Find your Perfect Wedding Venue in Worcestershire

Introduction

So you’re engaged. Huge congratulations! Now for the exciting stuff…planning your big day! Finding a venue can be difficult. There are so many to choose from and a lot of factors to consider. As an experienced wedding photographer, hopefully I can help you find your perfect wedding venue in Worcestershire.

I attend a number of wedding fayres throughout each year. These are useful for promoting my work and meeting new couples. They’re also a great opportunity for me to get to know the venue staff well and learn more about the venues. I’m now a recommended supplier at a number of amazing wedding venues. Hopefully I can show you the benefits of some of my favourite places.

What do you want from your wedding venue?

There are SO many wedding venues out there now, how do you even begin to choose the place where you will say some of the most important words of your life? I have worked at so many beautiful places over the past ten years, I could share some of my thoughts and perhaps help out with this.

What do you feel is important to you in terms of your wedding venue? What is important to you and how will the venue make your dreams a reality?

Do you want to get ready there?

Lots of venues offer a package so that you can get there early or even the night before. Throw away the stress of travelling to your wedding after you’ve been pampered and are all ready to go. This can also save money on cars too! Two of my favourite bridal prep rooms are those at Bredenbury Court Barns in Bromyard and at Wootton Park near Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire. The venues are both gorgeous throughout, and the getting ready rooms are spacious and bright with big mirrors so everyone can get ready side by side.

The in-house team at Trust Salons at Wootton Park is absolutely fab and they really make you feel at home on your wedding morning. You can use their salon on site or they’ll come up to you in the Hayloft. You can also get ready in the venue’s farmhouse, where all the rooms are named and decorated after beautiful places, like Venice.

Outdoor Ceremony your thing?

You’re getting married in the summer (or are just super brave and/or hardcore) and fancy getting married in the great outdoors. I love outdoor ceremonies. Even when the sun doesn’t appear, they have such a lovely atmosphere and allow much more freedom for photography.

So here I go again bigging up Wootton Park (I might start charging commission) but these guys really do do everything so well. Their outdoor ceremony location is set beside the lake, and you actually get married on a boat! The little trellis archway at the end of the aisle is very cute and great for post ceremony photos.

I can’t write about outdoor ceremonies without mentioning the amazing Arley House and Gardens. The house is situated next to Arley Arboretum and couples have exclusive use of the grounds of both the house itself and the arboretum. The Italian Gardens is one of two outdoor ceremony location options and is one of the most beautiful set ups that I’ve worked at. It’s so charming and the little pond leading up to the spot where you say your vows makes for some amazing reflection photographs.

A Civil Ceremony with Cathedral Style

It’s almost a given that, if you opt for a church ceremony, the backdrop will be pretty beautiful. Church architecture often blows me away. If you’re not into the church scene you might feel a little restricted in terms of the ceremony room as they can be fairly small. Photography angles can be quite restrictive too.

That is until you see Callow Great Hall at Stanbrook Abbey. Just wow! This is not your average civil ceremony room. Stanbrook Abbey, as suggested by its name, used to be home to Worcestershire nuns and is now a hotel chain and luxury wedding venue. You say your vows in this absolutely stunning hall with it’s original wooden pews and stained glass windows.

Bright & Airy Indoor Ceremonies

If all the grandeur feels like it might be a little overstated for what you have in mind for your wedding however, there is an absolutely gorgeous civil ceremony room at The Mill Barns in Alverley, near Bridgnorth. The huge windows make the room so bright and airy, with views of the water outside and impressive architecture.

Then there is the lovely garden view orangery at The Old Vicarage in Worfield. This lovely little family run venue has such an inviting atmosphere. Going back to my previous point, they also have cottages where you can get ready if you’d like to.

Castle Venues for Fairytale Inspired Weddings

Getting married in a castle, complete with turrets and towers, original architecture, stone floors and stunning grounds to have your photographs taken in is certainly one way to do this!

There are two venues that jump out at me here; namely Clearwell Castle and Hampton Court Castle.

The first of these is a stunning venue situated in the Forest of Dean, with huge open spaces, a gorgeous ceremony room with high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows and a separate basement area for dancing the night away once the formalities are over. The from of the castle is the perfect backdrop to your family and couple photographs and really satisfies my obsession with symmetry! I’ve photographed weddings there in both summer and winter and whatever the weather, it always looks stunning.

Hampton Court Castle is an entirely different feel, being a 15th century castle with a huge emphasis on its medieval history. There is a lovely little chapel inside the castle where you can exchange your vows, and the hallways and rooms are nothing short of spectacular, with original features, tapestries, and the most beautiful sweeping staircase – a photographer’s dream. There is even a maze to explore – it’s a little too easy to get lost in there though just to warn you!

Award Winning Catering at Redhouse Barn

Some of the best food I have ever tasted comes from the gorgeous Redhouse Barn. These guys really know how to do weddings and their on-site caterer, Morgans Catering, produce food to die for! It looks awesome too.

Food Trucks & Pizza Ovens

Some venues let you have a little more freedom with your catering choices. You might end up with a wood fired pizza oven or a burger van! Not everyone wants the formal three course dinner, and if that’s not for you, you should definitely check out The Barn at Upcote (near Cheltenham). Maybe consider hiring a marquee if you have the land available – then you can really make it your own!

Something a little bit different…

If you’re a fan of the city, Fazeley Studios is a fantastic hidden gem in the middle of Digbeth. It is surrounded by colourful urban graffiti and the Birmingham canals. You certainly don’t expect to walk into a building with stained glass windows! It’s a great location for some quirky and colourful photos in the city.

DIY Marquee Weddings

Then there is the ultimate DIY, “put your own stamp on it” wedding venue…the marquee! Of course, you need land, or access to land. But what better way to celebrate your own personal love story then to build your very own venue? I love these kinds of weddings because nothing is waiting for the bride and groom. It’s 100% their input, super personal and very “them”.

All of the places mentioned above are venues I have personally worked at and LOVED. Don’t just take my word for it – check out their websites below and give them a call – I’m sure they’d love to hear from you. Then, when you’re sorted, give me a call about coming along to photograph your big day!

Wherever you choose to get married, keep it personal and put your stamp on it. It’ll be perfect!

You can find out more about my wedding photography services here. View wedding collections and pricing here and view our full wedding portfolio here.

If you’d like to check our availability for your wedding date, please get in touch – we’d love to chat about your plans!

Featured Wedding Venues

We have a full featured venue page on our website which you can view here. You’ll be able to see more of our work, some real weddings and comments from previous couples.

Click on the venue name below to visit any of the venues’ websites that are listed in this blog post:

Arley House & Gardens / Clearwell Castle / Wootton Park / The Barn at Upcote / The Mill Barns / The Old Vicarage Worfield / Hampton Court Castle / Redhouse Barn