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Fairground weddings

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If wedding entertainment is high on your list of priorities when planning your big day, why not consider giving your guests a real thrill by booking a wedding venue with a funfair?

We’ve picked out five funfair wedding venues to inspire you if you want to treat your guests to something a little different on your wedding day. If you can’t find a wedding venue with a funfair near you, why not look into hiring funfair attractions to add something extra to your reception?

  1. Marleybrook House

Kent wedding venue Marleybrook House, former home to legendary cabaret star Eartha Kitt, has its own Vintage Fayre! The venue will set it up for you – we recommend keeping it a secret until the day so you can see your guests’ faces when you arrive!

There are retro side stalls including an original 1940s High Striker to test strength and swing boats from 1890. Set up next to hay bales, apple crates and a vintage tractor, it will take you back in time.

  1. Blists Hill Victoria Town

When planning a wedding and you’re looking for a unique wedding venue in the Midlands, the Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire are a good choice. This includes Blists Hill Victorian Town, which is a recreation of a working Victorian town complete with a funfair.

The funfair is set up opposite where most receptions take place and you and your guests can enjoy chair-o-planes, coconut shy’s, swing boats, and on certain days, a magnificent Victorian carousel featuring galloping horses. Imagine the wedding picture opportunities

  1. The Hop Farm

Home to The Hop Farm Festival, The Hop Farm also has a funfair which you can use at your wedding. It includes the amazing ‘giant jumping pillows’ to bounce away on, as well as an amazing vintage carousel, amongst other things.

The Kent wedding venue is popular for those who want a wedding with a fun, unique twist!

  1. The Garden Room Syon Park

The Garden Room at Syon Park lends itself perfectly to wedding receptions with a fun twist.

This stunning wedding reception venue comes complete with adjacent outside space, set within acres of idyllic parkland. The gardens can be used for welcome drinks, giving your wedding day the wow factor from the very start. The gardens can also be used to host a fun fair to entertain your guests, complete with rides, side stalls and candy floss.

A light and airy reception room comes complete with contemporary furnishings and an understated colour scheme, enabling you to keep it traditional or create a personalised look for your special day.

  1. Preston Court

Preston Court has a lot to offer when it comes to your wedding – there are large gardens with lakes, lawns and a magical island that boasts a regency wrought iron bridge – so you can marry outside in the garden or in front of a magnificent fairground organ, located in the barn.

There is a full scale and fully operational Victorian carousel, complete with galloping horses and chariots – lots of fun for your guests and amazing for pictures – and a Victorian showman’s wagon which is used as a dressing room on the day. The fairground organs can be played on the day, and there is a selection of fairground games available too

 

Interactive entertainment

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It can be difficult being invited to a wedding and not knowing many people there. If you’ve missed out on a plus one, you might be looking ahead to the big day with a sense of excitement but also a little apprehension. Will you be able to chat to anyone at all? In the hopes of ensuring that everybody at your wedding can ‘break the ice’, here are five interactive wedding entertainment ideas that guests will enjoy.

Retro Games

It used to be that if you liked computer games, you’d keep it to yourself for fear of being ‘geeky’. Games are very much in these days though with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and recently released Nintendo Switch proving to be extremely popular and why not tap into this love by hiring retro games for your wedding. A bit of fun at the wedding reception, having a Mario Kart tournament featuring your Auntie and colleague from accounts is sure to be one of the most surprising events of the evening! Not sure on going digital? How about booking Scalextric for a wedding instead?

Photo booth

One of the most popular additions to weddings in recent years, a photo booth brings people together like no other wedding entertainment can. Creating memories of your big day, guests will ordinarily be able to instantly print their photos and keep a copy for themselves whilst also sticking in another photo into an album that the bride and groom will be given after the wedding comes to an end. Photo booths often come with props for an extra dose of comedy and you’ll be even able to send yourself a digital copy as well. Marvellous!

Garden Games

If you are looking to plan a summer wedding, then you might be wanting to hold much of the big day outside in the sun. If this is the case, then after the ceremony and perhaps during the drinks reception, you might like to offer some garden games for your guests. Also able to be enjoyed after the wedding breakfast, games like  croquet or quoits roll back the years and ensure a level playing field from the ages of eight to eighty!

Ceilidh

When it comes to booking music for a wedding, you generally have two options – book a wedding band or book a DJ. But there’s actually a third option. Rather than booking a function band, you might like to book a Ceilidh instead! Similar to a barn dance, a Ceilidh band has an experienced caller who explains the dance moves to you ahead of time and ensures that all ages get involved. A fantastic option for your wedding entertainment.

