Planning your wedding in Bedfordshire

One of the more diverse counties in the country, Bedfordshire offers charm, culture and fascinating towns and villages. Combine this with vast, stunning countryside, an extensive history and the fact that it's only a short hop, skip and a jump from London, it's easy to see why this is such an attractive county for a wedding. If you're getting married in Bedfordshire or are considering it then let our guide below help you with your planning. recommendations, tips and advice from local suppliers and some local, real wedding inspiration.

Where to start?

1 You can't get far without first working out your wedding budget. Try and get a rough idea of what you can afford. Put this number into our handy, free budget calculator to get a guide on how this might be split.

2 Now that you're all set with your budget, it's time to get an idea of the guest numbers. You may need to go back and revisit your budget depending on numbers. Our free guest tracker in the planning tools section will help you store all names and details.

3 Next, it's time to find your dream venue. There's plenty of choice in Bedfordshire. From beautiful country estates to rustic barns there's something for everyone. You may need to book a separate venue for the ceremony.

4 Finding the dream wedding dress can take a while and there's no need to feel rushed. Check out our wedding dress section to browse 1000s of designers and styles. Get an idea for what you like and then see which boutiques near you stock the designs you like.

Bedfordshire wedding venues

Weddings at Woburn

For your wedding , choose from The Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey, origi...

£49 - £188 per head

Forest of Marston Vale

Bedfordshire | 65 capacity

The Forest Centre is a stunning backdrop for your wedding, with all profits...

£24 - £39 per head

Wrest Park

Bedfordshire | 170 capacity

This remarkable setting, where the outdoor scenery is as impressive as the ...

£2,495 - £7,950 total

Shuttleworth

Bedfordshire | 150 capacity

Shuttleworth is one of Bedfordshire’s best kept secrets. The venue offers...

£5,000 - £15,000 total

A stunning backdrop for your wedding, with all profits going towards the planting of trees and creation of new woodlands across the Forest of Marston Vale.
Forest of Marston Vale

Wedding dress stockists

Katya Katya Shehurina

Vintage inspired wedding designer company specialising in comfortable and c...

£1,350 - £3,500 per item

Pronovias

Dressing women in their dream wedding gowns for nearly 50 years, Pronovias ...

£430 - £9,000 per item

Minna

Beautiful vintage inspired bridal dresses and accessories made from sustain...

£650 - £1,400 per item

Kate Beaumont

Kate Beaumont is an independent dress designer, creating luxurious wedding ...

£950 - £2,300 per head

Real weddings in Bedfordshire

Romantic 'My Fair Lady' Inspired Bridal Shoot

A Touch Of Goth: An Elegant Bridal Shoot

First things you need to do when planning a wedding

Free planning tools

5 Now that you've booked your venue it's time to find your other suppliers. We recommend starting with local, Bedfordshire photographers. They might be a bit pricier than you'd expect but they're well worth it!

6 If food and drink is not in the venue package and this is something you need to source separately then it's worth getting your catering sorted. Plus, you get to enjoy all the tasting. Bedfordshire has lots of great caterers and there's even more choice in nearby London.

7 So you know the date of your brilliant, Bedfordshire wedding! It's time to send save the dates to all your guests. If you're sending physical save the dates then check out our fantastic stationery section for some great designs.

8 Are you have a band or DJ? 82% of our couples say they are most looking forward to the party part of the wedding. This is often the most memorable part of the wedding for your guests. Again, due to it's location, Bedfordshire and nearby London have a plethora of incredible wedding bands and DJs.

Photographers

Gemma Chase Photography

My passion is capturing moments so that they live on I want you to be able ...

£1,250 - £1,950 total

Jean-Luc Benazet Photogr...

Cambridge based award-winning wedding photographer with 20 years experience...

£1,500 - £2,000 total

Photography By Adelphos

A fun and friendly sister duo providing natural and relaxed ninja style pho...

£1,650 - £1,650 per head

Hayley Pettit Photograph...

Documentary Wedding Photography. Our approach is super relaxed and complet...

£999 - £2,999 total

Our approach is super relaxed and completely unobtrusive -capturing images and footage that really tell the story of the two of you and your wedding, with all the people you love, as it really happens!
Hayley Petit Photography

Hair & make up artists

Bridal Hair Design by Lo...

Onsite wedding hairdresser for Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire...

£40 - £275 per head

Hannah Kenney Hair and M...

Providing bespoke and personal wedding hair and makeup, for brides and the...

£40 - £160 per head

Ieva Genovesi Hair and M...

I am award winning Cambridge based hair and make-up artist specializing in...

£50 - £250 per head

CJC Hair & Makeup

We just LOVE making brides look and feel fabulous on their very special day...

£75 - £250 per head

9 Bedfordshire has an abundance of fantastic local florists. Can you get them to incorporate locally grown flowers into the flower arrangements? Nothing like having a local influence on your venue decor.

10 Hair and makeup just for the bride or your bridesmaids too? Get your trial booked in (you'll have to pay for this) so you've got an idea of the whole look on the big day. Hair and makeup artists are usually willing to travel so may worth looking at suppliers in, Hertfordshire too.

11 Cake! Lots of yummy cake makers in Bedfordshire and just like the catering before, this is your chance to get stuck in with the tastings. Find a local Beds-based supplier to ensure your cake doesn't have to travel too far on the day.

12 While we've only picked a handful of supplier categories above, we recommend you use our checklist planning tool to make sure you have everything ticked off. Remember, you'll also need to look at attire for the groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids along with Venue styling decor and favours.