With wedding celebrations firmly back in the calendar, Gloucestershire couples who have been patiently waiting to tie the knot can finally get hitched. Hooray!
And for couples looking for a more relaxed celebration, why not host your wedding reception at home? In this hot list, SoGlos shares 11 ways to make your at-home wedding party unforgettable.
Hire a bespoke bar for your Gloucestershire wedding
From raising a toast to the happy couple to enjoying incredible cocktails as you dance the night away, couples looking to host their wedding party at home can make it a day (and night) to remember with a bespoke wedding bar from British Polo Gin.
Whether there are 20 guests or 20,000, keeping their glasses full and taking the stress out of serving drinks is what its bespoke bar team does best. Each wedding bar is completely tailored to couples’ needs, with unique options including horse box bars, quirky pallet bars or even fully lit galvanised bars for bigger event spaces.
Plus it’ll be fully stocked with delicious, organic British Polo Gin and Rum, as well as other drinks from its carefully selected partners – promising the best quality and value for your budget. Couples wanting a British Polo Bar for their special day are advised to book well in advance, as its popular team get booked up quickly!
Set up a marquee for your Gloucestershire wedding
English weather isn’t the most reliable, even in the summer months, so if you’re planning on hosting your wedding party in your garden, have a plan to make sure bad weather doesn’t rain on your parade.
If you don’t have huge amounts of indoor space, consider hiring a marquee to provide a sheltered area with plenty of space to mingle, dance and have fun – without worrying about spilt drinks on your carpet or having to move the furniture around. Gloucestershire-based Bisley Hire can provide everything from large-scale marquees to fancy portaloos, with a friendly and approachable team.
For a truly spectacular set up, Gloucestershire-based Oasis Events specialise in creating bespoke themed installations from rustic festivals to glitzy affairs, with your very own professional event manager to take care of every detail.
Embrace mix and match décor for your Gloucestershire wedding
Your home décor is one of the best expressions of your personality, so matching your flowers and colour scheme to your décor is a wonderful way to make your home look extra special for your big day.
A professional florist can create a stunning floral display to match your wedding day décor – with local experts like The Unwalled Garden in Painswick growing all its own flowers here in Gloucestershire, so they’ll be super fresh.
When it comes to drinking and dining, take inspiration from the likes of Circus Sauce from Giffords Circus with mix and match plates, cutlery, glasses and chairs for a relaxed, bohemian feel.
Or if the boho vibe isn’t for you, considering hiring in crockery and cutlery for your big day from places like R&R Catering Hire in Andoversford, with everything you could possibly need and a highly professional team – so there’s no need to worry about who’s washing the dishes the next morning!
Keep the catering casual for your Gloucestershire wedding
Without a professional kitchen at your disposal, it’s unlikely that you’ll be serving up a three-course banquet for your guests if you’re celebrating at home, so embrace something a bit more laid-back and fun.
If you’re catering yourself, opt for family style service where everyone can tuck into big bowls and sharing platters; or fire up the barbecue – because who doesn’t love a good banger?
Or if you’d rather opt for outside help, as well as bringing in British Polo Gin to run the bar, bring in caterers to serve up something delicious for your main course – like the Horse Shoe BBQ from the Fostons Ash Inn in Stroud, with a six foot horse shoe grill cooking Argentine style barbecue over wood; and SGGBLA food partner, Fluffy Puffin for dessert. Delish!
Book some fun entertainment for your Gloucestershire wedding
While music is a must-have for any wedding party, there might not be space for a full band to provide the entertainment, so consider hiring an entertainer with a unique but compact show – like Gloucestershire magician, Richard Parsons, who specialises in close-up magic which is ideal for mingling amongst guests.
Hire a photographer for your Gloucestershire wedding
Just because you’re hosting your wedding at home doesn’t mean you can’t hire in a photographer to capture every moment of your special day. From those candid snaps of the bridal party getting ready to your guests celebrating into the small hours, hiring a professional photographer means you can document every special moment – with the likes of Bristol-based Megan Gisbourne Photography coming highly recommended.
Use your whole home for your Gloucestershire wedding
Make the most of your entire space by designating different areas of your home for different purposes – and identifying any areas that are off limits to guests.
Reserve bedrooms for dressing rooms for the bridal party, groom or any guests who may need to change outfits; create a quieter chill out space in the lounge, so guests can relax and get comfy; create a cloakroom so guests have somewhere safe to leave their bags, coats and shoes; you could even create a kid-friendly zone so little ones have somewhere of their own to enjoy that’s free of any valuable or breakable heirlooms!
Organise transport for your Gloucestershire wedding
If you’re not blessed with a gigantic driveway or land, it’s worth considering organising transport to and from your wedding party, especially if people are planning to indulge in a British Polo Gin or two.
Consider hiring minibuses to pick up and drop off passengers at convenient points for them to get to. And be sure to be courteous and tell your neighbours if guests are planning to drive to the party, especially if parking spaces are at premium near your home. If you’re good friends with them, they may even offer to let your guests park cars on their driveway if they’ve got space to spare.
Consider hiring a rental property for your Gloucestershire wedding
From quintessential Cotswold cottages to Regency townhouses, Gloucestershire is bursting with beautiful rental properties, so hosting your wedding at home doesn’t necessarily have to mean in your own back yard.
Whether it’s an intimate affair for your nearest and dearest or you’re looking to hire an exclusive-use venue for a bigger celebration, Gloucestershire couples will be spoilt for choice – just be sure to treat your rental property with respect and leave it in the kind of condition you would expect to find it.
Make guests comfortable at your Gloucestershire wedding
While hosting a party at home is likely to be a more relaxed affair, there are still some house rules you may want your guests to stick to.
If you’re a strictly shoes off household, provide a basket of flip flops for the garden or slippers for guests to wear indoors. If you’ve got guests staying over, as well as laying out towels, put together some essentials like soap, travel-sized toiletries, plasters and even things like indigestion remedies so they’ve got everything they need handy, without needing to ask the host.
And if all your guests are staying over, why not turn your wedding reception into a pyjama party? Invest in matching PJ’s for the bridal party for extra fun.
Hire cleaners for the morning after your Gloucestershire wedding
After what should be the absolute best day of your life, the last thing you want to be doing the next morning is cleaning up after last night. Hire in a cleaning company to get your home looking spotless again while you and your guests can enjoy a lazy morning, or head out for a post-wedding brunch.
