So, you proposed to your significant other with the perfect engagement ring and are ready to plan your wedding – but what do you do first? Choosing a venue is one of the most important parts of your wedding planning process and it’s safe to say that there’s a lot to consider.
According to Google trends, 2.2K people search for the term ‘wedding venues manchester’ each month and 1.2K search for the term ‘unusual wedding venues’.
Not only have engagement ring specialists at Steven Stone taken a look into some of the alternative venues available in Manchester for couples who want to leave tradition behind, they’ve matched each one up with the perfect engagement ring.
Salford Lads Club
Serving the community since 1903, Salford Lads Club provide a wide range of activities to local young people – though for many people, the purpose of their visit is to visit the club for its Smiths room. It’s also been known to host a range of events; from acoustic sets to book talks.
Fans of The Smiths rejoice, because the club is officially in the wedding business! Prospective brides and grooms can select one of four function rooms that accommodate 20-150 people; including The Band Room (20 guests), The Smiths Room (40 guests max) The Senior Games Room (up to 80 guests) and The Concert Hall, for up to 150 guests. Though perhaps the clubs biggest selling point as a wedding venue is one photo op in particular – recreating the famous Smiths line-up photo outside the iconic entrance.
Our experts have matched Salford Lads Club up with a pear cut diamond engagement ring. Known as tear drop diamonds due to their distinctive shape, pear cut diamonds are worn by those wishing to stand out and own a unique piece of jewellery – making them the perfect shape for the unique venue that is Salford Lads Club.
“Would you like to marry me? And if you like, you can buy the ring…”
THE Smiths – ‘william it was really nothing’
Victoria Baths
Licensed for both ceremonies and receptions, Victoria Baths is a venue that your wedding guests definitely won’t forget – steeped in history and boasting a range of dramatic and unique spaces to which you can add your own personal touch to, it’s a creative couples dream.
Ceremonies are possible in five different spaces – including three empty swimming pools and a Turkish Baths Rest Room, complete with its amazing Angel of Purity stained glass window.
Blue represents the healing nature of water and the power of stormy seas, so when it came to matching the Grade II listed pool with an engagement ring, our experts were drawn straight to a blue sapphire engagement ring.
Manchester Art Gallery
With its outstanding art collections and superb Victorian and contemporary setting, Manchester Art Gallery is certainly a beautiful and unforgettable choice of venue for weddings and civil ceremonies.
Providing a unique setting and plenty of photo opportunities for you and your guests, weddings and civil ceremonies are held among the atmospheric Mancunian paintings by Lowry and Valette in Gallery 16.
When it came to pairing Manchester Art Gallery up with an engagement ring, it was important that we encapsulated the galleries rich history. Thus, we chose an emerald cut diamond in a halo setting, sat on a sparkling pave band – despite possessing a modern look, the emerald-cut diamond is one of the oldest diamond shapes.
Museum of Science and Industry
Located on the historic site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum’s unique galleries and significant collections can provide a stunning backdrop to your wedding day.
Housed in five listed buildings, the museum has a lot to offer – from tying the knot in the Great Western Warehouse, to drinks in the Revolution Manchester Gallery.
When pairing the Museum of Science and Industry with an engagement ring, we decided to focus on the science side of things, which led to us choosing a solitaire engagement ring with a round 5.00mm moissanite stone. Rarely found in nature, moissanites are artificially made to mimic diamonds.
Albert Hall
Albert Hall is a forgotten Wesleyan chapel in the centre of Manchester, restored and resurrected as an unrivalled events venue. Since opening its doors in 2013, its hosted thousands of artists – with prolific names including Manchester icons James, Johnny Marr and Liam Fray.
A wonderfully unique space, the Grade II listed building boasts many period features and is fully licensed to host wedding ceremonies! Boasting a symphony of stained glass windows and ceiling arches, the Albert Hall certainly has a lot to offer for those looking for a more unique venue – the Hall itself has a variety of different spaces to host each part of your special day and can comfortably fit up to 280 guests for your reception dinner.
