About Birmingham
Birmingham is already one of the UK’s most lively and buzzing cities. The midlands city has a diverse population, great street food, markets, bars and everything in between. Famous for being the home of Peaky Blinders, among other things, it is also a deeply historic city with lots of beautiful buildings to explore.
The restaurant scene in Birmingham is quickly becoming one of the best in the country, with many of its best offerings situated in the beautiful and tranquil canal area. It not only has excellent shopping, from vintage kilos sales to the iconic Selfridges department store in the Bullring, but it is also home to the huge Utilita Arena which hosts world-famous music stars and family favourite Cadbury World.
Whether you’re in Birmingham in the summer months, when you can sit by the canal with a drink, in autumn when the streets are buzzing with students, or in winter when the market square hosts the country’s biggest Christmas market, the city has something for everyone.
Wedding Reception Options in Birmingham
Birmingham can be a magical place to have a wedding, with no shortage of venues and sites to make your day truly special. Before you throw yourself into partying, don’t forget you’ll need to hire a few select people who’ll make your reception run as smoothly as possible.
- Photographers
A photographer is arguably the most important person you can hire on your wedding day. A photographer will be capturing high-quality, elegant photos of your special moments, whether it’s walking down the aisle or throwing the bouquet. From candid to posed portraits, they’ll provide you with not only photos but also beautifully presented photo albums.
- Wedding Planners
To take all the stress out of your wedding, hiring a wedding planner is a no-brainer. Wedding planning can be up to two years in the making which can consume a huge amount of time. Planners can organise every tiny detail and make sure it is bespoke to you, from the colour of your flowers to seating the right people together at dinner.
- Live Bands
To have the perfect first dance and get your wedding party out on the dance floor, hiring the right wedding band is essential. Many bands cater to different music genres, but you’ll also find specialists such as classical musicians, country artists and cover bands if you want to play some classic hits.
Wedding Reception Companies in Birmingham
- Specular Visuals
A Birmingham-based company run by owner Richard, Specular Visuals offers natural, documentary-style wedding photography. Although he offers portraits, he prefers to focus on the most intimate and candid moments of a wedding day and can capture every moment from when you enter the chapel to the end-of-the-night partying. He also offers videography services so you can keep a film of your special day.
- The Wedding Bubble
The Wedding Bubble offers bespoke, high-end wedding planning services no matter how much or how little help you may need. They have a variety of pre-made packages such as full planning services, wedding design or simple on-the-day coordination. Whether you’ve just gotten engaged or have already planned things, a planner will allow you to focus on getting married instead of logistics.
- Entertainment Nation
A company passionate about making sure every wedding and event finds the perfect live performer, Entertainment Nation has a huge roster of acts for all different genres, venues and budgets, whether you’re looking for a pop cover band, folk musicians or acoustic singers. Many of them are available nationwide, in case you are having your reception outside of the city.
Pros and Cons of Wedding Receptions in Birmingham
Advantages
- The country’s best food
Not only does Birmingham play host to the newest up-and-coming restaurants in the UK, but you’ll also find buzzing food markets, Michelin-starred restaurants and the country’s most famous Indian quarter for food you’ll never forget.
- Endless shopping choices
Birmingham has all of London’s best stores and then some, from quirky preloved clothing shops to Selfridges, flea markets and antique stores, there is nothing you can’t find. This is the place to splash out on a pair of wedding shoes or find some props for your reception!
- Great nightlife
Birmingham’s nightlife is legendary, whether you feel like listening to live music in one of the city’s many bars and clubs or have tickets to see a world-famous star at the arena. You’ll also find an array of unique cocktail bars where you can party after your wedding reception.
Disadvantages
- The weather can get cold
Birmingham is smack in the middle of the Midlands, meaning in winter, particularly, it can be hit with days of cold winds and rain which can make the city miserable.
- It’s hard to find parking
Birmingham is not only a busy student city but a central hub for shopping and activities. On weekends and sometimes weekdays, if there’s a show or match, you’ll find the streets crawling with revellers and tourists, so it can be hard to find somewhere to park for the day.
Famous Locations in Birmingham
- Victoria Square
The central square in Birmingham’s city centre is one of the first things you’ll see when visiting. Take some time to admire and explore the old Town Hall, the Symphony Hall, Council House and Central Library, all of which are important historical buildings in the city and are gorgeous when lit up at night.
- Brindley Place
The crossroads where you can admire Birmingham's canal district, Brindley Place is a thriving hub of restaurants and bars where you can either enjoy a meal while watching the boats go past, or take a boat trip yourself to explore the city from the water. It also often hosts a variety of open-air events including cinema screenings in the summer months.
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens
A slightly lesser-visited attraction in the city, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston are beautiful all year round, but in summer they come into their own. Aside from its vast gardens, it features four glasshouses with tropical, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid plant life. You can wander through the gardens or attend one of their frequent live music events for an escape from the city.
