Little Venue List

I'm in the middle of packing our lives into boxes for the big move, but can't help taking a detour through Wedding land. Here are some links to venues in and around Gothenburg that I will investigate further when I get more time:

1. Dragon Gården
2. Överås
3. Skräddarön
4. Villa Odinslund
5. Stora Holms Säteri
6. Skärgårds Bröllop
7. Tjolöhlms Slott

My Dream Venue

If money was not an issue, I would get married at Thorskogs Slott. I absolutely love the setting and have not found a more beautiful wedding venue to date. The beautiful castle is surrounded by English Gardens that includes a pond where wild ducks live. This feels like me and David through and through. David is English and I've lived in England for 5 years. We love to go to the parks and look at all the wild birds. It would be lovely to be able to include these aspects of our lives on our wedding day.Everything about this venue is mind blowingly beautiful.

Thorskogs Slott have a lovely wedding arrangement that you could

buy into. Since money is not an issue in this post, I would. The arrangement is as follows:

Thorskogs Slott have a lovely wedding arrangement that you could

buy into. Since money is not an issue in this post, I would. The arrangement is as follows:

Friday

16.00 The wedding party arrives on friday afternoon and checks into their pre-booked double rooms.

18.30 All the wedding guests get together for a barbecue or a cold buffet. You can sit on the terrace and look out over the English Garden that surrounds the castle or cosy up in the Hunter's Hall filled with with candles and an open fire.

Saturday

8.30-10.00 Breakfast in the Flower Room. The Bride and her maids have plenty of time to get ready for the day in the beautiful room Karin, where hairdressers, make-up artists etc can be booked to come to you at the castle. No need to rush of to appointments all over town.

10.00 The wedding coordinators can arrange pitch and putting competitions in the park for the guests or a quiz walk about the bride and groom through the forest. The walk takes about 20 minutes and can be finished off with a lunch outdoors.

12.00 Alternatively, if the weather allows, there will be savoury sandwiches and wraps served in the park.

14.00 The Ceremony. Can be held at the castle or elsewhere.

15.00 Red carpets are rolled out and the guests arrive. The newlyweds arrives from the ceremony (after all the guests have gathered) in a beautiful Bentley or a horse drawn carriage. The wedding toast, with Champagne and canapés or Strawberries, is served in the bailey. Live music by the castle entrance.

16.00 The food is served in the Orangery . The tables are set with beautiful porcelain, linen cloths, exquisite flower arrangements by the castle's own florist and beautifully sculpted napkins.

21.00 The dinner comes to an end and the wedding party moves in to the saloons where coffee and wedding cake are served.

22.00 The Orangery has been cleared and the dance floor is opened. The first dance takes place followed by dancing and opening of the bar.

01.30 Bar closes and last dance is announced.

01.30 Night snack is served.

02.00 The evening ends, but Nachspiel can be offered in the Hunter's Hall or in the Stable.

Sunday

9.00-10.30 Breakfast. The newlyweds can chose to have a private breakfast in the wedding suite.

12.00 Guests depart

How nice does that sound? A girl can dream can't she? Oh if only we were millionaires...

Gustafsberg

After yesterdays wedding at Gustafsberg I yet again feel that it would be the ultimate venue for our own wedding. There are few places I know that are so beautiful and hold so many memories for me. David was also blown away when we visited it again. We really need to sit down and think through it fast as the two houses that can be booked for weddings are extremely popular and will be booked up a year in advance. Which means that if we want our wedding to take place around this time next year, we are already behind in the planning! But at the moment we have no money to put down for deposits and I'm not sure that we will have any within the next few months. We might just have to not set a date and then take what ever date the venue is available. Hmm... a lot to think about.

What Rain Means...

It's looking like it's going to rain like never before tomorrow on the day of my sisters graduation. I feel so sorry for her and her friends as a lot of the activities during the day is taking place outside. The party will most likely be moved from the porch to the livingroom or kitchen which is a horrible shame.

