Small Wedding Venues for Hire in London

Planning an intimate wedding just for you and your closest friends and relatives? London has plenty of small wedding locations, and Tagvenue is here to help you find the perfect wedding reception venue, whether you're expecting 20 or 50 guests. Organising a smaller wedding will help you save money while maintaining an intimate atmosphere. If you want to spend quality time with your closest friends and family on your big day, small is the way to go.

Personalising Your Wedding Venue

Congratulations on your engagement! If you've chosen London as the setting for your marriage celebration, you're in for a magical experience. Small wedding venues in the city offer a fantastic opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind day full of excitement. Personalising your venue is key to transforming a space into a reflection of your personalities, relationship, and journey together. Let's explore how to infuse your cosy wedding space in London with personal touches that will make your special day unforgettable.

• Select the Right Venue: Start by choosing a venue that resonates with your story. Whether it's a quaint garden for nature lovers, an old-charm building for history buffs, or maybe an art gallery for the creatively inclined, London is full of venues that can reflect your interests and passions. Think about locations that hold special memories or align with your shared hobbies and use that as a starting point for personalisation.
• Theme and Decor: Creating a theme that captures your essence as a couple can guide your decor choices and create a cohesive look. From the invitations to the table settings, infuse elements that represent your journey, motifs that symbolise your hobbies, or quotes that resonate with your bond. Incorporating photos of your journey together as a couple, whether through a photo display or table numbers featuring your adventures, adds a deeply personal touch!
• Customised Signage: Personalised signage not only directs your guests but also adds character to your venue. Welcome signs, seating charts, and menu boards designed in your style can make the space truly yours. Consider working with a local artist or calligrapher to create these pieces for an added “you” touch.
• Ideal Seating Arrangements: In a small wedding venue, how you arrange your seating can significantly impact the atmosphere. Opt for an arrangement that encourages conversation and interaction among your guests. Take a look at the guide section below to get more insights on it!
• Curated Music Playlist: Music sets the tone for your celebration. Curate a playlist that includes songs that are significant to your relationship. From the processional to the last dance, let each song reflect milestones in your journey or genres and artists you both love. If space allows, consider hiring a musician or band that can bring your favourite tunes to life.
• Thoughtful Favours: Wedding favours are a lovely way to thank your guests and leave them with a memento of your day. Choose favours that are meaningful to you and your partner, such as homemade goods if you love to bake or personalised seed packets if you're gardening enthusiasts.

The most memorable weddings aren't those with the grandest gestures but those where guests can feel the love being celebrated. Make sure to make your wedding truly your own - a day that not only marks the start of your married life but also pays homage to the journey that brought you two together!

How to plan a small wedding in London

Planning your own wedding doesn’t have to be stressful. We are experts in sourcing the best venues London has to offer, so that you can contact and book venues online in mere minutes. If you need some tips and tricks on how to make your petite wedding feel like a grand celebration, you don’t have to look any further. Here’s some of our best advice on how to plan a small wedding:

• Arrange wedding reception games - For a small group of wedding guests, it’s easier to enjoy these kinds of activities. People who know one another will usually really get into the fun.
• Host the entire wedding in one venue - Organising a small wedding gives you the chance to have both the ceremony and the reception in one place. The Tagvenue team is happy to help you find venues with a wedding licence, saving you a lot of time and hassle.
• Think off-season - When you invite a small group of guests, it’s easier to find a date that’s suitable for most of them. Host your intimate celebration mid-week or during the less popular periods if you’re planning a budget wedding. That way, you’ll have more money for the honeymoon!
• Get some great food - Whether you’re going for in-house catering or external vendors, you should have amazing food for your wedding dinner. Since you’re planning for way less people to come to your wedding, investing in quality is much more manageable. And if you want to save money, you and your family can make the buffet yourself! Just make sure to talk with the venue manager about their policy on bringing your own food and drinks.
• Add a theme - Themed weddings have become super trendy over the last few years and a smaller scale will make it easier to keep it consistent. Go with a style you enjoy – whether it’s retro, art deco, seasonal, or industrial. You can even try to implement an interesting dress code which will look great on your wedding photos!
• Make transport easy - This is especially important if you’ve found a venue on the outskirts of Greater London. If your venue is not easily accessible by public transport, you could consider hiring a bus for all the guests to commute easily? But if most of the guests will have to arrive by car, make sure the venue has enough parking for all of them.
• Keep it intimate - During a massive wedding, the bride and groom have to make sure they have a chat with every guest, which leaves very little time for interaction. We think a big advantage of small weddings is the meaningful connections you can make with your friends and family.

