About Nottingham
If you’ve ever tried finding a wedding venue in Nottingham, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with its popularity among couples planning on tying the knot.
Not only does Nottingham have a huge range of wedding venues that are enough to suit most tastes, but there are also some pretty cool places to visit here too.
Psst, if you’re as big of a history nerd as we are, then you’re in for a real treat!
In the heart of the East Midlands in England, Nottingham is home to many historical sites including an almost 1,000-year-old castle, mysterious ancient caves, Sherwood Forest, and of course everyone’s most beloved thief, Robin Hood.
Wedding Venue Options in Nottingham
Nottingham city offers many quality wedding venue services that cater to the majority of tastes and delights brides-and-grooms-to-be. Here are some common choices for weddings:
- The Wedding Venue
Much like the backdrop of a play or film, the venue plays an important role in setting the scene for your wedding day. From landscaped gardens to an elegant evening reception, a Nottingham wedding venue has many beautiful options to offer its brides and grooms-to-be. Some popular choices include quirky outdoor ceremony options like barn wedding venues complete with fairy lights and traditional wedding venue settings like hotel and country house venues.
- The Flowers
Adding to the mood and atmosphere of the day, no wedding is complete without flowers. Coming in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colours, flowers bring different traits to a wedding. Your choice of flowers should be wholly personal, depending on what qualities are important to you and your partner. Of course, the colour scheme of the venue and bridal party is another important consideration for what flowers you pick, too. Some popular choices for weddings include white roses symbolising purity, irises for faith and hydrangeas for perseverance.
- Professional Photographers
From getting ready before the ceremony, to your first kiss as a married couple, and throwing your bouquet, wedding photography represents more than just the day itself. Capable of capturing the important moments that make up the unique story of your love, it’s no surprise that wedding pictures are considered an epically important decision for successfully retelling this tale. Nottingham boasts a lot of picturesque scenery that can add a magical backdrop to any wedding picture. Plus, unlike the cake, you’ll get to enjoy these long after your wedding day.
- Catering Companies
Are you one of the many who want to enjoy your special day without the hassle of preparing food for all of your many guests? In that case, you may want to consider handing that responsibility over to a trusted caterer. Being the first meal that you’ll have together after tying the knot, it's likely you consider this another crucial service to contribute to the smooth running of your wedding day. Many venues in Nottingham offer their catering services, allowing husbands and wives to-be to have one less thing to worry about on their special day.
Popular Wedding Planners in Nottingham
Having a professional around to take care of the planning for you can help to remove feelings of overwhelm and stress commonly experienced by couples getting married.
- Marble Private
With a team of specialists and 15 years of industry experience, they collaborate with couples to create premium and highly personalised wedding receptions. Some of their previous collaborations include a festival-style wedding on a large private estate and an elegant Boeing plane reception.
- Love Lydia Weddings
Another luxury wedding planner, Love Lydia Weddings provides no fixed price to their clients. This is because each of their wedding packages is completely bespoke and tailored to their special day. Known for their discretion, professionality, and authenticity, it’s easy to see why they’re rated 5*.
- Benessamy
Since opening its doors in 2011, Benessamy Wedding and Events Planning has won multiple awards for its wedding planning services. With a huge network of contacts at their disposal, finding dream venues, caterers, and more is effortless and stress-free for couples employing their services. Benessamy offers planning services for parties of up to 500 and even helps with those throwing destination weddings abroad in the Caribbean.
Pros and Cons of Wedding Venues in Nottingham
Although a great place to get married, there are some factors that you should consider before tying the knot in Nottingham.
Advantages
- It has a central location
Nottingham city centre is home to a large selection of wedding services across the city. This makes it an ideal choice for those wanting bespoke weddings.
- There are many venues to pick from
Choose from a variety of beautiful and quirky venues including tipi and barn wedding venues to more traditional settings like churches.
- The British flowers
The start of spring is marked by the growth of blossoms, followed by other species of flowers. This makes it an ideal time for couples seeking a fairy tale or summer garden wedding reception.
- It has a deep and rich history
The historical significance of Nottingham makes it a popular favourite for couples and exploring around or after their wedding day. From Robin Hood tours to ancient castles, there’s a lot to see here.
- It’s less expensive than other UK cities
Being smaller and less well-known than other UK cities, Nottingham can be a more affordable option for those wanting to get more for their money.
Disadvantages
- It rains a lot
Like most of the UK, it rains in Nottingham for roughly 122 days per year, including during the summer - so don’t forget to bring your umbrella!
- It can be really grey at times
Winter weddings offer a real lack of natural light and colour. Plus standing outdoors for extended periods for guests and wedding photos can be quite unpleasant due to the low temperatures.
- You can be limited in your options
From October until April, it's very wet and cold. This limits the number of companies offering couples an outdoor ceremony.
- The costs can be high for those on a lower budget
It’s no secret that the cost of weddings has been steadily rising over the past decade. Unfortunately, Nottinghamshire has been no stranger to these price rises. This may make finding a suitable venue more difficult for couples with lower budgets.
- Venue-provided caterers can be more expensive
Many venues in Nottinghamshire have their caterer included, which tends to be significantly more expensive than using your own.
Famous Locations in Nottingham
- Nottingham Castle
This ancient castle was built by William the conqueror, shortly after he invaded England. Since then it has served as one of four strongholds for numerous kings and queens in the UK. With the days of invasion safely behind us, today it’s mostly swarmed by the thousands of visitors it receives each year.
- The City of Caves
Right below the historic Nottingham Castle lies a network of over 500 ancient sandstone caves dating back to the dark ages. These have been used in everything from coups, to brewing cellars and bomb shelters during the second world war.
