1. You will need to plan ahead – Most venues get booked up months in advance, so bear that in mind when you start the planning process. We tend to see couples booking around 2 years to 18 months in advance.

2. Decide on a budget – there is no point in looking at a castle when you have a village hall budget. Keeping to a budget means you can choose something perfect that will please your bank account!

3. Location, location, location – your wedding deserves the best so make sure to take a look around the grounds of the venue too. Ask questions about whether you’ll have sole use of the venue, where photographs can be taken etc.

4. Decide on the date – you need to decide on the best date for you, your partner and guests, as well as working around the availability of the venue. Also, decide what season is best for the wedding e.g. summer vs. winter. If possible, try to be flexible on dates to avoid disappointment.

5. The number of wedding guests – you need to decide on the number of guest you would like at your wedding and see if your venue is suitable for that amount of guests as well as checking if your budget can cater for that number. A big party venue probably won’t suit an intimate party size and vice versa.

6. Take Photos of the venue – if you’re viewing multiple venues, it may be hard to remember what each one looks like. Taking photos enables easy reference when thinking about what else is taking place in the room, where everyone will be seated and can be easily compared to each other, visually.

7. Fine dining for two –Once a deposit has been paid and the menu has been chosen, a couple is invited to come along and sample their menu and wine in intimate setting. This is a lovely treat for the couple, and they get to experience the standard of service and quality of food. (certain restrictions apply with tastings)

8. What is best for guests? – When deciding what food to serve and where the venue will be, you need to think about the guests. Are you serving food that will be suitable for everyone? E.g. vegetarian options, dietary requirements. Is the venue located in a place that accessible for guests? If not, is there accommodation nearby for people that are travelling a long way?

9. Travel demands – Depending on whether or not you have decided already where to get married, you could see if your venue marries people as well as providing reception. If not, you need to check if the venue is close to the church/ registry office so that travelling to the venue is not a long process.

10. Find out who will be the coordinator for your wedding on the day itself. – It important that you can put your trust in this person and rely on them to ensure your day runs smoothly. No matter how beautiful the venue is, if the day is poorly organised, that is all you will remember afterwards.

By following these tips, the stressful process of choosing a venue will be a thing of the past. On the day of the wedding, you can leave your ‘bridezilla’ self at home, with peace of mind that your day will be perfect due to you being able to choose your picture-perfect venue.

Bijou Weddings have been delivering exclusive weddings for over a decade at their privately owned estates, which include the magnificent Botleys Mansion (nr. Chertsey), Cain Manor (nr. Farnham), Notley Abbey (nr. Thame), Silchester House (nr. Reading) and the Château du Bijou (Ardèche, France). Not hotels but ‘dream homes for the day’, these historic and character-rich wedding venues are enhanced by luxurious accommodation, impeccable service and management, and 5 star+ cuisine of the highest order.

Bijou Weddings are highly regarded as innovators within the wedding industry and hence have introduced this magnificent new marquee at Silchester House for the 2012 season. The new Bijou marquee is a flexible space that adds an extra dimension to every wedding and allows all guests to celebrate inside with the refreshing atmosphere of the outdoors. It connects seamlessly with the main house and offers a unique ‘carte blanche’ environment so that décor, table configurations and evening entertainment arrangements can be bespoke and unique to each couple.

Silchester House on the Hampshire/Berkshire border is a grand, yet welcoming country manor house, which can be used exclusively for 24 hours. Dating from the 17th century and extended during the Arts & Crafts era, the house exudes English country charm. Silchester House holds a rare license for civil ceremonies outside as well as in and is available from 11am on wedding days. The gazebo situated in the gardens provides a magical setting for vows and now the stunning new marquee completes the whole outdoor wedding experience as Sam Cutmore-Scott, Bijou Director explains: “ Seating from 40 to 180, this quintessentially English marquee delivers the perfect setting for discerning couples and their guests to celebrate outdoors in total privacy. Here at Bijou, we take great pleasure in couples being allowed to let their creative ideas run free, thus ensuring all guests have the pleasure of reveling in a unique atmosphere that really conveys the Bride and Groom’s personality and style.

