LGBTQ Friendly Wedding Venues
Gay marriage has been legal in England, Wales and Scotland since 2014 but it can still be difficult planning a same-sex wedding.
If you’re a lesbian phoning up to make an appointment for a viewing, then it may well still be assumed that your partner is male.
Gay men could be directed to a bridal suite once the DJ has packed away, the guests have departed and the confetti swept up.
Wedding magazines still fixate on the idea of women as the principal organisers of weddings with bridal trends dominating most of the articles, blog posts and advertisements offered to audiences. It’s not always the case – especially with blogs – but take a look at the wedding shelf in your local high street newsagents as chances are it’s rather hetero-centric.
We’ve always been big believers in the rights of the LGBTQ community to see themselves represented in the wedding industry. It’s why Pink Wedding Days promote same-sex wedding venues, vendors and service providers from across the UK and have done since civil partnerships were first introduced all the back in 2005.
In today’s post we’re going to pick 5 of our favourite same-sex wedding venues highlighting what’s special about each one.
Venue Name: The Vu
Type of Venue: Wedding & reception venue
Location: Bathgate, Scotland
Capacity: Up to 200 guests (280 by special arrangement)
Bedrooms: 5* luxury Canadian log cabin for the happy couple
Website: https://thevu.co.uk/
What We Love: The views out onto and across the Ballencrief Reservoir are absolutely stunning. The two buildings offer panoramic views with the Water Lily expanding out onto the water itself. The location between Edinburgh and Glasgow make this rural retreat easily accessible for guests, too.
Venues Own Words: Your wedding is one of the biggest days of your life and we understand how challenging it can be to make a venue choice. Our events team strive to ensure you are 100% happy with our spectacular Oasis & Vu Suites, our fabulous Water Lily Island Suite and every aspect of the service we provide.
Your Wedding Ceremony
The unique Water Lily, in the middle of Ballencrieff Reservoir, offers something truly magical for you and up to 150 guests. With full height windows providing 270-degree views to the West over the reservoir you really do feel as if you’re on the water. Have your drinks reception at the Water Lily while photographs are being taken.
Your Wedding Reception
Have your reception in our fabulous Oasis/Vu suites.
With its warm contemporary interior and feature lighting, our Oasis suite provides the perfect atmosphere for your wedding reception. 150 guests can be accommodated and 300 can be catered for by special arrangement. Our equally contemporary and welcoming Vu suite provides a more intimate venue for 85 wedding guests and a maximum of 110 evening guests.
Speak to our weddings consultant about those special touches for your table arrangements and how you can utilise the lighting and integrated sound system.
Visit our website for much more information and photographs showing just how stunning and unique our venue, cars and dedicated staff are .... Read our testimonials, download our brochure and most importantly - email or call to arrange a tour.
Venue Name: Iscoyd Park
Type of Venue: Private country house
Location: Whitchurch, Shropshire
Capacity: Civil ceremony: up to 120 people
Wedding breakfast and evening reception: up to 160 people.
Wedding breakfast and evening reception: up to 160 people.
Bedrooms: Accommodation onsite for the couple and guests with additional accommodation with nearby hotels & B&Bs
What We Love: This Georgian house is bursting with charm and character but it also offers couples a modern outlook and one that’s reflected in the sumptuous dining choices and the gorgeous interiors. It must be impossible to take a bad photograph of this beautiful building and its sharp décor. We love that couples can take a 3D tour of the venue without having to step out of their front door. We’re confident that you’ll fall in love with it. We love, too, the insistence that there are no packages at Iscoyd House – only formulas. Book your wedding here and this venue will take your breath away.
The Venues Own Words: At Iscoyd we pride ourselves on the warm , relaxed and friendly feeling this family house and gardens have. We operate in a different way to a hotel and those who get married here really feel that Iscoyd is their place for their day. We only ever have one event on at any time so that apart from the people who are looking after you the only people you will see are your own family and friends. Having recently completed a major renovation project Iscoyd Park has a choice of two beautiful licensed Ceremony rooms, a fine selection of reception and party rooms and a permanent marquee which is attached to the house itself and can seat up to 150 for a Wedding Breakfast. We can accommodate up to 18 people in the house and surrounding buildings and further 8 in an estate cottage nearby.
Venue Name: Craig-Y-Nos Hotel
Type of Venue: Castle
Location: Penycae Swansea
Capacity: up to 150 people
Bedrooms: Both for the couple and for overnight guests
What We Love: This is a castle – what’s not to love? And what’s more, couples will benefit from having exclusive use of the entire castle as Craig-Y-Nos only hold one wedding a day. There’s a historic Grade I opera house inside the castle as well as a conservatory with gorgeous views over the Brecon Beacons. There are a number of packages available making this fairy tale venue affordable for not only you and your partner but for guests, too, as there are good rates for overnight accommodation.
The Venues Own Words: Craig Y Nos Castle is ideally situated in the Brecon Beacons as one of the premier wedding venues in Wales. Being a Castle it is steeped in Romance and History and features a Grade 1 Listed Opera House - which is ideal for Wedding Ceremonies.
Venue Name: Malone Lodge Hotel
Type of Venue: Hotel
Location: Malone Road, Belfast
Capacity: Up to 250 people
Bedrooms: Bedroom and suites available for both the couple and the wedding guests.
What We Love: There’s only one wedding a day at the Malone Lodge so you won’t be competing with anyone else on your big day. There’s also the chance to take a whopping 10% off the total if you get married in 2019. We love, too, that this hotel is just a 10-minute drive from some of Belfast’s biggest attractions and the city’s centre but as the Malone Lodge is in a green suburb it feels apart from the action.
The Venues Own Words: As a licensed Civil Partnership venue, the Malone Lodge Hotel is the perfect venue to declare your vows in front of family and friends. With some of the most exquisite parks and gardens in Belfast only minutes away, you'll be spoilt for choice in choosing the perfect location for your wedding photography.
Our experienced and professional team will guide you through the steps you need to take and answer all your questions, ensuring that we create a Wedding Day that exceeds your dreams. Our Award-Winning Chefs have designed the Wedding Selector Menu, using local suppliers, thereby ensuring the finest quality produce will be used in your Wedding Menu.
We have put together 4 Wedding packages; the Elegance Wedding, the Malone Wedding, the Platinum Wedding and the Orchid Wedding. These packages have been specially tailored for a minimum of 80 guests (Fri & Sat), and 50 guests (Mon - Thurs).
In the Malone Bridal Suite, an oasis of serenity and luxury, opulent fabrics and luxurious soft furnishings, compliment the 6ft bespoke Bridal bed. For your guests, we have a range of accommodation options to suit every need, including luxurious bedrooms, sumptuous executive bedrooms and suites, and self-catering Apartments.
At Malone Lodge Hotel, a welcoming ambience and relaxed luxury await you. We look forward to welcoming you.
Are you looking for a wedding venue in another part of the country? We list LGBTQ wedding venues and service providers right across the United Kingdom.