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Planning a wedding isn't easy. And when you're planning a wedding in Birmingham that's outside of the norm, it becomes even more of a challenge. But no matter what kind of alternative wedding you've got in mind, our simple guide will ease you through the whole process with the minimum of stress.

PICK YOUR ALTERNATIVE WEDDING THEME

Almost every wedding decision you make will flow from your theme, so make sure you choose it first. You probably already have a general idea of what kind of overarching feel you're after (such as a videogame wedding, victorian, vintage, etc.). But it's the specific theme within that category that can often take the most thought.

So let's say you want a Gothic wedding. That’s great, but what kind of Gothic? Are we talking classic horror, with candelabras and organ music? Or are we thinking heavy metal, with a subtle flavour of norse viking?

Settling on your theme can take quite a while. But it's also one of the most fun parts of planning your wedding. Chat to friends for ideas, or create a mood board of all your favourite things and use them as ingredients to cook up the perfect ceremony for you and your future life partner.

OUTLINE YOUR BUDGET

Another important consideration is how much you're willing to spend. The average cost of a wedding in the UK is around £27,000. That might be quite a bit more than you're willing to pay, so it's important to flesh out your budget before you dive too far down the rabbit hole.

Making an itemised plan can be a handy way to set your budget. List out all the things you'll need and ascribe a price to them. Perhaps you want to go all out on an extravagant venue, but don't want to pay much for flowers or music. Or perhaps you want a jaw-dropping wedding dress, but you're happy to get married in an intimate setting with only your closest friends.

If you've watched Grand Designs, you'll know that a set budget rarely stays fixed. So make sure you factor in the 'unexpected surprise' when planning. We think 5% of your total budget should cover any excess charges that might arise.

SET A DATE

Now that your budget is set it's time to think about a date. Would you like a spring wedding in the sunshine? Or would you prefer a wonderful winter wedding, with snowflakes and candlelight?

Don't tell your guests about the date until you've secured it with your venue. Bear in mind that many venues require wedding bookings to be made at least a year in advance. So with that in mind…

CHOOSE AN ALTERNATIVE WEDDING VENUE

Birmingham is a big place, which means there are hundreds of venues that could host your wedding. Something to bear in mind is that not all of them will be willing to cater to an alternative wedding. Traditional or conservative locations are unlikely to host your vampire wedding ceremony, but then again you might be surprised. It never hurts to enquire.

We've picked out two alternative wedding venues in Birmingham to get you started.

The Electric

For lovers of vintage cinema, there’s no better place to tie the knot than Birmingham's Electric cinema. A gorgeous Art Deco building housing a 1920’s picture house, the Electric caters to all kinds of alternative weddings.

If you've ever wanted to walk down the aisle of an old cinema while your favourite film flickers in the background (we're thinking a David Lynch wedding would be amazing), the Electric could be your perfect wedding venue.

Austin Court

On the industrial waterways of Brindley Place, just a short walk from Grand Central Station, Austin Court is an excellent choice for an alternative wedding in Birmingham. It's easy to get to, quiet (for the city), and has a wonderful ambience.

Once you've said your vows there are dozens of high-quality restaurants and bars nearby for the perfect post-wedding party. We'd recommend this one for a Steampunk or classical vintage wedding.

For more ideas, check out our favourite Gothic wedding venues in the UK.

SECURE YOUR ACCOMMODATION

Your ceremony is just one part of your wedding day. You'll also need somewhere to get ready in the morning, and somewhere to enjoy your all-important wedding night.

Of course, if you live in Birmingham and want to save money, you could always set out from home. But that might make the experience less magical. We recommend spending at least a couple of nights away, in the privacy of somewhere luxurious (such as the above Hotel du Vin).

And don't forget about your guests! If Aunt Ethel is flying in from New Zealand, you'll need to find somewhere to put her up for a couple of days before she flies home. If budget is an issue we recommend forgoing wedding gifts and asking your guests to pay for their own board instead. This can make an enormous difference. And who wants six toasters anyway?

ORDER YOUR ALTERNATIVE WEDDING DRESS

One of the first things you should order is your wedding gown. Depending on the style and complexity, it could take many months for a bridal designer to create and ship your wedding dress. Ordering early is the safest option.

Ivory Black wedding dresses are designed especially for you, the alternative bride. All our gowns are bespoke, made in the UK by our masterful British designers and tailors from high-quality materials. We can even alter the design of your gown on request to better match any theme you might be planning for your wedding in Birmingham.

Get in touch for a chat about your wedding plans and wedding dress requirements. Or take a look at a selection of our most popular dresses below.

EXPLORE OUR ALTERNATIVE GOWNS

WRITE OUT YOUR GUESTLIST

Whether you're planning a big wedding or one that's small and intimate, you'll need to write out who you're planning to invite. This can be a tricky process, as you'll have to deal with the internal family dramas of two people.

It's worth planning your bridesmaids and best man in this list too (if you're planning to have them). Choose people who will be open to the theme of your wedding, and who won't mind dressing up for the occasion.

And because you're having an alternative wedding you don't have to approach this in the normal way. It's entirely feasible to have your pets as your bridesmaids, or an owl as your best man (Harry Potter wedding anyone?).