Whether couples-to-be choose to dance the night away here or move through and continue in the enchanting Music Room and four elegant reception rooms, Silchester House will deliver a memorable day that is genuinely unsurpassed. I’m sure all newly weds will enjoy the warm summer air surrounded by their closest acquaintances here at Silchester House before retiring to the luxurious bridal suite.”

Along with the extensive private grounds and the new marquee, Bijou’s Silchester House has 13 beautifully appointed bedrooms and every guest can enjoy exclusive use of an indoor pool, croquet lawn, spa, mini-gym and outdoor tennis court.

For more details visit Silchester House.

This exclusive and respected event is returning for the second time to one of the UK’s most prestigious wedding venues, The Landmark London, for one day only on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

Whether you’re looking for a traditional wedding or a Bride and Groom seeking a unique and contemporary affair, The Luxury Wedding Show at The Landmark London has attracted the very best of the best. It delivers a unique and glamorous experience with many ideas to help you plan your perfect day!

Designed to be fun, inspiring and with that special touch of luxury and glamour, The Luxury Wedding Show is your chance to meet leading experts from the world of couture bridal fashion, floral design, photography and ‘live’ entertainment, along with specialist cake companies and caterers who will tantalise your taste buds and the connoisseurs who specialise in sought after and desired accessories to ensure your wedding day is the ultimate dream day.

Douglas Glen, Hotel Manager of the Landmark London, says;
“Here at The Landmark London, our stunning surroundings and extensive experience will ensure that your wedding day will be remembered.  Our wedding specialists will be with you from the planning stages to your special day to ensure it runs smoothly and perfectly.

“We are delighted to be hosting the Luxury Wedding Show here at The Landmark London for the second time. We believe the show will showcase everything The Landmark is recognised for – style, luxury and a wonderful, unique experience!”

Bridget York, Creative Director of the Luxury Wedding Show, said:
“It is down to the incredible feedback we received from both visitors and exhibitors to last year’s Luxury Wedding Show at The Landmark London that we have returned; the response to the show demonstrated that future brides and grooms want to ensure they experience what the best of the best have to offer, for that most important day of their lives!

“The Luxury Wedding Show provides a platform for the finest suppliers of wedding essentials to showcase their work in world-class prestigious venues. The Landmark London, where the show is being hosted on Saturday 10th, March, provides a first-class, stunning and stylish environment for exhibitors, visitors, brides, and grooms-to-be”. Lois Beaumont, Operations Director of The Luxury Wedding Show, said,

“We are very proud to be hosting The Luxury Wedding Show again at the Landmark London; this world-class hotel will bring together those who share a passion for style and luxury and the most unique and desired collection of everything required to plan a bespoke and luxurious wedding”.

That is why if you are planning a wedding, you should visit the Luxury Wedding Show at The Landmark London on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Doors open at 11 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and the Bridal Fashion Shows take place at 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the door at £10.00, or you can register at luxuryweddingshow.co.uk and quote LANDMARKLWS to obtain complimentary tickets. If you are interested in either exhibiting or visiting

For the Luxury Wedding Show at The Landmark London, visit the website luxuryweddingshow.co.uk or telephone 020 8429 7520 for further information and to request an exhibitor pack.

Date: 24 February 2011

Marriott Hotels is embracing the spirit of romance, love, and marriage with an exciting nationwide search for wedding poems. Recognizing the timeless role of poetry in wedding celebrations, Marriott Hotels is inviting aspiring poets, newlyweds, and wedding enthusiasts to share their lyrical expressions of love. The goal is to compile a unique and heartfelt collection of poetry that reflects the diverse nature of modern weddings and marriages.

Poetry has long been a beautiful way to capture the emotions of a wedding day, from the excitement and anticipation leading up to the event to the heartfelt vows exchanged between couples. Marriott is eager to showcase a variety of perspectives, ensuring that poems represent a wide range of wedding traditions, including traditional religious ceremonies, cultural and ethnic weddings, and civil partnerships.

The competition will be judged by Fiona Sampson, editor of Poetry Review magazine, and renowned poet Matt Harvey, both of whom will carefully select the best poems for inclusion in the official Marriott Love Poems book. This exclusive poetry collection will be available across Marriott’s 54 UK Hotels and Country Clubs, celebrating love in all its forms.

