Wedding Planning
The ring is on and now it’s time to find the perfect venue to say “I do”, but how do you know when you’ve found ‘the one’ and what external factors come together to guide your decision?
The big booking trends are usually venue type – be it a Barn (which still remains the most popular venue type in 2023), Manor House or River Boat, but what about the lesser seen trends, the ones that we’re seeing as a result of an unusual few years?
Short Notice Weddings
Traditionally couples will book 2 or even 3 years in advance but in recent months we have seen increasing numbers booking with under 12 months, with many leaving only 3 – 6 months to go. For many this sends shivers of fear at the sheer amount of planning involved, however with the right venue and support this is a very real and achievable timescale.
Booking at short notice also means you get to take advantage of many special offers and you could grab yourselves an incredible wedding at a fraction of the usual cost.
To help you plan, here at Heritage Venues we pride ourselves on being able to offer a dedicated team from the day you book until you leave us as a newly married couple. We provide a dedicated Wedding Planner section on our website with key planning actions, supplier and guest information and we’re on hand to answer any questions or queries that you have in the lead up. This means you’re free to focus on the other elements of your day safe in the knowledge that we’ve got your backs.
Going Big
The last few years saw many of us spending much less time than we’d like with our loved ones, and as a result we’re seeing couples make the most of the opportunity to get everyone together and go all out. Personal touches, 10pm whiskey stations, gin bars, cupcake towers, doughnut walls, hot chocolate stations – all of these extra elements can help to create such a warm environment and make your guests feel extra special.
Over the last few months this is very much a growing trend, so much so we’ve made it easy and created an Optional Extras section to our menus that you can add in up to 6 weeks before your big day. We love the idea of multiple drinks stations on the Manor Lawn in the Summer or a heavenly boozy hot chocolate station to warm your guests in the Winter!
Choices, choices, choices!
When you’re looking for your perfect barn wedding venue, check out whether there are enough different spaces for you to: hold your ceremony (indoors or outdoors with wet weather options); your drinks reception (indoors or outdoors); your wedding breakfast; a good sized dance floor (ideally without the need to move tables after the meal); plenty of space at the bar which is not in a separate area to the dining/dance floor (to avoid losing most of your guests to the bar in the evening!), and a separate area for photo booth/children’s play area/evening supper or your choice of activity. Also that there’s plenty of parking; beautifully maintained grounds; a preparation area for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready, and high quality accommodation for you and your family to stay the night. Having these choices available means you can tailor your day to your preferences, whatever the weather, and make use of a huge number of photo opportunities. The ‘reveal’ of each new area throughout the day will delight your guests and allow them to socialise in different groups as the day progresses. It will be no surprise to know that Lillibrooke Manor, our stunning Berkshire wedding venue, has each and every one of these important attributes!
Home from Home
Time and time again, when we show our wonderful couples around we hear the same words “I just feel so at home here”. We love hearing this and couldn’t agree more. Not only do we aim to show you a beautiful venue with all its different spaces and perfect for any season, but we also want you and your guests to feel comfortable here. We want you to eat, drink and be merry, kick off your dancing shoes and let your hair down, laugh, relax and make memories. For your day, this is YOUR venue, yours to relax in, to pose and laugh in, to sit back and see a room full of the people that are closest to your hearts, to make your own and feel as special as you deserve.
So when you’re narrowing down your venue list, it’s worth checking the smaller details that will help ensure your wedding journey is a fun and exciting experience to treasure, from “I will” to “I do”.
If you’d like to get married at Lillibrooke Manor, get in touch with us today!
