwold Hall. It’s a beautiful, intimate venue with gorgeous gardens and even an orangery.
Barn or Farm
Perfect if you enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, lots of character, and the freedom to make the space your own.
This is a perfect option if you want a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces for your wedding. It also offers a beautiful natural backdrop for wedding photos. While it adds a touch of rustic charm, it also provides a space to create a beautiful, more down-to-earth wedding.
Wedding planner recommendation: If you are looking for this type of venue in the Midlands, check out Thetford Farm Barn. This luxury barn blends rustic farm charm with a modern look. Plus a beautiful wildflower garden for photos - that’s the cherry on top!
Hotel
Ideal if you want convenience, on-site bedrooms, and as much of the planning and logistics handled in one place as possible.
This is a popular option for many couples because it offers a truly inclusive experience and can also keep costs down. However, it can also mean less customisation, as the hotel might not allow outside food, which could mean kissing your ice cream bar goodbye!
Wedding planner recommendation: If you are looking for this type of venue in the Midlands, check out William Cecil Hotel. It has beautiful rooms, nice outdoor space, and a manor-house outdoor look, all in one.
Marquee or Tipi
This is the ideal fit for a couple who wants to create their day from scratch, with maximum freedom over the layout and styling.
Marquee is a blank canvas that lets you build everything from the ground up. Think of it like playing The Sims and building a house from scratch… it can be exciting at first, but it does not take much to get overwhelmed. It is one of those venue types that really benefits from professional oversight, so essential things like toilets don’t get forgotten. As a planner, I love the idea of the marquee wedding because it has that creative freedom, but I don’t love that the low cost can lure couples in without fully understanding how much it will take to get everything hired to make a marquee a basic venue, not to mention a luxury one.
Wedding planner recommendation: near Stamford in the Midlands, there's a beautiful venue that rents its grounds for marquee weddings - Witham Hall. It’s a private school during the year, and the grounds are simply breathtaking. The gardens have little spaces that could be transformed into a bar or lawn game area.
Historical or Unusual Venue
Ideal if you would like the venue itself to contribute to the overall experience and serve as a backdrop for photographs.
This type of venue can fall under a manor house, which we discussed already, however, I want to keep it as a separate type because here I am referencing a venue with its own uniqueness. Think of the Natural History Museum in London or the British Library - these spaces can represent well who you are as a couple, including your hobbies or just a place where you met. This type of venue, though, gives you a very predefined baseline to work with - the decor here might be minimal, as the venue itself is enough.
Wedding planner recommendation: Here around Stamford, there is a Burghley House, and yes, it is a manor house, but I wanted to highlight it in this section, as if you are looking for unique - look no further. They offer many rooms for hire, each with its own style, but if you’re wondering what my favourite is, I would have to say the Old Kitchen. It provides a one-of-a-kind backdrop for the cocktail hour, and I imagine it would be a conversation starter, too.
Garden or Outdoor Wedding
Perfect for the couple who wants nature to do much of the styling and for your day to feel relaxed and open.
An outdoor wedding is a very popular choice - and you can imagine why. It adds airiness, creates beautiful photos with natural light, and gives you a blank canvas to create whatever you want. The only issue is the weather, and we know that here in the UK, you never know what it will be, so this choice for the venue has to have a plan B. But otherwise, just imagine a flower garden, a beautiful view of something magnificent and a sunny, warm day… doesn’t it make you want to be there right now?
Wedding planner tip: if you are looking for this type of venue in the Midlands, I would recommend checking out Barnsdale Gardens. It has beautiful scenery that will be perfect for someone who loves flowers - and think about the cost of florals that you’ll be able to save on!
Hope this helped you realise you have lots of choices of different types of wedding venues, and something for everyone. As I tell all of my couples, first you need to figure out what represents you as a couple, what your non-negotiables are, and then look for a venue that fits that vision. Try visiting a few different types of venues to see what feels best, then narrow it down to a few of that type so you get a good snapshot of what’s out there. And with that, happy planning!