 

Bridesmaid dress shopping

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When you’re looking for bridesmaid dresses, take all your bridesmaids along. Brides often opt to allow the bridesmaids to pick their own style from a selection, but keep slight restrictions of colour, length or fabrication to keep some uniformity. Telling the girls to choose a style that they feel most comfortable in means that they are more likely to jump at the next chance to wear it again.

Choose a colour that is more of a neutral one, or a colour that is on-trend for the season. Popular choices at the moment are soft pinks, nudes, navy and black in the perfect neutral colour, palomino – there’s no doubt your girls would love to wear these again.

Plain dresses can easily be dressed up for the wedding and after the wedding, but in different ways. How about adding a sash, brooch or a bling necklace? Simple wedding accessories will make the dress wearable on so many occasions, and it won’t even look like you’ve worn it before!

Don’t pick something that is outdated, or will go out-of-date quickly. Go for something timeless, or a trend you know will stick around for time to come because that way, the dress is much easier to wear again. The maxi just never seems to go out of trend, no matter what season. Team with a fab pair of shoes and some glitzy wedding accessories for a formal do, or just pop on a pair of sandals for a holiday look. You might even want one yourself for your honeymoon!

If you find your bridesmaids just won’t agree on one dress, consider different styles for each of them. It’s important to bear in mind that not all colours suit all skin-tones, so be flexible. And hey, mismatched bridesmaids is a top trend set for 2018 anyway.

Short dresses can be seen as more practical when thinking about reusing bridesmaid dresses; whether a formal occasion like another wedding where you’re not the bridesmaid, or a more casual one like a Saturday night out. But long, chiffon dresses do make great evening wear provided there is little to bling!

Bridesmaid dress shopping can sometimes be a bit of a nightmare with your girls not agreeing, or being grumpy about what you’ve chosen, but we know the ways to keep them happy to make wedding shopping a breeze!

 

Avoiding family feuding

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It’s so easy to forget that there’s an entire family unit (equally important as your own) that may be completely oblivious to the upcoming wedding plans; and although many in-laws are perfectly happy with this scenario for others, it can lead to feelings of rejection and sometimes even resentment if they don’t feel the same level of involvement.

The date has been confirmed, and almost instantaneously, your neatly arrange personal wedding planner is bunged with wedding dress appointments, wedding fair flyers and Wedding cakes sampling sessions. Yet in the midst of all this creative carnage, there may be a few VIPs left feeling a tad isolated… the in-laws.

Out of nowhere tensions rise and emotions flare as you’re left wondering why you’ve been lumbered with such a treacherous display of family feuding. Is this a tiny glimpse of what to expect during married life? A moody mother-in-law offloading her dismay to anyone who’ll listen? Or worse still, comparing you to her other daughter-in-law who is seen as the definition of perfection.

As we all know, when planning a wedding it isn’t just about the Wedding Dress and elaborate selfies. It’s a time when two families become one, so make them feel that way before the big day.

Organising fun family get-togethers can be a great way of helping everyone bond, relax and feel included. It’s always a good idea to start off with a neutral environment such as trying out a new restaurant together. If all goes well, keep up the momentum with joint barbeques, birthdays and regular catch-ups.

Inviting both mums along to help you pick a wedding dress is a great way of making everyone feel extra special, particularly if your mother-in-law has no little girls of her own to coo over. However, if this seems a little too invasive then why not ask for her help with choosing the bridesmaids dress or accessories? It will really help in making her feel a big part of the leading ladies.

Seeing as many grooms enjoy mulling over the manly aspects of wedding planning such as choosing wedding cars, then why not encourage your future hubby to invite his dad along for the day? The two men can spend an entire afternoon bonding over some vintage vehicles, maybe grab some grub and have a good old father-son catch up.

If your groom’s dad is a whizz in the kitchen or his mum’s an expert in arts and crafts, you have the perfect opportunity to include their input for the important finishing touches such as making little edible favours or creating artistic centrepieces for the guest tables. You’ll be amazing at how thrilled they’ll be to show off their creative skills!

Why not start out with a chirpy text message or email? At least they’ll know you’re thinking about them and aren’t as likely to feel completely left out of the loop.

Being able to build and maintain healthy relationships is something we all struggle with at the best of times, however regular communication can help avoid many unwanted feelings of exclusion. As they say, prevention is better than a cure.

 

Things to do for your bridal shower

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Planning a bridal shower for your sister, best friend, cousin, or another special person in your life? Then you need a creative bridal shower theme! Some brides are all about wedding flowers and lace while others just want something unique.