Win a Romantic Weekend at a Luxury Marriott Hotel

As part of this unique opportunity, the writers of the best wedding poems will receive an unforgettable romantic weekend getaway at one of Marriott’s luxurious Hotels & Country Clubs—some of the most picturesque and sought-after wedding venues in the UK. Whether you’re a newly engaged couple, a married pair reminiscing about your special day, or simply someone who appreciates the magic of love, this is your chance to have your words immortalized in a prestigious wedding poetry book.

How to Enter the Marriott Wedding Poetry Competition

Submissions are now open for this extraordinary wedding poetry contest. To participate:

• Submit your wedding poem online at www.marriottlovepoems.com
• Alternatively, send a written submission to:
  Marriott Love Poems
  Nylon Communications, 19a Floral Street, London WC2E 9DS

⏳ Deadline for entries: 31st March 2011

Whether you’re expressing the joy of newlywed bliss, the beauty of commitment, or the sentimental journey of marriage, Marriott Hotels encourages you to share your most poetic reflections on love and weddings.

💖 Best of luck! 💖

The city of Los Angeles lies 340 feet above sea level and consists of an area of 469.1 square miles, from Santa Monica on the Pacific coast to the mountains of San Gabriel in the east. This provides plenty of scope for top Los Angeles wedding venues, especially with an average year round temperature of 63.9 degrees F. Since most of the year provides little in the way of rainfall, enjoying outdoor locations as top Los Angeles wedding venues is perfectly feasible.

Top Los Angeles wedding venues, in fact, are as diverse as the local landscape is and there are so many exclusive and beautiful wedding venues in the Los Angeles area that it is difficult to make any sort of selection without leaving out many other very lovely locations. In the end, it was a very subjective selection based purely on personal decision!

Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills

This has been a popular location for weddings for decades although it has been updated and an Italian dining room has been added along with a new pool, whirlpool and terrace. You can take full advantage of Los Angeles climate here, arranging an alfresco wedding venue here to suit the bride’s requirements. The Four Seasons Hotel is set in a quiet location of Beverly Hills making it ideal location for a wedding venue for the discerning bride.

The Pavilion on the Lake, Atascadero

Following on with the theme of weddings taking place out of doors, the Pavilion on the Lake provides an exquisitely appointed gazebo right by the side of the gorgeous lakeside backdrop. The reception can be held in the Great Room where up to 300 guests can be accommodated in this high ceiling room with its hardwood floors and expansive panorama over the lake. The Pavilion also has smaller rooms available for weddings with fewer guests.

The Castle Green, Old Pasadena

There is probably nothing as imposing as the seven-storey Castle Green hotel that was built in 1898 in the Moorish Colonial tradition, a hotel that remains one of the top Los Angeles wedding venues. The Castle Green Hotel’s first claim to fame was an annexe whose structure ensured it became Pasadena’s first fireproof building. The Castle Green Hotel also became noted for hosting the Tournament of Roses as well as the Valley Hunt Club. Symbolic as it is of a bygone age, with modern pretensions, the Castle Green is perfect as one of the top Los Angeles wedding venues, especially when the wedding is being based on traditional lines.

Lobo Castle

Continuing the traditional theme, how would you fancy getting married in the modern equivalent of a 17^th century European castle? This castle is perfect as one of the top Los Angeles wedding venues, with function space of 6,500 square feet, a Tuscan-inspired courtyard and gardens set amongst the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains. The castle is privately situated in rural splendor between the Agoura Hills and Malibu, north-west of Santa Monica.

Payne Mansion

This is another sophisticated setting where you can hold your wedding in décor reminiscent of the Victorian era. Well-known as a landmark in San Francisco, Payne Mansion on 1409 Sutter Street was built in 1881, although it has been carefully renovated in recent years. The Grand Ballroom at Payne Mansion has sufficient room to cater for up to 250 guests, with smaller rooms that are more suitable for a wedding party with fewer guests.

Although the top Los Angeles wedding venues discussed above may not be the most exclusive, each has an identity that they have made their own. For more exclusive hotels there is the Hotel Bel-Air, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the W Hollywood Hotel and the Mondrian Hotel amongst so many others and, if you fancy a bit of celeb spotting whilst celebrating your wedding, you can always book the Chateau Marmont Hotel which, whilst not especially luxurious must be doing something right to attract so many of the stars on a regular basis!

by 5 Star Weddings – all rights reserved