Venue chosen!

After spending the last two weekends chasing around Hertfordshire and Essex in circles and getting to know the A1 intimately we had only one place to go this Saturday. Yep, after much deliberation (well, at least on my part, Doug was sold from first glance!) we've booked our wedding venue.

If you've been reading this blog over the past week or two you won't be in the least bit surprised to learn that it's Coltsfoot - in the end there really wasn't much competition. Of the nine venues we visited, three (Theobalds Park, Shendish Manor and Tewin Bury Farm) took themselves out of the running straight away because there would be another wedding on site at the same time, and after seeing venues with accommodation we decided to discount those that didn't have bedrooms within stumbling distance of the bar - which meant Gaynes Park, the Hertfordshire and Priory Barn were out. So, that only left Fanhams Hall, Ponsbourne Park and Coltsfoot.

Of these only Coltsfoot was totally exclusive - and a barn, which was what we'd always had in mind. So, apart from my umming and ahhing over whether there was somewhere even more perfect out there, the decision was really made as we pulled out of the car park. As we'd seen so many places so quickly we had to go back to check we were sure it was perfect for us but there's just something so right about the atmosphere there, and the couple who will be overseeing our day (Jenny and Richard) are easily the friendliest people we've dealt with. We chatted about the details over a pot of tea by the roaring fire in the bar and in the end there just wasn't any doubt in our minds; we were left feeling more than happy to hand over the deposit cheque. So, assuming the registrar doesn't throw a red-taped spanner in the works, we will be getting married on May 1 2011.

So all that's left to sort out now is the dress, the food, the music, the flowers....