Here at UW, we’re lucky to get to visit lots of awesome, alternative wedding venues. From alpaca farms to the National Space Centre, we’ve seen it all! Your wedding venue sets the vibe of your day, so it’s important to pick one that matches your personality. We know venue hunting can be overwhelming, especially when you’re looking for something a little different. So we’ve compiled some of our favourite alternative wedding venues into this list for you!
The Canary Shed, Essex
This Essex wedding venue is cool as heck (see featured photo). How about a wedding weekend? The Canary Shed offers a three-day hire so you have no reason to rush any aspect of your big day. They have kickass accommodation AND a spa! On top of that, the modern & chilled vibe of this venue is bloody awesome. You’ll also have the freedom to decorate however you like. We’re sold!
Check out their listing here!
Photos by Lex Fleming Photography
The Shack Revolution, Hereford
The Shack Revolution is an industrial wedding venue, smack bang in the middle of Hereford. This urban blank canvas is SUPER versatile, with walls hand-painted by local artists, exposed brick, metal beams, a greenhouse room, high industrial ceilings, greenery, and outdoor space. Craft your big day exactly how you want! They have a licensed bar and an on-site catering kitchen for your choice of food supplier. This alternative wedding venue is pretty special!
What if instead of a venue you went for a marquee?
Check out these circus vibes from Bigtopmania! These guys are the kings of Devon marquee hire, with everything from traditional tents to awesome big tops, as well as accessories and finishing touches. They also offer kickass wedding entertainment. Perfect for circus weddings or for creating the alternative shindig of your dreams!
Check out their listing here!
Cerdyn Villa – Welsh Micro Wedding Venue
Cerdyn Villa is a Welsh micro wedding venue with its very own celebrant! This gorgeous location is owned by Berni B, who uses the term ‘non-wedding’ to describe her beautiful and badass commitment ceremonies. Use Berni’s beautiful grounds and glamping accommodation to celebrate your love in a way that suits you both, AND have an unforgettable wedding ceremony whilst you’re at it!
See the listing here!
Photos courtesy of Bobbi Lee Photography
Overgrown Acres in Nottinghamshire is a bespoke wedding venue, comprised of three gorgeous tipis. This dreamy location will suit any vibe, from bohemian festivals draped in fairy lights to themed events and relaxed affairs. There’s also a stunning woodland for your use! This venue offers the space and freedom for your dream day to come to life.
See more on their listing here!
Dating back to Queen Victoria’s reign, Arnos Vale Woodland Weddings is a beautiful cemetery that opened in 1839. Built in the style of an ancient Greek Necropolis, this was once the most fashionable place to be buried in Bristol. Arnos Vale is now a registered charity, restoring and preserving the site. With it’s stunning gardens, 45 acres of woodland and unique Gothic interior, it makes the perfect alternative wedding venue! They have 3 unique wedding venues that you can mix and match. The Spielman Centre has grand steps and bold pillars- a blend of Victorian architecture and modern glass work. Their Grade II listed chapel is breath-taking, opening into a beautiful grand hall. There are so many gorgeous photo opportunities!
Arnos Vale wedding venue is perfect for people looking for something dark and moody, but also surrounded by nature.
St Bride Foundation
Looking for a bit of classic elegance with a twist? St Bride Foundation is A London wedding venue in a Grade II Victorian listed building. Originally a printing school, the venue is full of unique items and literary history. From grand halls to ornate rooms, there are an array of spaces for you to host your big day, regardless of size.
Check out their listing here to find out more!
Looking for a laid back, blank canvas to make your own? Great Betley Farmhouse in Sussex is perfect for an alternative wedding. It has a 16th century farmhouse with 200 acres of countryside, this venue is perfect for outdoor weddings and tipi weddings. For all styles including: traditional, rustic and luxury, this versatile venue can work for everyone!
This venue is perfect for outdoor weddings in the countryside with a rustic touch.
The Tractor Barn, Northamptonshire
The Tractor Barn is a part of Stone Siding Events, a rural Northamptonshire wedding venue. What makes this venue special is that it’s a family-run working farm, so you’ll get an extra personal service! Decorate this gorgeous space however you see fit – no theme or idea is too much! The floor is yours to get creative and build your dream day.
Check out their listing here!
The Venue On Middle St, Croydon
Fancy a London wedding? The Venue On Middle St is a unique wedding venue in Croydon, bursting with quirk and character. This grade II listed building is a former printworks, giving the venue a cool, industrial edge. You can explore their 3 floors, each with a different style, and have a bespoke package made to suit your exact needs.