One final point: if you decide to elope you'll still need two witnesses. This is a legal requirement for a wedding ceremony in the UK. Venues that offer elopement packages will often provide witnesses as part of the service, but if not, you'll have to find two people that you trust.

REGISTER YOUR WEDDING IN BIRMINGHAM

You can't get married unless you've informed your local Register Office of your intent to marry at least 29 days before the date of your ceremony.

Once you’ve given notice it will be displayed in the local Register Office for a month. If no one objects to your wedding the Register Office will give you a document called a 'marriage authority schedule'. Then you'll be free to tie the knot.

The Register Office must be inside the district that you'll be married within. For a Birmingham wedding, that means the Birmingham Register Office on Holliday Street.

When you attend your appointment you may need to bring the following documents:

- Proof of name (such as your valid passport)
- Proof of age (such as your birth certificate)
- Proof of nationality (your valid passport or national identity card)
- Proof of address (your valid driving licence or a recent utility bill will do)
- A decree absolute or final order (if applicable)
- Entry visa (if applicable)
- Details of where and when you intend to get married

BOOK A REGISTRAR OR RELIGIOUS CELEBRANT

The person that performs your ceremony will differ depending on what kind of wedding you're after.

For a religious ceremony, it's fairly straightforward, especially if you're an established member. Simply contact your local religious organisation and tell them you're planning to get married and they'll guide you from there.

For a secular or civil wedding you'll need to book a registrar. Generally you can get this sorted with the Register Office at the same time as you register your wedding.

Unfortunately for fans of Joey Tribbiani, in the UK a friend can't register to officiate your wedding (unless he or she wishes to start a rewarding career at the local council).

BOOK A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

We can say from experience that a good wedding photographer is absolutely necessary for the perfect alternative wedding. After all, your photos are one of the few lasting memories that will come out of your ceremony. So you want them to be good. Damn good. That's why we recommend putting at least £500 by to secure a photographer for your big day.

Instagram is a great place to find the right wedding photographer. Often, a portfolio will highlight the themes they are best at shooting. For example, if you're planning a Gothic wedding you'll want to find a wedding photographer with experience in that area.

We can't end this section without a shout-out to one of our all time favourite wedding photographers: Jun Tan.

CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING MUSIC

Music is important throughout your wedding day. We recommend you make a list of all your favourite songs and then try to match them to a specific time during your wedding. Should the music start slow, building up to a faster pace in the evening when everyone is drunk and dancing at the after-party? Or should you set a consistent mood, punctuated with the occasional off-beat number?

Your most important music will be what's playing when you walk down the aisle. Some venues will actually have their own musicians. If they do you might be able to chat to them about what kind of song you'd like them to play (some wedding bagpipers are surprisingly good at AC/DC covers, just so you know).

For a reliable alternative wedding DJ in Birmingham, we recommend Audiohead Events.

HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER (OPTIONAL)

If you're going big you may like to hire a wedding planner to manage the whole shebang. This will take a lot of the stress off your shoulders, and will mean that on the day of your wedding you can simply concentrate on enjoying yourself.

Of course, help always comes at a price, so make sure there’s room in your budget.

ORGANISE CATERING AND FLOWERS (OPTIONAL)

Got a wedding planner? Then they'll take care of this. If not, it's worth checking with your venue to see what they offer in terms of meals and decorations.

Flowers and centrepieces are an excellent way to highlight the theme of your wedding. For a classic Gothic wedding, it has to be black and red roses tied with a black lace ribbon.

BOOK MAKE-UP AND HAIR (OPTIONAL)

Want to look doubly delightful on your wedding day in Birmingham? Then you might like to book a professional make-up artist and hair stylist.

Again, if budget is limited this is a step that it's possible to skip. Alternatively you could book yourself in for a styling session at a local salon which should cost far less than booking a wedding professional.

ORDER YOUR ALTERNATIVE WEDDING CAKE

We could have said this is optional, but what kind of wedding doesn't have cake? There are hundreds of cake suppliers in Birmingham who will be happy to craft any kind of cake to match any kind of wedding.

But before you start peering through bakery windows, heed our top tip: don't tell them it's for a wedding. Many unscrupulous cake makers will put a big mark-up on any cake for a wedding ceremony, even if it isn't the traditional three-tiered sort. Instead, say it's for a birthday or a special occasion. It might be cheeky, but it could save you a bundle.

For a Birmingham cake maker who’ll charge you a fair price for a fabulous buttercream wedding cake (see above image), we’d have to recommend Lil’s Parlour.

ARRANGE TRANSPORT

Taxi, limousine, or horse and cart: all are better options than walking to your venue. Transport to and from your venue is one of those things that's as expensive as you want it to be, but whether you go low cost or high cost, it's best to book early. Otherwise you'll have to ask your bridesmaids for a piggyback…

READY TO EXPLORE OUR ALTERNATIVE WEDDING GOWNS?

At Ivory Black we have a fine selection of wedding dresses that are ideal for an alternative wedding of any flavour. Each dress is made by hand to your measurements, and is created from scratch in our British studio by our excellent British designers.

SEE OUR UNIQUE WEDDING DRESSES

GOT YOUR OWN BIRMINGHAM WEDDING TIPS?

Share your knowledge, ideas, and experiences in the comments below! You might make a bride-to-be very happy.

HOW TO PLAN A UNIQUE ALTERNATIVE WEDDING IN BIRMINGHAM