Pub Wedding Venues

Wedding Venues in the UK & Average Costs

With such an abundance of history and picturesque locations, you’re certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to wedding venues in the UK. Across the country, you could choose anything from a quaint village church to a sprawling castle surrounded by immaculate gardens. There are countless venues in towns and cities, with some of the most popular places to get married including London, Scotland, York and Birmingham.

To get married surrounded by history, you might choose an ancient castle, such as Dundas Castle just outside of Edinburgh, or Clearwell Castle in Gloucestershire. For a touch of luxury and class, stately homes like Holkham in Norfolk and Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire provide a stunning backdrop for tying the knot.

If you’d love to get married in a city, hotels like the One Aldwych Hotel in London, Saint Luke’s in Glasgow and The Roundhouse in Derby are classy and convenient. Or, for a quiet but equally beautiful countryside location, Houchins in Essex, St Audries Park in Somerset and Berwick Lodge in Bristol are the perfect escape for a fairytale wedding.

With the average cost of a UK wedding now being £20,822, the venue makes up a large portion of the total cost – almost half, in fact – at £5,945. If you’re getting married in a major city, like London, the average venue cost can be even higher at £7,020. In Wales, the average venue cost drops to £5,924. However, these costs can change drastically depending on the size and style of your venue. For example, it’s safe to assume that a vast countryside manor will likely be more expensive than a small village hotel.

Average Wedding Venue Booking Lead Times in the UK

To secure their number one venue, most couples find that they need to book between 12 and 18 months. For more popular venues in busier regions, this can sometimes be in excess of two years, especially if you’re looking to get married at the weekend during the late spring and summer.

For weddings that take place during the quieter months, such as January and February, you may be able to book between 6 and 12 months ahead. The more flexibility you have, the more likely you’ll be to secure your number one venue without quite as much lead time. If you have your heart set on a specific venue, it’s always recommended that you book it as soon as possible, and then think about the other vendors afterwards.

Weather & Seasonality in the UK

If you live in the UK (or have spent more than a couple of days visiting) you’ll know just how unpredictable the weather can be. The summers can be reasonably hot and dry, while the winters can be long, dark and exceptionally cold. And sometimes, it can even be the other way around. That being said, each season offers its own charm and beauty, which can complement your wedding and contribute towards you having a memorable day.

Spring (March - May) is a wonderful time for a countryside wedding as the flowers will be in bloom, making gardens, parks and woodlands extra magical and enchanting. The temperature during the spring ranges from around 9°C (48°F) to 15°C (59°F), though there’ll often be showers, which means outdoor ceremonies can be a little risky.

Summer (June - August) is the most popular time for weddings, with the longest amount of daylight and the highest likelihood that you’ll have warm and sunny weather. Temperatures reach highs averaging 21°C (70°F), but have been known to climb into the mid-30s.

Autumn (September - November) is the time when fresh greens turn into warm oranges, which can make for a wonderful setting, especially before it gets too cold. In autumn, temperatures can be a mild 16°C (61°F) in September and drop to 10°C (50°F) in November, with an increased likelihood of showers and storms.

Winter (December - February) is a fabulous time to have a magical wedding, though the chance of there being snow on your wedding day is actually fairly small, depending on where in the country you are. With temperatures often hitting below zero, you’re far more likely to have ice, but that can still make for the most wonderfully wintry backdrop.

Transport & Accommodation in the UK

Being just a small island, the UK is incredibly well connected, so you can get around the country relatively easily. The country’s often criticised for having expensive and unreliable services, but more often than not you can get to where you need to be by road, rail or sky.

If you’re getting married in or around a major town or city, you’re practically guaranteed to be able to travel there by train, which makes travel simple for you and your guests. However, even many smaller towns and villages across the country have a train station close by.

Many cities also have major international airports, including London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff, Edinburgh and more. Whether you’re travelling from abroad or from within another region of the UK, you may well find that a flight is your most convenient (and sometimes even affordable) option (compared to the train, for example).

By car, you’ll find that you can get to most places in the UK rather easily, especially if you travel during quieter times. This means that even if you’re getting married in the middle of nowhere, your guests shouldn’t have too much trouble getting to you.

There are almost 10,000 hotels in the UK and countless many more B&B options. Many hotels also double as wedding venues, meaning you can host your wedding in one central and super convenient place. The variety is also massive, so you’re likely to find something that suits your budget without much hassle (so long as you book in plenty of time).