Want to know more? Check out their listing here!
Photos courtesy of Leesha Williams Photography
Twenty Acres of Nottinghamshire countryside for you to celebrate your big day! Meadow Vale Weddings offer a blank canvas service, meaning you can create your dream day however you want it! With unique yurt accommodation, a gorgeous log cabin and haybales galore, this alternative wedding venue is perfect for festival weddings.
See more on their listing!
Photos courtesy of Kirsty Rockett Photography.
The National Justice Museum is a stunning, Grade II listed building in the heart of Nottingham City Centre. If you’re looking for a dramatic, gothic and historic backdrop, this alternative wedding venue is for you! It’s just perfect for gothic wedding days. You can hold your wedding day in the Grand Jury Room, grand Shire Hall or the amazing civilian courtroom. They are also a featured tribe member.
Couples could go for a full-on medieval wedding, gothic themed wedding or keep it traditional. The venue is packed with so much personality!
Photos courtesy of Vicki Clayson Photography
In their own words:
“We’re a family-owned barn wedding venue on a farm in Tregynon, mid Wales. We’re a bona-fide, one-of-a-kind, straight-up anomaly: a heptagonal palace of joy and confetti and dancing. There’s nowhere like us. You should totally get married here!”
The Giraffe Shed in Mid Wales is the ultimate alternative wedding venue. A combination of rustic barn, industrial warehouse and homely living room, you won’t find a place quite like it. It’s full of character, yet perfect for adding your own personal touches. No request is too much for Team Giraffe.
An outdoor wedding venue perfect for industrial and barn weddings with the personal touch.
Transformed from a medieval smallholding, Higher Holcombe is now one of Devon’s most unique wedding venues. Since buying the land, the owners have planted over 8000 trees and transformed the neglected pastureland into a glamping wonderland. With a hilltop willow ‘cathedral’, a party barn and a silver birch ‘church’, this location is far from conventional! Higher Holcombe allows you to have your wedding however you want and suits a wide range of styles. No rules, regulations or turnaround times!
Photos courtesy of Jo Bradbury Photography and Higher Holcombe
How about a wedding ceremony in an engine room? Papplewick Pumping Station is a unique, Victorian wedding venue set in Nottinghamshire. Full of history, it retains all its original features. You’ll see hand fired Lancashire boilers and beam engines that once lifted fresh water from a 200ft deep well for the people of Nottingham. The pumping station is simply beautiful with its Gothic Revival style of architecture, set amongst stunning landscaped grounds. Here you’ll find elaborate stained-glass windows, grand columns and polished mahogany.
Perfect if you’re looking for something industrial, historic and beautiful. It’s your alternative wedding venue!
For a wedding that’s out of this world (excuse the pun, I just had to…), take a look at The National Space Centre! They’re also one of our featured tribe members!
Located in Leicester, The National Space Centre is the only one of its kind in the UK. You can get married under the stars in their planetarium with a mind-blowing 360 degree cinematic experience – without the worries of the english weather! If you’re looking for a smaller wedding ceremony, you can get married beneath two real rockets… how cool is that? You’ll also get to explore their six space themed galleries with hands on exhibits and stunning visuals.
Perfect for Sci-Fi weddings, space weddings, star wars weddings (they have resident storm troopers) and generally out of this world wedding days.
The Secret Bunker Weddings, North West
The Secret Bunker is a badass Cheshire wedding venue in a NUCLEAR BUNKER. This place was kept a secret in the cold war and hosts Europe’s largest collection of nuclear weapons. How friggin’ cool!
From the ‘Cinema Room’ to the ‘War Room’, They have a range of quirky indoor spaces and a stretch of outdoor land, too! Whatever your style, this alternative wedding venue offers something truly unique and historic.
Maybe your dream wedding venue isn’t listed as one! Look around local museums and attractions- maybe you can hire them out! We’ve seen some awesome weddings in breweries, train stations, zoos and more! If you don’t ask, you won’t get!
Pictured above is the Museum of Scotland – with the impressive dinosaur skeleton(see our latest blog on this one here). In the gallery below we’ve also pulled out Edinburgh Castle. the Great Central Railway Leicestershire, The National Railway Museum and The National Brewery Centre. We’ve even recently featured a wedding in the Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery!
This section is for the venues that we lust after but couldn’t be bothered to respond to us! We didn’t want to leave them out as we really do love them.
