The Coolest East London Wedding Venues: Hackney Venues

East London is the epicentre of cool - it’s why we host our show in Shoreditch every year. And nothing exemplifies this better than the portfolio of exceptional venues that make up Hackney Venues - plus, there’s a brand new opening up in Autumn this year! We chatted to the team about what makes their collection of venues so bloomin’ special, but here’s a headsup: incredible architecture, beautiful interiors, and an insanely helpful events team. Take it away, Richard…

Tell us about your business – what do you do?

With 10 years in the industry, the Hackney Venues team have learnt a lot about what it takes for you to organise the best day of your life. Whether it’s a simple, small ceremony with a handful of guests or an all singing, all dancing ceremony and reception for up to 250 we’ve got a space for you as well as the knowledge and expertise to help you every step of the way. We’re proud to offer three (soon to be four!) stunning and unique wedding & civil ceremony venues across Hackney. With the option of choosing from two breathtaking Grade II Listed town halls, an 18th century mansion house set in the beautiful green space of Clissold Park and a brand new purpose built venue launching in the Autumn of 2020, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to venues across this amazing borough.

Why & how did you start?

This year, Hackney Venues celebrates 10 years as a venue portfolio. Created back in 2010, the vision was to promote Hackey’s collection of beautifully restored and visually stunning venues for private hire with the revenue generated being put back into the venues, securing each venue's longevity for generations to come. In 2020, Hackney Venues will celebrate its 10th birthday with the launch of it’s fourth venue - a brand new purpose built wedding and events venue in the beautiful green space of Springfield Park, opening up a new corner of the borough for couples looking to tie the knot in Hackney.

Talk us through a day at the office/studio/wherever you work from.

This probably won’t come as too much of a surprise but the day usually starts with a coffee - especially on a Monday when we’ve had a weekend of weddings across the three venues; in the height of summer the team can manage up to 15 stand alone ceremonies and 4 wedding receptions in one weekend! We know the importance of giving our clients the opportunity to see the venue and ask as many questions as they can think of. We also know how hard it is for couples to fit in viewings around work so we usually start our days pretty early and finish quite late in order to allow clients to come in before they head off to work or come in once they’ve finished. Outside of meeting clients we’re generally always on the phone or answering emails, usually answering all the weird and wonderful questions that come with planning a wedding!​

What’s your fave part about what you do?

*Cliché Klaxon* “no day is ever the same” - It’s cheesy but true! With us being based in one of the most culturally diverse corners of London, we’re privileged to work with different couples from all walks of life on a daily basis. This means we get to enjoy different cultural wedding styles from Jewish weddings, Turkish weddings, African weddings - the list is endless and we love it! We get to meet our couples closest friends, meet their families and become an important part of one of the biggest and happiest days of their life. What’s not to love about that?

What are you excited about for your business?

Celebrating the 10 year milestone is such an achievement, so what better way to do it than with a shiny new venue? Launching the new venue in Springfield Park is huge. It’s hard work and will take a lot of time and sleepless nights but seeing a venue grow from a patch of unused land to what it’s going to become is so exciting!

Who are your fave 3 wedding suppliers?

Now that’s just too hard a question to answer! We work with so many amazing suppliers from across Hackney and beyond - from florists, award winning caterers, wedding planners and photographers - the list is endless!

What’s your top advice for couples getting married?

When it comes to dressing your wedding, whether it is flowers, lighting, table centres, etc. think about what can be hired in, or better taken away with you or your guests and reused. It’s amazing how the little costs add up (both for your pocket and the environment) when you only use things for one day and then throw them away at the end of the night. Tiny potted plants make great wedding favours, photo frames with your guests picture or name make fun place cards (and also double up as take away wedding favours) and rather than loose flowers in vases tied flower bouquets make fabulous table centres, as they can be offered to your guests at the end of the night.

Come and meet Richard and the team at our London fair on 7th - 9th February 2020. At the Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, it’s a stone’s throw away from Hackney and all of its gorgeous venues! Grab your tickets here.