I’m new to this forum, so nice to *virtually* meet you all! You will need to bear with me as this is a little longwinded but would really appreciate some support!!
My H2B and I got engaged in 2015 and immediately set the date for 2017 as we wanted plenty of time to save.
We are both from Yorkshire but live in Manchester so decided to get married in Manchester. The majority of guests will be travelling from outside of Manchester so we had the idea of picking bank holiday weekend so that people had an extra day to travel back etc and a number of our friends are teachers so we thought it would suit them. We set the date for 26 August 2017 and booked our ceremony and reception venue, were super pleased with our decisions and took a break knowing we had two years to plan and prepare!
It’s now a year before the wedding and we’ve properly starting planning … made a timeline/ spreadsheet with actions, ordered save the dates, cards for bridesmaids etc. and booked in meetings with the venue managers to start plans. So yeah feeling good and on top of everything and positive.
Anywayyyy, only now do we discover that that weekend is the same weekend as Manchester Pride!!! I don’t know if you guys know Manchester or Pride but basically 150,00 descend on the city centre for the yearly festival. There is a parade at the same time as our ceremony and lots of the roads around the city centre are cut off. Firstly, we’re concerned about how we will get ourselves and our guests from ceremony to reception venue – both in the city centre but 15 mins away and secondly we’re concerned about hotels booking up and our guests not having places to stay!
I’m basically really annoyed with myself for having so long to plan and only just realising this now! The other half is adamant that we’re not changing the date now and says it will be too much faff!! I would really just like some support around whether anything has any experience of wedding happening on the same day as big events /festivals and anything we can do to prepare!!!
Thank you
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
All I can suggest is that you tell the guests early, like around now, but tell them to book up now at hotels due to this. Only problem is, they may find prices increase due to the event going on as well.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorMrs Jones
Oh dear - we've just had Brighton and the whole city gets manic with roads shut. Like GF says, I'd tell your guests now as hotels etc will get booked up really quickly.
First Date 26 April 2014
Proposed 27 June 2015
Happily Married 18 June 2016
CommentAuthorStephanieM158
I would send a wee note to everybody that the hotels locally will be fillobg up to the parade so book way on advance. Have you sent save the dates?? If not add a note onto it.
Met 2004
Engaged 2014
Getting Married 2016
CommentAuthorMichelleC961
Yes I woukd send invites out now so people can book hotels- even a year some places may already be full- is it worth trying to speak to Manchester planning department to see what roads are closed etc and if they can suggest a route for you?
Oh dear. Hope you manage to get everything sorted - at least you have a year to plan, but I would inform your guests as soon as possible.
Looking forward to becoming the 3rd and last Mrs McLauchlan
CommentAuthorStephH96
edited
Hiya, it's only a small area around the gay village that is closed off, and that's from Friday afternoon until the end of the weekend, so if there is anyone down for 3/4 days and staying in town they will probably get familiarised with the places that are open or ticket only.
Where abouts are you getting married/reception? I would definitely send all the Save the dates etc out with the info on and mention pride but there's still locations that are central but far enough away from Canal Street your guests can look at.
Maybe you could get a map or the info for this year's pride and send it out as an example to guests?
CommentAuthorJessC21
edited
Thank you everyone, really good advice! We have ordered save the dates already we're just waiting for them to be delivered to us so cannot amend them but did put our website address on and have updated all info there. Do you think it would be an idea to put a little note (maybe just a little printed strip about it being a busy weekend and recommending to book?!).
Ceremony is at the town hall and deaf institute for reception so the parade literally goes between our venues haha! I think it will be a great atmosphere. Maybe just a little logistically hard on the day lol.
I think what I'd really like to know is when guests should book by, do you think March 2017 latest, or is that too late? Obviously we will recommend ASAP
Thanks all again for your advice :-)
CommentAuthorStephH96
The thing is, you can't go south on Oxford Street anyway, so you'd have to do some sort of diversion anyway. Not sure if they close off Princess Street but if they don't that will be the way to go, although your car drivers and cabbies should be well prepared for pride.
As far as hotel bookings go, I would say asap. The fact that the Deaf Institute is near MMU means that maybe your guests could look at staying in Fallowfield and other student areas, these would be cheaper options too.
CommentAuthorMrs T Hurley!
I would say they would need to book much sooner than that to be on the safe side.
Can I also say that I think you should totally make pride as part of your theme! For example a rainbow cake!!
Met 18/09/03
Engaged 06/09/08
Getting married 05/09/17
CommentAuthorLeanneR0186
Hi Hun,
We did a wedding website with all info on but the amount of people that have asked me questions shows me that they haven't looked at it lol. I would maybe add a little slip in the envelope with it explaining. We are getting married on New Year's Eve and we did something similar. I'm sure it will be fine though. We live in Manchester. Where are you getting married? Xx
The Richardson's 31/12/16
CommentAuthorJessC21
Yes I think we will defs go with the slip. It's town hall then deaf institute. What about your wedding Leanne? Have you found guess have been okay getting hotels? X
