Highbury Hall, Birmingham, England. Built 1879...

Highbury Hall
Highbury Hall is famous as being the home of the Rt. Hon. Joseph Chamberlain MP for Birmingham and is situated 3 miles from the City Centre. Set in a lovely secluded tranquil area Highbury can cater for as little as 12 guests, a first class large banquet of 96 guests or up to 150 guests for a standing buffet. Highbury can assure you a warm and friendly atmosphere on your wedding day.
4 Yew Tree Road, Moseley, Birmingham. B13 8QG
www.birmingham.gov.uk/highbury

Rowheath Pavilion
Rowheath Pavilion is set in the heart of Bournville within a picture parkland. It can cater for 130 seated guests or 200 standing. This venue is suitable for wheelchair access and has parking for 120 cars.
www.rowheath.org

Selly Manor
Selly Manor is a 12 century listed medieval building which can cater up to 40 guests. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Bournville the Tudor gardens look ideal for your wedding photographs.
Oaktree Lane, Bournville, Birmingham. B30 1UB

The University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham for many years has provided five unique venues to host their weddings. These different venues can cater parties between 20 – 575 guests which makes each wedding unique. The five different venues has their own exclusive wedding packages with attractive peaceful beautiful grounds which are ideal for your wedding photography and drinks receptions making your wedding a truly memorable occasion.
The Wedding Team, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston. B15 2RA
www.wedding@bham.ac.uk

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Gardens has three suites from which to choose to hold your wedding celebrations which overlook a wonderful array of scent and colour from their Victorian gardens which would delight any bride and groom’s dream backdrop for their wedding photography.
Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. B15 3TR
Tel: 0121 456 2244

Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC
The Crowne Plaza is situated in the grounds of the NEC with a lovely lakeside view. With professional wedding coordinators and facilities that are first class this wedding venue combines simple elegance with a unique contemporary style. This is a perfect venue for elegant or lavish weddings.
Pendigo Way, NEC, Birmingham. B40 1PS
www.birminghamnec.crowneplaza.com

The Clarendon Suites
The Clarendon Suites have three separate suites within a spacious building which is ideal for parties from 12 – 1200 guests and a large car park which can hold up to 300 cars. With friendly staff to take care of your needs on your wedding day so you can go ahead and just relax and enjoy your day.
2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. B16 9SB
www.clarendon-suites.co.uk

Dormy Hotel and Restaurant
The Dormy Hotel is family run and has been established for thirty years. They pride themselves on giving a friendly efficient service. They can accommodate up to 80 guests and tailor the day for your needs such as a buffet or disco to make your day perfect.
304-306 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. B17 8DJ
Tel: 0121 429 4455/ 0121 429 1236

 


CRAWFORD, TX - MAY 10:  In this handout image ...

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Decorating the wedding reception yourself makes the venue for your reception more personalised. This in turn allows your guests to feel included more into your special day.

Balloons
Balloons of many colours, filled with confetti can be placed around the room either on stands or hung up. This adds to the party atmosphere and creates an excellent background for photographs. Balloons can be added as centre pieces on the tables to tie in with your colour scheme or theme.  Balloons in the shape of animals could also be placed around which is fun for the young children to play with. Folding balloons held by a net above the dance floor could be released at the end of the night which builds up the excitement.

Photograph Display
Create a collage with pictures of you as a small child growing up. Include photographs of your family, you at work with your colleagues or any photos of you doing a hobby like skiing, cycling, climbing etc. It is a wonderful way to show your guests your family, close friends and colleagues.

Ice Sculptures
Ice sculptures are carved from crystal clear ice and can be arranged as a centre piece or to serve drinks from an ice fountain.

Disposable Cameras
These cameras are ideal when placed on each table for your guests to take photographs. The cameras can be collected at the end of the day so they can be processed for the Bride and Groom. These photographs let your guests contribute more to your wedding day and photo album by taking photos that might otherwise have been missed.

Entertainment at an English wedding breakfast....
Image via Wikipedia

Named Tables
Named tables are a lot more fun than numbered tables and can go hand in hand with your wedding theme. Suggested themes include places you have visited, comedians, singers or bands you may like, movie stars, sports cars or even planets!

Bridal Favours
If you would like to give a token of appreciation to all your guests then leaving a bridal favour is ideal. Suggested favours include five almonds wrapped in lace, net or tulle, bonbonniere.

Other Suggestions
Miniature bottles of spirit with the bride and groom’s name and wedding date or boxed chocolates. An activity pack for the young children for them to draw the best picture of the bride and groom for a competition.

Wedding Speeches


Wedding Photos of Christina and Bryan Rhodes

Image by Art Pets Photography via Flickr

If you are having a large wedding with lots of guest, check to see if there will be a microphone available at your wedding venue when the time comes for your speeches.

Traditional Speeches

 

Bride’s Father

The Bride’s Father will start by welcoming his new son-in-law to the family before giving his expert and humorous advise to the newly-weds.

Finally he will make a toast to the happiness and health of the Bride and Groom.

Groom

The Groom will usually responed on behalf of his wife and himself to the first speech by giving thanks to everyone for coming, for all their good wishes, cards and gifts. He’ll thank both sets of parents, Bridesmaids and the Best Man and finally anyone who helped towards organising the wedding day.

The Groom then makes a toast to the Bridesmaids, Best Man and any further attendants. The Groom will present the thank you gifts to the families and attendants.

Best Man

The Best Man speaks on behalf of the Bridesmaids and reads the cards and good luck messages. For those who cannot attend on the day, they could record a good luck message if there is a TV DVD or video player available (check with the wedding venue).   

Others

The Bride can speak at anytime if she would like to.

The Bride and Groom may want to give a speech together.

If anyone else would like to give a speech, it would be best that this is arranged first with the Bride and Groom.

General Tips

Try and make the speeches sound witty, if not, keep them brief.

Speeches should not last more than ten minutes.

Write the speeches out and practise in front of a friend to get an honest opinion.

Those giving speeches should limit their drinking until after the speeches!

Consider letting the small children play in another room so the speeches can be heard (check with the wedding venue beforehand).

 

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