About Birmingham
Birmingham is one of the UK’s most popular cities, with diverse cultures, a buzzing student scene and plenty of modern and historic sights. It’s truly a year-round city, with lots of outdoor spaces to enjoy in the summertime, and the country’s largest Christmas market in the winter. You’ll also find some of the best restaurants around, with fine dining and markets in the city centre and excellent Indian food in the famous Balti Triangle.
Victoria Square is the heart of the city, with loads of shops and bars and the historic town hall to explore. However, just a bit further on, you’ll discover the pretty Jewellery Quarter and the miles of canals in Brindley Place. It’s the perfect destination for any kind of party, with venues big and small, plus every kind of shop, restaurant and attraction you could need for a fun and relaxing celebration.
Wedding Shower Options in Birmingham
There is a whole list of things you’ll need to plan for a wedding shower, from who to invite to which venue to choose. To make it a memorable event, don’t forget about a couple of key players who will make your wedding shower the best it can be and take a little bit of the stress off your hands.
- Caterers
Catering is one of the most essential parts of any event. No matter where you are holding your shower, whether it’s in a huge hall or even outside, you and your guests are likely to get hungry after all the excitement. Caterers can provide any kind of cuisine you want, such as Indian, Italian or Mexican, or even serve up smaller snacks such as picnic food and afternoon tea, all while keeping dietary requirements in mind. Excellent food will keep everyone satisfied and get the party going for hours.
- Event Planners
Planning a wedding shower can be stressful when you already have the actual big day to consider. You may just need someone to point you in the right direction or you might want a whole team to take everything off your hands. Either way, an event planner can help reduce your stress. From the tiniest detail, such as the colour of table settings, to big questions like which venue to use, they’ll consult you all the way and take care of all the details so you don’t have to worry.
- Decorations
Although your wedding shower is all about celebrating a future marriage, you’ll want to remember the event for years and decades to come. Having beautiful decorations can provide you with elegant backdrops, pretty lighting and floral displays that make all the photos fabulous. Decorators can provide everything from balloon arches to themed centrepieces, flower walls and huge neon signs, so it’s worth hiring a professional to add that personal touch.
Wedding Shower Companies in Birmingham
- NCS Catering Ltd
NCS is a long-time provider of bespoke catering services in the Birmingham area. They specialise in serving French and British buffets and fine dining options for all kinds of events including wedding showers. They have more than 20 years of catering experience and will discuss exactly what you’re looking for, including your preferred cuisine and any dietary requirements guests may have.
- Style Play
Style Play is a renowned decorations company in Birmingham providing beautiful backdrops and props for parties and celebrations. They offer everything from stages to inflatables, floral displays and table settings, as well as foodie treats such as chocolate fountains. They specialise in events with specific themes and have decorations to fit all colour palettes. Plus, they are entirely mobile so they can travel to almost any venue in and around Birmingham.
- Eleanor Belfrage Events
Specialising in creating unique events and unexpected ideas, this is the company to hire if you’re completely stuck on any aspect of planning your wedding shower. Not only will they take the hassle of planning off your hands, but they always endeavour to keep your budget down when booking vendors. Lastly, they have connections to a range of florists, photographers and caterers in Birmingham, so you can rest assured that all aspects are taken care of.
Pros and Cons of Wedding Showers in Birmingham
Birmingham, as one of the UK’s liveliest and most culturally diverse cities, can be ideal for a celebration such as a wedding shower. Despite this, the city has a few downsides that could scupper your plans, so you’ll need to consider all the pros and cons.
Pros
- Lots of venues
From Highbury Hall to Birmingham Library, the city has an eclectic mix of stunning historic and abstract modern buildings which work well as party venues. For smaller events, there are also hundreds of great bars, rooftops and restaurants.
- Year-round city
In the summertime, Birmingham is awash with people enjoying a drink or picnic on the canals, walking through the parks or simply dining al fresco. In winter, the city centre hosts the country’s largest German Christmas market with beautiful lights and lots of food stalls. Even in the rain, you can head into the Bullring for some world-class shopping. You'll never run out of stores to visit in case you need something for your wedding shower!
Cons
- It’s very busy
Not only is Birmingham one of the UK’s most popular cities, where you’ll find day-trippers and weekend tourists from both London and abroad, but it is also a student city. The city centre on weekends and some weeknights is rammed with hundreds of revellers and freshers having celebrations.
- It can get cold
Birmingham has much the same weather as the rest of England: some sunshine with lots of rain. However, being in the midlands, it can get significantly colder in wintertime, sometimes even seeing snow. Hence, you need to plan ahead if you’re hoping to host your wedding shower outside.
Famous Wedding Shower Locations in Birmingham
- Brindley Place
Did you know that Birmingham has more canals than Venice? At Brindley Place, you’ll find miles of beautiful canal to walk along which is especially great in the summer months. However, in the same area are also lots of sights including the Birmingham Arena and the National SEA LIFE Centre. Brindley Place is the city’s hub of all the latest bars and restaurants, making it the ultimate place to spend some time enjoying dinner by the river or a picnic with your friends while you’re in town.
- Cadbury World
Perhaps not first on your list of places to visit in Birmingham, Cadbury World sits right next to the Bournville factory, where both Cadbury and Bournville chocolates were originally made (and still are). If you’re visiting with kids, or if you just love chocolate, it makes a fun day out. Not only will you learn all about the history of the brand, but you’ll get free samples and tastings. There’s even a funfair outside, plus a Cadbury-themed cafe serving a variety of chocolate-covered dishes. It’s a highly popular attraction in Birmingham and is a great rainy-day activity.
- Cannon Hill Park
One of Birmingham’s most charming outdoor spaces, Cannon Hill Park is lovely in all seasons and is also home to the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park. There are over 80 acres of parklands and gardens where you can walk or cycle. There is also a lake where you can fish or rent a pedalo and play mini-golf. The park hosts year-round events, making it ideal for a day visit while in the city, or for hosting a pre-party picnic.