We’ve paired the Albert Hall up with a Princess cut engagement ring. Featuring a squarish appearance and offering a level of brilliance comparable to the round cut, princess cut diamonds are ideal for risk-takers and those who enjoy being in the limelight – such as on the stage of Manchester’s most beautiful music venue!
Savoy Cinema
Located in Stockport, not only is Savoy Cinema a much loved asset to the local community, but it’s the perfect place for film buffs to hold their wedding reception.
Owned by a family of film enthusiasts, the unique 1930’s venue was beautifully restored several years ago and still boasts its original Baroque design, while the interior remains faithful to its cosy art deco roots.
As Savoy Cinema is faithful to its art deco roots, we wanted the same for the engagement ring that we paired it with. Therefore, we chose a three stone emerald cut engagement ring, in an art deco design. Art deco rings are a testament to the grandeur and elegance of the art deco era, which spanned from the 1920s to the 1940s.
Etihad Stadium
It’s important to choose a venue that reflects your personalities and for Manchester City fans, the Etihad stadium does exactly that! With a capacity of just under 500, the venue offers both wedding breakfast and evening reception packages.
With access to the pitch, changing rooms and the players lounge, the available photo opportunities are what dreams are made of for Manchester city fans.
The Manchester City team have been wearing sky blue as their main club colours since 1894, which is why we paired their home turf with an engagement ring that features an oval cut aquamarine. The pale-blue variety of beryl is said to symbolise youth and happiness.
Royal Exchange Theatre
The Royal Exchange Theatre is a futuristic metal and glass high-tech structure built inside what used to be the Great Hall of Manchester’s old Cotton Exchange, which ceased trading in the sixties – a Grade II listed building, the Royal Exchange is the largest theatre in the round in the country.
Though a popular setting for conferences, panel discussions and one-off events, the theatre has also hosted an array of weddings! Perfect for an intimate ceremony in the heart of the city centre, you and up to 30 guests can enjoy the privacy of the theatres Exchange Suite, which boasts a private double-height reception with a bar and sweeping staircase that leads up to the intimate boardroom.
With the Royal Exchange Theatre being located in the heart of Manchester City Centre, we thought it would be the perfect match for a heart cut diamond engagement ring. The fancy cut captures and reflects light, resulting in visible brilliance – not too dissimilar to the brilliance that the theatre delivers through its shows!
Chetham’s Library
Chetham’s Library offers the perfect combination of history and heritage in a contemporary setting. From saying your vows in the medieval Baronial Hall, to mingling in the courtyard, Chetham’s Library will certainly give your ceremony the wow factor.
The library offer fully catered wedding packages, as well as access to the buildings stunning seventeenth-century interior – for truly unique couples shots and family group photographs.
To match the buildings seventeenth-century interior, we’ve chosen a marquise cut engagement ring to represent Chetham’s Library. The marquise cut diamond was invented during the mid 1700s when King Louis XV of France commissioned his jeweller to cut a diamond in the shape of the mouth of his mistress, Madame de Pompadour.
Old Trafford
Are you and your partner big Manchester United fans? Why not get married at Old Trafford?
Inside the stadium, there are two suites – Trafford and Stretford – which are fully licensed for weddings and include stunning views of the hallowed turf.
The Theatre of Dreams is the perfect choice to create an unforgettable experience on the most important day of your life. Few venues can rival the scale, grandeur and heritage of one of the world’s most famous stadiums.
Nicknamed the “red devils” for their distinctive red jerseys, anything associated with Manchester United surely has to be red, so we settled on an oval cut ruby and diamond halo engagement ring. A gemstone that has been revered in many cultures throughout history, ruby is associated with vitality, life, passion, and fire – four traits that you see on the pitch.
If you’re looking for some jewellery inspiration, why not take a look at our full collection? Whether you’re after a necklace or some diamond earrings, we’ve got you covered. We also have a vast range of engagement and wedding rings.
If you don’t see anything that takes your fancy, we also offer a bespoke service, where our designers will create a unique piece of jewellery that ticks all the boxes.
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