That would be one of my worries If we decide to have the wedding at my parents house. How much fun is it to have your wedding around the kitchen table??

Garden Wedding?

I have spent the last few days at my parents house in Sweden and it's been heaven. The summer is truly showing it's best side with blue skies and 30 degree heat. I feel so much happier and calmer. People actually walk slowly here, you'd never see that in London. There is always somewhere to hurry to, something to do. Millions of people rushing through their lives. It is so freeing to come here and just breath. There are alot of things I will miss when we move from London, but I feel we have definitely made the right choice.

As soon as I came here, sitting on the back porch, looking over the well groomed garden, I started to dress it for our wedding. In my mind I could see where the party tent could be and the dancefloor. The trees got covered in fairy lights and buntings. Children who got bored could easily pop next door to the playground. My parents garden is bigger than I remembered and as the hedges has grown a lot in the five years I have lived away, the insight by passerbys and neighbours are very limited. The buffet could be served on the porch, eaten in the party tent. It could be amazing. I spoke to my mom and she would mind us holding our wedding there. Obviously it will depend on the number if people we'd want to invite. But for a small-medium small wedding it would be great. And no venue fee means we would save a lot if money or be able to spend that money on something else like my dress, the food or decorations.

I was right. Coming here really has sparked my wedding planning interested again.

Wedding Buntings and Marquees

I absolutely love these bunting decorations! It's exactly how I picture my perfect wedding to be; Happy, pretty, relaxed, colourful, party, summer, outdoors. After seeing these pictures I now want a marquee for my wedding! It's the perfect compromise between my wish of an outdoor wedding and my fear of bad weather. How amazingly gorgeous are these wedding reception venues! And they are practically a blank canvas so you could decorate them to perfection! The nature and seafront is beautiful on the Swedish west coast and would be the perfect backdrop. Aww! I really feel this would be the ultimate thing!

Dream Wedding

It's fun to dream and I don't think you ever do it so much as when you are planning a wedding. At the moment, when I imagine the perfect wedding, it would be something like this:

A dress and hair-do like this:

(found at: http://tinyurl.com/6j7vghs)

Wedding Ceremony here:

(from: http://weddingblogs.biz/outdoor-weddings)

Wedding Reception here:

(from: http://tinyurl.com/6hynegf)

Wedding buffet might look like this:

(found at: http://tinyurl.com/6br47do)

Reception Venue Suggestion 5 - Update

Sunds Herrgård has gotten back to me with answers to the questions I asked them. So here are the additional information about this venue.

• You can have the wedding ceremony at the estate or in their garden. The price for them arranging the chairs for the guests and a red carpet leading up the aisles is £200-£300 depending on the number of guests.
• You will have access to your own suite with bathroom all day, but there is no overnight stays available.
• The bar is open to 1 am, you need to leave the venue at 1.30 am - no later. If you want to stay for additional time there is a fee of £300 extra/hour.
• If you are fewer than 40 people there is an additional 'small wedding' fee of £500.
• During holidays like Midsummers Eve and New Years Eve there is an extra fee for the personal of between £400-£800.
• You can but a 'drinks package' which include: 1 glass of Champagne, 1 glass of wine with your started, 2 glasses of wine with your main, 4 dl Avec and coffee with your dessert. This package costs £30/person.
• There is a choice of 5 different 3-course-dinner menus and 4 different buffet menus. raging in price between: £40 and £53/person. The cheapest option for a party of 35 people would therefor cost £1400 (no drinks and no wedding cake). A pre-wedding consultation and food trying session is included in the food prices.

We would have to look at the menus together and decide if we think its ok or not for the prices. Personally I think it's ridiculous to charge £300 to put some chairs out on the lawn, but maybe that's just me? A Big minus is that there is not a 3-course-dinner that I can eat as they all have meat in them. And I can't say I'm overly excited by the buffet suggestions. They have a lot of meat in them as well and even though I could eat parts of them (vegetables and fish) I just don't know if it's worth all that money for a menu I'm not 100% pleased with? Also I think we could make a better buffet with more things to our taste for a lot less cash.