1. Seaside themed bridal shower.

Nautical decor is simple and tasteful, using lots of navy blue, gold, and white. You can also use natural elements like, rope, driftwood, or seashells. For more of a beach vibe, use faded colours like coral, teal, or yellow. Natural elements fit beautifully into this theme, too. Phrases like “Tying the Knot” or “Two Less Fish in the Sea” can be used on your decor to add a little romantic flair to the party. Refreshments are pretty flexible. We suggest white wines, oysters, or other tasty seafood for the classier nautical theme. Fruity cocktails like Pina Coladas or Tequila Sunrises are more beachy. Fresh fruit, and other easy finger foods are fabulous for beach themes, as well. Let your bride be a beach bum for a day and let all her wedding stress fade away!

2. Make time for Wine

Wine is a girl’s best friend sometimes. And why not use this as inspiration for a bridal shower theme? Your bride will no doubt welcome the chance to sip some wine, open presents, and just enjoy some time away from the planning process. White wines pair well with white meat or light foods like quiche. Red wines complement richer flavors like red meat and roasted vegetables. So sit back, sip, and enjoy the party with your bride!

3. Brunch and Bubbly

What’s classier than champagne? Hosting a “Brunch and Bubbly” theme for your bride allows for lots of blush pink, gold, and cream. Fresh flowers, white or cream tableware, and cloth napkins are all a must when decorating for brunch. If you’re really ambitious, you can have brunch at someone’s house. If you’d rather have someone else handle the details, hiring a Caterer is always a great option!

4.Mad Hatter Tea Party

A Mad Hatter Tea Party bridal shower theme is perfect! You can get creative with decor and refreshments, too. Use mismatched teacups, plates, tablecloths, and napkins to add to the eclectic feel of the party space. For refreshments, tea of course! And other miniature desserts like petit fours, macaroons, or cupcakes are perfect for a tea party. Adding “Eat Me” placards or even putting the words on cakes or cookies is a great way to incorporate Wonderland into the party. You can serve other drinks like lemonade or wine spritzers, but don’t forget the “Drink Me” tags!

5. Kick back and relax

Planning a Wedding is stressful. Being “on” all the time can take a toll. Laidback bridal shower themes are definitely the best choice for the stressed out bride-to-be. Set up a taco buffet bar with different shells, meats, and vegetables. Add some crisps and homemade salsa or guacamole for tasty appetizers. What would a taco party be without margaritas? There are lots of fun recipes out there besides the traditional lime margaritas. Shake it up with strawberry, mango, or even pomegranate flavors! Cucumber margaritas are a growing trend and are super refreshing in the summer months. Let bride to be kick back with her favorite food…and a cold margarita for some laughs with friends and family!

 

Royal Venues

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Still longing for a Royal wedding type venue?  Here are some more ideas on Wedding venues that will really wow your guests and make you feel like princess for the day…

Cambridge Cottage

The former royal residence of the Duke of Cambridge (no, not that one), Cambridge Cottage became a part of Kew Gardens in 1904. The building is suitable for civil ceremonies and dining, with a stunning drawing room and gallery spaces, where botanical artwork adorns the walls. Both of these rooms open out onto the Duke’s Garden a brilliant choice for wedding photographs or outdoor drinks.

Nash Conservatory

The Nash Conservatory is the oldest of the 19th century glasshouses at Kew and is of major historical and architectural importance. It didn’t actually begin life at Kew; the building was originally built in the grounds of Buckingham Palace before being move brick by brick to Kew Gardens in 1836! Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, the building is served by an abundance of natural light and can hold up to 200 guests, depending on your requirements.

Princess of Wales Conservatory

A unique drinks reception venue for your wedding, the Princess of Wales Conservatory is the most complex glasshouse at Kew Gardens. Containing ten computer-controlled climatic zones, up to 200 guests are able to enjoy drinks and canapés whilst admiring the botanical wonders nearby. Will they be able to find the rare orchids or Chinese Water Dragons? A short stroll from the other Kew Venues, this is a fabulous celebration space for those who love nature!

Orangery

Perhaps the most popular venue at Kew from our perspective, the Orangery is a hugely popular building filled with citrus trees, that is just perfect for your wedding dinner and the dance that follows! We’ve provided a whole host of brilliant bands to play in this venue over the years, with the large, open plan design allowing a happy couple to customise the area to their delectation. High ceilings and arched windows help to add natural light to the space with spectacular views of Kew able to be enjoyed from the terrace in the summer months.

