Finding the perfect wedding venue in Cambridge, or elsewhere for that matter, can feel overwhelming at first. There are so many options with various costs and vendor requirements.

Do we want to spend that much on a venue or should we put it towards our honeymoon? Photographer? Caterer? Where do we start? AH!

We get it! Not only have we been in the wedding industry for years, but we have also walked down “the wedding planning” aisle ourselves. We are here for you each step of the way and hope that our expertise and extensive insight into amazing wedding venues in Cambridge will help you and your fiancé take a deep sigh of relief. So, let’s begin!

To find the perfect venue for you, we advise that couples start at the bottom. To begin, schedule a night where you can cuddle up on the couch, heat yourself some tea (or, hey, pop open a bottle of wine!) and discuss your vision for the wedding day.

What is the vibe you two want to create?
What best represents you?
What are your negotiables?
What are your non-negotiables?
What is your budget?

These days, you can get married in so many unique spaces … from stately homes, banquet halls, and restaurants, to farms, barns, wineries, industrial spaces, forests, gardens, etc. What type of space best represents you? Are you hoping for a small wedding venue in Cambridge? A quirky wedding venue in Cambridge? Narrowing down the type of vibe that represents you will help save a lot of time while venue shopping.

For example, for us, Andy and I wanted an informal, chic summer wedding to represent our engagement in Paris one year earlier. Our non-negotiables were outdoor ceremony space, summer wedding date and ability to have dinner and evening reception in the same room. And our negotiables were location, catering and on-site accommodation.

Are You a Hands-On Couple or Prefer to Outsource?

After deciding on your vibe, budget, and negotiables, it is time to consider how hands-on you want to be throughout the entire planning process. Some venues offer blank canvases that allow you to organise, detail and plan the entire wedding yourself. For those who prefer to outsource the planning, there are plenty of venues that offer all-inclusive services that alleviate the workload for couples.

Most dedicated wedding venues in Cambridge have onsite teams who are there to provide ideas, options, and suppliers to help decorate the venue, source food, etc. Many will also provide day-of wedding coordinators who bring it all together. Whereas with other exclusive hire venues, at-home, garden, or field weddings, you may have to do the majority of these things yourself or hire an external wedding planner to assist.

All-In-One Venue?

One major decision we advise our couples to consider is the logistics of moving yourself and guests between the two locations on the wedding day. More and more, wedding venues in Cambridgeshire are offering both ceremony and reception locations on-site. This saves couples precious time on their wedding day! We shoot a lot of non-traditional ceremonies all over Cambridge but especially appreciate venues that can accommodate a reception space. This means fewer logistics to coordinate and more time for your guests to embrace the festivities!

Indoors or Outdoors?

When you and your fiancé were discussing your wedding vibe, did you envision an indoor or outdoor wedding? If you envisioned an outdoor wedding, there are plenty of Cambridge venues that offer beautiful outdoor ceremony locations. Yet, in true Cambridge fashion, the weather is indeed unpredictable. Many of our couples prefer to choose a venue that has an outdoor option with a back-up indoor option. However, some of our couples prefer to leave it up to the weather gods for their wedding day, risking a damp ceremony. Whatever your preference is, various venues will cater to your comfort level.

For those of you who are on a hunt for a wedding venue, here is a list of our favourite venues in and around Cambridge (in no particular order).