Digbeth Weddings, Birmingham alternative wedding venue
Three awesome Birmingham wedding venues. A former HP Sauce factory, a blank canvas industrial warehouse and a refurbished chapel, Digbeth Weddings has something for every couple! When it comes to food and décor, you’re only limited by your imagination! The team work closely with you to make your vision a reality.
ironbridge - Shropshire
The Ironbridge Gorge is a World Heritage Site in Shropshire that was the heart of The Industrial Revolution. Weddings at this venue are historic, quirky and full of character!
Ocean Kave, Devon Wedding Venue
Ocean Kave is a beautiful coastal wedding venue in Devon, set in an Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Their magical cave overlooks the ocean and creates a secluded, romantic setting for your vows. Alternatively, you could choose to get married outside right next to the sea! They’re big on minimising their environmental impact, too, with a section of their website dedicated to green weddings!
asylum chapel, London wedding venue
Asylum Chapel is a Grade II listed building and East London hidden gem. The space was bombed in WW2 and is now used for exhibitions, photoshoots, events and weddings. This is a badass alternative wedding venue, with its jaded walls and historic interior.
Check out more alternative wedding venues on our wedding blog
Ombré Wedding Dress Gorgeousness at Wellbeing Farm
The ombré wedding dress trend has been one of our favourites this year. Spicing up a bridal look with a splash of colour is always up our street! This rainbow ombré wedding shoot is simply stunning, planned by Lets Bee Together and sent into us by Sunkissed Ceremonies. It’s bright
A Doctor Who Wedding at Papplewick Pumping Station
We have an absolute corker on the blog today with this Doctor Who wedding styled shoot planned by Charlotte from Charlotte Laurie Designs. A lot of people ask me what the definition is of an ‘Unconventional’ Wedding (Or Alternative Wedding)! Actually the definition is very broad and can mean anything
Vintage Railway Wedding at the Great Central Railway
Time for some vintage wedding gorgeousness over on the blog today with this railway wedding styled shoot pulled together by the Leicester Wedding Network with some very special guests! Shot at the Great Central Railway, Loughborough, this stunning heritage railway station features full size steam engines which are carefully looked after
Heritage Aviation Wedding at Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre
It goes without saying, the war was a bleak time with countless dark days. People lived through what most struggle to comprehend today but were resilient, finding light and fun in the comfort of normal life. People carried on and weddings still happened. This heritage aviation wedding shoot took place
Unique Wedding Venues ft. Dinosaurs, Castles and Kilts!
We love a unique wedding venue here at UW, and this brilliant wedding features TWO! Lina and Tom Photography captured Richelle & Tom’s quirky wedding day, ensuring the couple received images which celebrated the venues they chose as well as a nodding to their self-confessed geeky nature. The couple had
Teri & Tom’s Fleetwood Mac Inspired Wedding
Imagine this: A Fleetwood Mac inspired wedding with Native American traditions in the Scottish highlands. This is exactly what Teri and Tom had in June 2021 and we’re here to tell you all about it! If you’re a fan of outdoor wedding ceremonies, autumnal styling and/or Fleetwood Mac, you’re gonna
Our Alternative Wedding Directory- Take a look at our listed venues!
Crumplebury
An extraordinary partnership begins in an extraordinary place. Nestled at the foot of a wooded valley, at the end of a mile-long private track, lies Crumplebury. Breathtakingly modern buildings rise up from an ancient landscape of rolling farm fields and wild flower meadows. Kick up your heels with your favourites
St Bride Foundation
St Bride Foundation is a stunning Grade II listed Victorian building in the heart of London. We are near the Themes and exude historical intrigue. The range of elegant, ornate and stylish spaces are perfect for weddings. Originally built as a printing school, the London College of Printing (now LCC)
Cerdyn Villa – Welsh Micro Wedding Venue and Berni B Celebrant
I’m Berni B, I describe myself as a unique and authentically quirky person who loves to create authentically alternative services to celebrate love, unity, and commitment. I own a rural guesthouse with a garden that has a homemade 3m square tree deck, a unique tipi and a romantic glamping pod (a
The Shack Revolution – Urban Wedding Venue
The Shack Revolution is nestled within the heart of Hereford city centre, just minutes from hotels, transport, food, bars and shops. It’s the perfect venue for couples who want an urban wedding setting, with ease for guests. Just around the corner from the hustle and bustle, you’ll wander down a
The Canary Shed – A quirky, alternative wedding venue in Essex
The Canary Shed is a unique wedding venue in Essex, ideal for couples who are looking for something relaxed and untraditional.