We hope that we helped you hire the best small wedding venue for your celebration and budget. If you have any more concerns, you can ask around different venue managers for details about their offer, like if they have some wedding packages, what type of food they’re serving, etc. Don't hesitate to reach out to the venues' managers, as they will be glad to help you in your mission to find the ideal spot for your special day.

Looking for specific wedding venues types for your Nikka, Haldi or tea ceremony? We’ve listed our favourite spots for Islamic wedding ceremonies, Asian and Indian weddings, and civil weddings below. Take a look!

Nikkah Venues:

• The River Rooms at Greenwich Yacht Club offers a stunning riverside backdrop with floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a peaceful yet grand atmosphere for this meaningful union. With its spacious layout and beautiful natural light, it’s an ideal choice for a heartfelt ceremony followed by a celebratory feast with loved ones.
• The York Suite at Oatlands Park Hotel is well-suited for hosting Nikkah ceremonies. This expansive space features a private bar and dedicated kitchen, accommodating your guests for a dinner dance. The hotel's dry-hire option allows couples to personalise their event with preferred caterers, ensuring cultural and dietary requirements are met.

Asian Wedding Venues

• The Engine Rooms – This stylish wedding venue is perfect for a lively Mehndi or Haldi ceremony, or a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. By day, the Showroom showcases 70 classic supercars, adding a unique backdrop to your event, while at night, it transforms into a chic event space for seated events. It also welcomes photoshoots and filming, making it an excellent choice for capturing your wedding memories.
• Stationers’ Hall & Garden – This spot is ideal for a solemnisation ceremony, whether it’s a Singaporean, Thai, or Chinese wedding. The private, lush garden is a stunning location for a traditional gate-crashing event, while the elegant Court Room provides a bright and refined space for pre-dinner drinks or intimate wedding receptions. The Main Hall offers a grand setting for larger celebrations, ensuring a seamless flow from ceremony to reception.
• Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch – A sophisticated venue that is all about modern luxury and Japanese-inspired aesthetics. It's an excellent setting for a Thai water-pouring ceremony, a contemporary Chinese wedding banquet, or an intimate celebration followed by dinner. With its sleek décor and impeccable service, this venue is perfect for couples looking for a stylish, cultural fusion.

Indian Wedding Spaces

• PARO – An award-winning Indian restaurant that sets the stage for smaller-wedding celebrations like Roka or Haldi. Conveniently located near Covent Garden, this private dining space seats up to 90 guests, offering an exquisite culinary experience featuring authentic Indian flavors. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot to gather with loved ones before the big day.
• Waterfront Suite at Holiday Inn London - Brentford Lock – Overlooking the picturesque Grand Canal, the Waterfront Suite is a flexible space that can be tailored to your wedding vision. Whether you're planning a traditional Mandap ceremony or a modern Indian wedding reception, this venue offers a scenic setting with ample natural light, ensuring a memorable celebration.

Civil Wedding Spaces 

• Main Reception Room at One Moorgate Place – If you want to impress your guests with grandeur, this venue delivers. The domed ceiling, opulent glass chandelier, and intricate murals by George Murray create a breathtaking setting for a civil wedding ceremony or an elegant banquet. This luxurious space makes for a perfect choice for couples seeking a classy wedding experience.
• 1st Floor at The Elgin – A character-filled space with a relaxed and intimate feel, perfect for couples who want a stylish yet informal wedding reception. The venue offers flexibility, allowing you to bring your own decorations and personal touches. Best of all, The Elgin operates on a minimum spend basis, with rates starting at just £500—making it an affordable yet charming option for a wedding celebration.

Unusual Small Wedding Spaces in London

Typical wedding venues usually have way more seats than you’re going to need, so if you want to hire out an entire venue for a small wedding, you have to think outside the box. Here’s some of our unusual wedding venues that are abundant in London: 

• Pubs – Would you like to celebrate in a genuinely British way? Pubs with function rooms for hire make small and cheap wedding venues. They’re the ultimate choice for a laid-back, unconventional wedding reception. You can add a special touch with DIY pieces, too. Pub weddings are affordable, cosy and a little different – the perfect place for relaxed family affairs.
• Boats – All aboard for the celebration! Some of our boat venues offer stunning views of the Thames. Sound like a truly memorable way to celebrate your wedding? Party boats vary in size and shape, which means you can find the perfect one for your intimate wedding.
• Private dining rooms – Dreaming of an intimate wedding with a delectable menu? London is world famous for its culinary scene, so why not choose a private dining room for your wedding reception? With the city’s wide choice of restaurants, serving different types of cuisine, you’re sure to find a tailor-made option. Dining rooms have different capacities, so they’re perfect for both small and tiny weddings.