Once again the question is: Do we want to cook our own food or not?

Reception Venue Suggestion 5

Sunds Herrgård

I've fallen completely in love with this place. Have e-mailed them for prices. I hope, it's not to expensive, because it's so lovely. And it's in Uddevalla!

Reception Venue Suggestion 4

Åttersruds Bygdegård

Fits 150 people. There is glass, plates, cutlery etc. Dishwasher, two cookers, fridge/freezer, pans, 2 microwaves. There is a bar desk available to hire. Price: Full day £150. For setting of tables and cleaning the day before/after you pay an additional £30. Located in Vänersborg.

Pros

• By far the cheapest option we have looked at so far.
• Also by far the nicest clubhouse style venue I have found. It was renovated in 2008.
• Love the green colours on the walls which would work well with our colour theme.
• Black nice looking chairs that will fit with any table setting.
• Several toilets available for guests, including a handicap one.
• Nice clean kitchen for final preparation of food.
• Stage for possible live band/singer/DJ/whatnot.
• Split level room, with separate dining and dance floor area.
• Big space, many possibilities!
• Will be able to decorate this place very easily and nicely since the decor is so neutral.
• Possibilities to rent computer projector (HDMI) for additional £20.

Cons

• Not the most flattering outside.
• 45 minute drive from Uddevalla.

Reception Venue Suggestion 3

Hotell Hehrne/Villa Hehrne

There are three different ways of having your wedding reception at this place:

1. You can rent 'festsalen'. Festsalen fits up to 150 people and is featured on the bottom right photo above. It's located in the building on the bottom left. Price on request. You can bring your on food and drink. Although the hotel can help with catering if you wish.
2. Secondly, you can rent a separate building called Villa Hehrne (top two photos). Two floors, with a number of rooms. Will fit 60 people. You rent the villa from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. Tables, chairs, dishwasher, freezer/fridge, toiletpaper etc. is included in the rent. Once again, you can bring your on food and drink. Although the hotel can help with catering if you wish. Price: £500 without cleaning, £750 with cleaning included.
3. You can also have your reception in the hotel restaurant. You would have a set menu including a welcome drink on the porch, 3 course meal with wine (1 glass with starter, 1.5 with main and 1 glass dessert wine), coffee and wedding cake. The food would cost £75/person with an additional £250 for hiring the venue. You need to have at least 55 paying guests to have the restaurant to yourselves, otherwise other hotel customers will be granted entry. Additional snacks can be served for if you pay extra.

Pros

• Many venue alternatives, you can chose what suits your wedding the best.
• It's in/close by a hotel where the foreign guests could stay.
• Reasonable prices for venue hiring.
• Beautiful buildings in beautiful park setting.
• Located in Trollhättan, 30 minute drive from Uddevalla
• You can bring your own food/drink
• Or you can order catering from the hotel or additional outside catering

Cons

• Can't think of any atm.

Reception Venue Suggestion 2

Varmbadhuset in Gothenburg

You can rent this venue with a package or just on it's own depending on the time of year. Between 1 October - 30 April the venue is available to rent 'on its own' all days of the week, with us doing everything.. Between 1 Maj - 30 September we can rent it 'on its own', but only Sunday - Thursday and the midsummer weekend. Its available to rent on fridays during this period of time only if you hire at least two of the venues staff. It's available to rent with a whole package all year around.

You have access to the venue from 10.00 am - 6.00 am the following day. Maximum of 100 guests.

This is included in the rent:

Table, chairs, linen cloths, linen napkins, three armed candle sticks with white candles, plates, glasses, cutlery, coffee maker including coffee powder, thermoses, heating cupboard, heating plates, microwave, ice machine, bar, sound and light equipment including 25 CD changer, party tent on the bridge with four bar tables, heater. Cleaning is included in the rent, you only need to rinse the plates and pick up any trash of the bridge.

Price: £2000 for only hiring the venue, £90/person with package including 3 course dinner, coffee/tea, night snacks and waiters till 1 am.

