Wedding suppliers in Reading

Planning a wedding in Reading

Thames Valley weddings have a particular look: riverside lawns, willow trees, boathouses and handsome brick manor houses. Reading sits right in the middle of it, where the Kennet meets the Thames, and its suppliers regularly work at venues upstream towards Henley-on-Thames and Marlow and out into the Berkshire and Oxfordshire countryside.

Why couples choose the Reading area

Location is a big part of it. Reading station has fast trains to London Paddington and links to the west and the Midlands, the M4 runs along the southern edge of the town, and Heathrow is close enough for guests flying in. That makes it a practical middle ground for families split between London and the rest of the country.

Within Reading itself there are hotels, the abbey ruins and the riverside, while Lower Earley, Calcot and Wokingham have their own florists, cake makers and hair and make-up artists. Further south, Crowthorne and Yateley lead towards heathland and forest settings.

Dates to watch

The August bank holiday weekend brings Reading Festival, when the town is extremely busy and accommodation is hard to come by. Henley's regatta season in early summer has a similar effect on the riverside towns. If your date falls near either, ask guests to book rooms early.

Before you sign contracts

• Riverside venues can be prone to flooding in wet winters, so ask about their contingency plans.
• Check noise curfews if your reception is in a village or near homes; it affects what kind of band or DJ will work.
• Civil ceremonies in England must take place at a register office or approved premises, and you give notice at your local register office. Reading's register office can confirm current notice periods.

Summer Saturdays near the river fill early, so it is worth looking at Fridays and Sundays if you have some flexibility.