Sir Joseph Banks Building

Named after the famed botanist, the Sir Joseph Banks Building is a gorgeous modern wedding venue that can hold a maximum of 230 people and is also home to Kew’s Economic Botany Collection. Often hired in conjunction with the Orangery, the building is licensed for religious ceremonies and sports impressive large windows that provide vast swathes of natural light. Entrance to the venue is provided through the Atrium, which can be used to welcome wedding guests upon their arrival.

 

Historical Weddings

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Have your every wanted a Royal Wedding, but actually you haven’t got Royal blood?  Well, fear not, we have some Wedding venue ideas which will make you feel very royal indeed….

Kensington Palace

Located in the heart of Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace is still home to British royalty and offers a timeless elegance and charm that delights all who visit. With beautiful gardens of its own, the venue offers an opportunity to get married in a building that has been home to British history for more than 300 years. Kensington Palace’s Orangery is a sight to behold and is licensed for ceremonies as well as being suitable for dinner and dancing. With exceptionally easy access, we also don’t mind saying that the venue is perfect for ensuring that your entertainment all gets in safely as well! Although you might be taken in by the Orangery, we also recommend considering a floral backdrop, with the Sunken Garden being a particularly beautiful and secluded choice for your family and friends to enjoy.

Hampton Court Palace

King Henry VIII’s residence is certainly one of the most popular stately homes in the country, not least because it has a maze! Who wouldn’t love to have a maze in their back garden? It didn’t exist back in King Henry VIII’s time, but has still been there for over 300 years! But this is your wedding we are talking about so unless you have children attending, you might not be too interested in all that! Hiring Hampton Court Palace offers you a top wedding venue in which to exchange vows, be it in the gardens or in the palace itself. Splendid formal gardens and elegant cobble courtyards are the order of the day around this Tudor marvel and the famous red brick makes for a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos. As for dinner and your reception? Well, you can choose from the Great Hall, the Undercroft and also the Orangery and Privy Garden or maybe even ‘Little Banqueting House’. All of these spaces have to be seen to be believed but we promise you that you will not be disappointed. Gorgeous!

Banqueting House

From Little Banqueting House to Big Banqueting House! Hiring Banqueting House for your wedding is certainly a compelling idea when you consider the awe-inspiring architecture by Inigo Jones and the incredible decoration of the interior; where else can you get married underneath an original Rubens ceiling painting? Specially created for entertaining back in 1622, Banqueting House is one of the most dazzling wedding venues in London, both the Main Hall and Undercroft are fully licensed for weddings and there are some fantastic lighting options available to really make use of the space. With glittering chandeliers and vast windows that face onto Whitehall, you’ll be truly in for a day to never forget.

 

The right background music

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When planning a wedding to ensure the mood of your Wedding there is nothing like carefully cultivating each and every part of it. From the flowers to the canapés, it’s important to have everything the way that you want it. With this in mind, we thought we’d delve into the different sorts of background music for your wedding venue.

Violins

Performing either acoustic or electric violin can naturally change the atmosphere of your wedding. Violinists are able to perform a host of superb pieces from classical right through to modern pop! The violin is known for its versatility, allowing a background performer to not just play in a corner of the room but whilst strolling throughout your special day.

Guitar

Booking a guitarist for your wedding venue is that you can choose the style that you’d like them to play. From gypsy jazz to classical right through to contemporary acoustic, there is a whole host of options to go for with this hugely versatile music option.

Harp

Undoubtedly the most beautiful of all the instruments, a harpist for your wedding adds a touch of elegance to proceedings. Whether playing in order to welcome people to your wedding venue or as background music with wedding food a harp is a stunning accompaniment to any special occasion and is sure to impress guests!

 

The lovely Lake District

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How about a mini-moon walking in the Lake District, staying at some fantastic B&Bs and a lovely hotel. If you are fair skinned the sun can be a bit problematic so when you come back from the Lake District, you’ll be suntanned in a healthy way.

Super-fun skiing

Some people would much rather be skiing down a mountain than on a beach. Some couples find beach holidays boring. If you have ever only skied in Europe, why not go to the States to try out the snow there? Jackson Hole in Colorado is very recommended for all your skiers out there. If you’re both serious skiers and want a more action-orientated sort of honeymoon this maybe the honeymoon for you.

Ice cool Iceland

If you fancy going somewhere different and literally cool in every way, then consider a visit to Iceland. Just three hours from London, you can watch the Northern Lights, visit hot natural springs and soak in the geothermal pools, scuba dive and quad bike. There’s also a big nightclub scene in Reykjavik, if that’s your thing. It’s a great winter and summer destination and if you go during June, July and August you’ll enjoy 20 hours of straight daylight.

