Getting married is an expensive affair, especially in the British capital. London, for all its charisma and charm, promises to burn a hole in your pocket when it comes to a wedding. Its venues are sought-after, hence bumping up its prices.
However, for all soon to-be newlyweds with their heart set on London yet on a tight budget, there is good news! Welcome to the world of dry hire. When you dry hire a venue, you are only hiring out the room, minus catering or drinks. This allows you to bring in your own suppliers, who might not charge as exorbitantly as suppliers provided by the venue.
Not all venues around London are accommodating to this idea. However, with the help of some research and the advice of The Telegraph’s In the Know journalists, dry hire ceases to be a concept and turns to reality. For all frugal to-be weds, dry hire in London can make your wedding that much more affordable, allowing you to spend those precious pounds on your dress, your honeymoon, or simply save them for a rainy day!
The Telegraph journalists recommend Shoreditch Town Hall, London Canal Museum and Westminster’s Garden Museum. While the Shoreditch Town Hall boasts grand Victorian architecture, the London Canal Museum can make for a unique venue with a boat entrance. The Garden Museum is ideal for those on a tight budget, with the venue having frozen their hire fee since the recession hit Britain. The venue also provides the opportunity to host a barbeque.
Most of these venues can be dry hired for £3000 or less and can accommodate up to 200 guests.
Another popular venue in the suburbs of London is the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington. The venue provides dry hire services that include the use of the venue from 11 am until midnight, use of trestle tables and chairs, supervisory staff, no VAT charge, and cleaning team after the event – all the while not charging corkage to customers and allowing external suppliers.
So, if you’re organising your wedding in London don’t forget to look into dry hire for venues!
