You’re getting married in the morning… But where are the bells going to chime?
Considered to be the most important and best day of your life, your wedding should be an event that no one will forget. Preparation is key and important decisions need to be made such as catering, flowers, cake, rings, bridesmaid dresses, groomsman suits, the bride’s dress and, of course, the venue. There are so many different types of venues; you can have weddings in London hotels, bars, and even museums. It can be a very stressful time, so here is a list of wedding venues that will make your big day one to remember.
1. The Montcalm Marble Arch.
The Montcalm Marble Arch hotel is the perfect place if you are looking to celebrate in style and luxury. Catering for both weddings and civil partnerships, the Grand Ballroom at The Montcalm is one of London’s sort after events holdings with space for 300 guests for a sit down meal or 700 for a cocktail party. Decorated with exquisite crystal chandeliers and striking ebony wood, it is the epitome of glamour and also houses its very own Wedding Planner and Events Coordinator who will decorate the ballroom to your tastes and themes.
The Grand Ballroom at The Montcalm is found at the top of Park Lane, and just around the corner from Oxford Street. It has its very own street entrance as well as an entry through the lobby of the hotel itself. The entrance is simply breathtaking with fresh flowers and a grand marble staircase, which is perfect for wedding pictures, which will escort the guests into the foyer.
The exceptional customer service, the opulent decor and famous location all come together to make The Montcalm Marble Arch one of the top places to get married. On top of this, they also offer a honeymoon package!
2. Absolut Ice Bar
From the traditional to the unique, the famous Absolut Ice Bar is without a doubt a very unique place to hold a ceremony. Made from ice collected in Jukkasjarvi in Sweden, it is a permanent bar where the temperature is constantly minus 5 degrees and the restaurant is held at 0 degrees; even the glasses that hold your drinks are made from pure ice.
As a wedding venue, The Absolut Ice Bar is a fantastic choice if you wanted something completely different. The entire wedding party are provided with a thermal cape for the 40 minutes slot allotted to you and then escorted to the 0 degrees C function room that holds 270 people.
3. Kensington Roof Gardens
This may not be a famous setting in London, but it is one of the most spectacular. Hidden 1,000ft above the streets of Kensington are three exquisite gardens to choose from; a Spanish Garden, a Tudor Garden which is decorated with lilies, roses and lavender, and an English Woodland that hold flamingos. These gardens allow you to invite 130 guests to the actual ceremony and 500 for a buffet reception and would be the fairytale wedding you always dreamed of.
4.Chelsea Register Office
Considered the busiest registry office in London with over 2,000 weddings held a year, Chelsea registry office is THE place to get married if you want to follow in the footsteps of your favourite celebs. Judy Garland married here in 1969 and it has been a trend for the stars ever since. If you wanted a simple, yet lovely wedding, then this is the place for you with a mere price of £47.50 for the wedding ceremony!
5. Dorchester Hotel
Weddings in London hotels don’t come more prestigious than this. One of the most famous hotels in London, The Dorchester is the epitome of luxury. With eight stunning banqueting rooms, including the Crystal room and the Ballroom, they can accommodate from 5 to 500 guests. There are an experienced team of banqueting designers on hand to take away the stress and pressures of your big day, as well as award-winning florists and chefs. They pride themselves on their attentive staff who will ensure that everything is just as you dreamed it would be.
6. HMS Belfast
For those of you who love to sail the high seas, this would be the best wedding venue of all time. HMS Belfast was launched in 1938 and is the last surviving warship from World War II. It is situated opposite the Tower of London with a spectacular view of Tower Bridge, which would be an idyllic spot for your wedding photos. It costs between £340 to £400 plus VAT for the hire of the venue and if you wish them to cater too, it will cost £19.50 per head, plus VAT. Not only will you get a ship that is steeped in history with stunning views of famous London landmarks, but you will have it all for a very reasonable price too.
7. Natural History Museum
For all you history buffs, this would be the perfect place to host your wedding reception. Imagine walking up the grand steps of the building and greeted with canapés, drinks and entertainment, into the Hintze Hall that holds the Diplodocus skeleton or in the Earth Hall that houses a giant sculpture of the Earth itself. The choice doesn’t end there as you also have special sections within the museum that can be used for your special day such as the Darwin centre and, also, there are expert event managers to help you to make your decisions. However, this does come at a price; the Hintze Hall will set you back over £19,000 and the Earth Hall would be £9,750, but in the name of true love and in such a striking venue, it would be worth it.
With so much choice, your big day is guaranteed to be an incredible one.
Resources
http://www.savileclub.co.uk/conferences-private-parties-weddings/weddings/ballroom-wedding
http://www.5starweddingdirectory.com/articles/0714/top-10-uk-luxury-wedding-venues-in-london.html
http://www.themontcalm.com/Weddings-258.html
http://www.icebarlondon.com
http://www.elleuk.com/wedding/the-best-london-wedding-venues
http://www.roofgardens.virgin.com/en/the_roof_gardens/the_gardens
http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/london/the-dorchester/wedding-hotel-london
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/business-centre/venue-hire/charges/index.html