Getting Married in Birmingham: The Ultimate Venue and Planning Guide 

Why Birmingham is a brilliant place to say “I do” 

There’s no doubt about it: Birmingham is a great place to get married. With its central UK location, strong transport links, beautiful venues and experienced suppliers, it makes wedding planning much easier. What’s more, it’s also surrounded by a surprising amount of greenery, promising the best of both worlds with city glamour and countryside escapism. At Westmead Hotel, our stunning rural location offers the perfect balance. Nestled between the heart of the city and the Lickey Hills and Upper Bittell Reservoir, it’s perfect for saying “I do”. 

Choosing the Birmingham wedding that’s right for you 

If you’re planning on getting married in Birmingham, but aren’t sure where to begin, it’s always best to start with the basics. What does your dream wedding day look like to you? Have you always longed for a big celebration, or would you prefer something more intimate? Take a look at our wedding page for some inspiration and start building a clearer picture of a wedding that’s right for you, including budget, guests, and style. 

Understanding the legal side of getting married in Birmingham

To tie the knot in Birmingham (be it a marriage or civil partnership), you need to give due notice at least 29 days before your ceremony (this is then valid for 12 months). To do this, you need to provide Birmingham Register Office with proof of your name, age, address and nationality, and you also need to state your chosen venue. The legal ceremony can take place at Birmingham Register Office itself, or at licensed venues such as our Westmead Hotel. Find out more here. 

• Planning a wedding takes time, and whilst shorter planning stages are possible, it can realistically take 12 to 18 months to get everything ready. From choosing where to get married in Birmingham to booking your band, here’s an overview: 
  12–18 months before – big decisions and booking your venue 
  
  
• The early stages of wedding planning are the prime time for laying your foundations. Once you have planned your budget and drafted a guest list, you can then start looking at wedding venues. Book showrounds at different establishments and go with a selection of potential wedding dates in mind to keep your options open. Then, send out your invites! 
  9–12 months before – suppliers, style and special touches
  
  
• Once you have the basics agreed, the next few months offer a great opportunity to dive in deeper. This is the time to liaise with photographers, videographers, stylists, DJs, bands, cultural specialists and more. Pick your outfits, hone your themes, and talk to your venue team about adapting spaces, menus, and timings to really bring your ideas to life. 6–9 months before – menus and guest experience  

With much of the wedding day nitty-gritty nailed down, you can start moving on to finer details of your planning, such as food choices, dietary requirements and menu tastings. Meanwhile, you can also begin shaping your overall guest experience. Think: welcome drinks, transport, personalised favours, room allocation and so on. At Westmead Hotel, we can help you every step of the way. 

The final 3 months – timelines, FAQs and finishing touches 

Nearly there! As the excitement builds and you approach the final leg of your wedding planning journey, turn your attention towards the final touches. This is the time to confirm final guest numbers, seating plans, running order, music choices and so on, while making sure all your suppliers are kept in the loop. Rest assured, our wedding team and master of ceremonies are on hand to make everything as smooth as possible for you.

Food, drink and creating a memorable guest experience

At Westmead Hotel, we know a few things (okay, a lot) about great food. When booking your wedding day with us, you’ll be able to liaise with our professional team and make use of our onsite restaurant, bar, and lounge for your celebration. From welcome drinks to bespoke lunches, to woodfired pizzas and evening bites, our menus have you served.

Questions to ask on your Birmingham wedding venue visits

Wherever you’re planning on getting married in Birmingham, don’t be afraid to ask your venue questions. Aspects like accessibility, ceremony spaces and reception areas, turnarounds, weather contingencies, corkage, bar times, music cut-off, decorations, and more are all important to know.

Check out our FAQs for top tips, and if it helps, write down a list before you go.