Pros

• High ceiling
• Nice location
• Can get married on the bridge
• Cool venue
• You can bring your own food and drinks!

Cons

• Very pricey! It doesn't feel like you get as much for your money as you did in option one?
• Have heard you can't see the sea from inside the venue - bit pointless?

Reception Venue Suggestion 1

Villa Vanahem

You rent the venue from friday 12.00 to Sunday 12.00. You bring your own drinks and they assist with catering. A Host and a Hostess is included in the package. Dining room is 75 sqm, with a table in E formation. Additional relax room with sofas and chairs. Lounge room with bar. All the rooms are 250 sqm. Big garden of 3700 sqm with sea view. They can assist with makeup and hair.

You will also have access to: gazebo in the garden used for the wedding ceremony, big porch of 80 sqm, barbecue section with gas and coal equipment, PA-sound system, Projector attached to the ceiling, ice machine, plates and cutlery for 80 guests, linen tablecloths and linen napkins, coffee maker, dish washer, pantry/cold room, cleaners after the reception.

Price: £2000

Pros

• Beautifully situated
• Modern and fresh style
• Black chairs at the tables (you'll be surprised how many chairs in venues are bright blue, or even white outdoor style furniture in plastic)
• Linen clothes, napkins included, plates and cutlery included.
• Barbecue available for that roast David wanted
• Several rooms and outdoor space for the guests to spread out
• Have their own space for the wedding ceremony
• Cleaning included

Cons

• Really expensive. Price does not include food or drink.
• Could be limited when it comes to food as they help you with catering, thus you can't do it yourself.
• Guests would have to travel to their hotel/home. I.e we would have to arrange transportation.

Dessert Buffet

When it comes to the food at our wedding, we have always been keen on the idea of a buffet. It forced people to mingle and you will be likely to cater for most peoples tastes. I have always enjoyed a good buffet and it seems very us. Until yesterday I had only pictured the main meal served this way. David however, put forward the idea of having a wedding dessert buffet, to follow the main meal one. The more I think about this idea the more it intrigues me. I have always said I don't want a traditional wedding cake as I'm not very keen on the taste and they cost a small fortune. So this might be an exciting option.

If we end up doing the food ourselves we need to be very clever with the desserts. The ones we pick have to be able to be made in advance. Preferable frozen if possible. Or refrigerated the day before. We also need to think about when the dessert table is going to be dressed and by who. We can't have all the dessert standing around during the entire main course. But none of the guests should have to get up and leave the celebrations to sort out the desserts. And I'm not about to get up in my big white dress and set up cakes and desserts that might spoil it. My thought is that we would have to look into hiring waiters/waitresses/food attendants. Maybe from the local restaurant college? Just to make sure the food is brought out/put away on time. Additionally they could make sure peoples glasses aren't empty.

If we do decide on this option we definitely have to look into a venue which allows you to do your own decorating as well as bringing your own food and drinks. It would most certainly rule out the venue I wrote about yesterday. It's quite common in Sweden for people to get married in less posh venues and take care of most things regarding the wedding themselves. It certainly would keep the costs down, or at least redistribute them from the venue hiring to the food and decorations.

It's a lot to think about. Instinctively I like the idea of buffets, both for our main and for the dessert. I just don't want to end up super stressed the day before our wedding because we haven't made all the dishes yet. I'm pretty sure my family wouldn't mind helping with the food, but there is still the element of stress, which we wouldn't get with catering. Hmm... a lot to think about.

Our Reception Venue??

This our first serious suggestion for our reception venue. It's a beautiful restaurant in my home town, right by the sea front. Options for indoor or outdoor seating. It's in close proximity to a few hostels/hotels where our foreign guests could stay. I think they have a set 3-course-dinner though, which is not what we originally wanted, but we might just have to check this place out anyway.

Photo taken from: http://www.vastsverige.com/sv/uddevalla/products/45615/Gustafsbergs-Badrestaurang/