Going Japanese

Love sushi? Always wanted to visit Japan? Your honeymoon should be a holiday to remember and Japan offers an amazing once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. It’s one of the top places to go skiing but if you go to the Hakuba Valley in the Japanese Alps you can also see the local snow monkeys keeping warm in the hot springs and dip into a hot tub yourself.

The skiing is amazing for both downhill skiers and snowboarders and you can choose from a luxury hotel to self-catering accommodation. There are plenty of English speakers to help you if your Japanese isn’t up to scratch and the village apparently has a great atmosphere. Get there on the bullet train from Tokyo (a lifetime experience in itself).

 

A Mini-moon in the New Forest

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Mini-mooning is a growing trend among newlyweds when planning a wedding. Just 1.5 hours from London by train, the New Forest is fast becoming a top minimoon destination and with its stunning landscape, range of activities and beautiful couples’ accommodation, it’s easy to see why. Here, we explore what makes the New Forest so special.

Honeymoons are the perfect remedy to the busy and exciting wedding day. They give couples the chance to getaway and recuperate together and enjoy a well-deserved break month, if not years, of planning a wedding.

While traditionally a couple was sent off on their honeymoon straight after the reception, and therefore had no chance to chat with their guests until two weeks later, today’s newlyweds are choosing to postpone the longer break, or to substitute it entirely in favour of a shorter mini-moon. The New Forest is a world away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and provides the ideal setting for a romantic break.

Amazing accommodation

Let’s face it, you don’t want your run of the mill hotel for your mini-moon. A once in a lifetime event, it deserves accommodation that wows, and there’s plenty of that in the New Forest.

If you’re looking for a place to get away from it all, Beaulieu River View is a gorgeously secluded bolthole for two. Stood on stilts above the Beaulieu River, it certainly has the wow factor and mini-mooners have been visiting for years, drawn by The Wind in the Willows reminiscent surroundings and the open plan living inside.

Fantastic activities

A mini-moon in the New Forest gives couples the chance enjoys a wide range of activities together. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or a novice looking to try something new, there’s something to suit everyone.

Walking is a very popular pastime in the New Forest, thanks to the miles and miles of exquisite landscape, approved walking route and plenty of wildlife to spot en route. What could be more romantic than rambling through the woodland, chatting away and getting a bit of post-wedding cake exercise thrown in too?

Other outdoor pursuits such as cycling, horse-riding and watersports like kayaking are also popular and there are lots of activity centres offering rental of equipment and organised trips. Take a look at New Forest Activities for their range of days out and shorter trips, including foraging trails and kayaking.

Not everybody like the beach…

Not everybody wants the ‘classic white sandy beach, azure blue swimming pool, hot sunshine, and cocktails at sunset’ type of a honeymoon. When planning a wedding why not take a look at some of those overlooked destinations that might not have a tropical climate but can still get you hot under the collar.

The lovely Lake District

How about a mini-moon walking in the Lake District, staying at some fantastic B&Bs and a lovely hotel. If you are fair skinned the sun can be a bit problematic so when you come back from the Lake District, you’ll be suntanned in a healthy way.

Super-fun skiing

Some people would much rather be skiing down a mountain than on a beach. Some couples find beach holidays boring. If you have ever only skied in Europe, why not go to the States to try out the snow there? Jackson Hole in Colorado is very recommended for all your skiers out there. If you’re both serious skiers and want a more action-orientated sort of honeymoon this maybe the honeymoon for you.

Ice cool Iceland

If you fancy going somewhere different and literally cool in every way, then consider a visit to Iceland. Just three hours from London, you can watch the Northern Lights, visit hot natural springs and soak in the geothermal pools, scuba dive and quad bike. There’s also a big nightclub scene in Reykjavik, if that’s your thing. It’s a great winter and summer destination and if you go during June, July and August you’ll enjoy 20 hours of straight daylight.

Going Japanese

Love sushi? Always wanted to visit Japan? Your honeymoon should be a holiday to remember and Japan offers an amazing once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience. It’s one of the top places to go skiing but if you go to the Hakuba Valley in the Japanese Alps you can also see the local snow monkeys keeping warm in the hot springs and dip into a hot tub yourself.

The skiing is amazing for both downhill skiers and snowboarders and you can choose from a luxury hotel to self-catering accommodation. There are plenty of English speakers to help you if your Japanese isn’t up to scratch and the village apparently has a great atmosphere. Get there on the bullet train from Tokyo (a lifetime experience in itself).