Eager to buck the tradition of a church or registry office wedding for the breathtaking backdrop of a pitch-side ceremony?
With many UK stadiums being fully licensed wedding venues, saying “I do” in the same place that your childhood hero secured victory for your local team is no longer a dream, but a reality.
Offering everything from professional in-house catering to iconic photo opportunities and even dedicated event planning services, stadium wedding venues provide guests and happy couples alike with a unique and unforgettable experience.
Like all weddings, however, they require careful thought and thorough planning to ensure they go off without a hitch. Cue, BrewDog Stadium’s comprehensive stadium wedding checklist.
- Arrange a venue tour
Instead of making this massive decision based on a few website photos, it’s crucial that couples take the time to tour stadium venues for their wedding.
This provides them with the perfect opportunity to ask important questions, visualise their big day, and properly assess the venue’s suitability. During the stadium tour, make a note of the:
- Capacity
Both the overall stadium as well as suite size and layout contribute to the venue’s capacity. Some stadium wedding suites can accommodate hundreds of guests while others are designed for more intimate gatherings.
While walking around the various suites the stadium has to offer, you should also consider the overall size and layout of each one to ensure your chosen suite is appropriate for your plans.
- Venue décor
Part of the charm of your hosting your wedding at a stadium is that no two stadiums are the same.
Each one, and even the various suites within these stadiums, commonly feature a different kind of décor, often reflecting the local culture, the era it was built in, or the club, sport, or team it represents.
When taking the venue tour, keep your chosen wedding theme and décor in mind. Does the stadium décor complement the overall vision for your wedding? And if not, would the venue be willing to let you add your own decorative touches?
As part of this process, we also recommend inquiring about potential décor restrictions. Common prohibited decorations within stadiums often include glitter, confetti, and open flames (such as candles) as they can pose a health and safety risk.
- Exclusive use options
Looking for a more private and intimate wedding experience? Some stadiums can offer exclusive use, ensuring your event is the only one taking place on that day or evening.
This can help to limit guest confusion and keep all eyes on you and your big day. If you want exclusive use of a stadium for your nuptial celebrations, ask the venue whether this is an option and if so, if there are any minimum guest requirements.
For stadiums that can’t provide exclusive use, it’s worth finding out whether there are any scheduled events or works that could disrupt your wedding or impact your guests.
- Consider the logistics
From keeping your wedding day on track to ensuring every one of your guests feel welcome and comfortable, the logistics of your big day simply can’t be overlooked.
Opting for a stadium as your wedding venue can offer a range of logistical advantages, but also areas to consider, including:
- Accessibility
Guests of all ages and abilities are commonly invited to weddings, so it’s important to check that the stadium can accommodate all your guests and their needs.
Although many UK stadiums, especially newer ones, have been designed with improved accessibility in mind, the level of accessibility still varies from one stadium to another.
Ask about step-free access, ramps, and appropriate restroom facilities for elderly guests, babies and young children, and those with disabilities.
When discussing stadium access, you should also confirm exactly when you’ll be allowed in to set up and when you and your quests need to leave the venue.
- Parking space
No stranger to welcoming large crowds, one of the biggest benefits of opting for a stadium wedding is the ample car parking space.
However, if the venue is hosting several events on the same day and you have concerns about insufficient parking, you may need to consider directing guests to nearby car parks or encouraging public transport to the stadium.
- Transportation
If you’re planning on having a wedding ceremony in separate location to the reception, for example, a church or registry office, then heading to the stadium, you’ll need to arrange suitable transportation for yourself and your guests.
Stadiums don’t usually provide this service, so ensuring there are good and well-advertised public transport links between the ceremony and reception venue is essential.
Alternatively, you may want to consider enlisting help from shuttle buses, hired coaches, or taxis to get your guests from A to B with minimal stress and confusion.
- Inquire about entertainment
Essential for building the desired wedding day atmosphere (whether you’re aiming for a romantic, celebratory, or elegant ambiance), entertainment plays an important role by setting the overall mood, encouraging guest interaction, and building long-lasting memories.
Fortunately, stadiums are often well-equipped for this purpose, offering a variety of entertainment packages which may include dance floors and DJ hire. To help you understand your options and better visualise the entertainment experience, you should inquire about the stadium’s:
- Lighting
Highly experienced with putting on a show, many UK stadiums boast professional-grade, state-of-the-art facilities including sound and lighting systems that amplify the chosen entertainment – regardless of whether you opt for a live band or DJ.
- Music
Looking for a DJ to liven up your wedding dancefloor? UK stadium spaces are often purpose-built with entertainment in mind, meaning you can expect accommodations for dance floors, DJ setups, and live music performances.
However, not all stadiums possess the necessary space and facilities for live music, so we always recommend liaising with the stadium about their specific policies, including sound restrictions, any necessary certifications like PAT testing, and public liability insurance for bands.
- Photography
Offering both inside and outdoor options (weather contingent), stadiums can provide an incredible backdrop for wedding photography. From nostalgic and iconic pitch-side locations to elegant modern suites, wedding photographers can make the most of a variety of interesting and creative photo opportunities.
While some stadiums will give couples and their wedding party access to the grounds (such as the pitch, tunnel, and changing rooms) to take photos, many don’t offer in-house photography services, so this will typically need to be arranged with an independent contractor.
- Explore catering options
As with all weddings, not just stadium-based celebrations, the quality and type of food can have a huge impact on guest enjoyment.
From adding to the overall atmosphere to creating delicious memories for the happy couple, it’s important to understand the most common catering options for stadium weddings. We recommend asking about:
- Venue catering
While many stadiums offer in-house catering with a selection of canapés and packages for couples to explore, others may work with a list of pre-approved or trusted independent vendors, or allow you to bring in your own caterers.
Discussing your menu and catering needs (for example, if you have guests with special dietary requirements or children attending) with the stadium events team can help you to understand whether they can either provide or accommodate your desired dining experience.
- Alcohol policies
Not all stadiums share the same rules for weddings and alcohol. Some may provide a standard bar service, while others may allow guests to bring their own alcohol (at the expense of a corkage fee that covers the cost of opening, pouring, and serving the beverage).
Stadiums hosting weddings may also impose additional alcohol restrictions, such as limits on alcohol consumption, that you and your guests should be aware of.
- Wedding cake rules
As with the main catering provider, UK stadiums have varying policies regarding their relationship with external vendors – including the wedding cake supplier. If you want a wedding cake to top off your special day, it’s important to always ask whether they can either provide or accommodate a cake.
- Book guest accommodation
With beloved family members and friends often making long trips to be there for the happy couple on their special day, securing suitable guest accommodation is generally high on their list of priorities. When working with the stadium, discuss your options for:
- On-site accommodation
While UK stadiums don’t typically offer on-site guest accommodation for weddings or any other events, they are increasingly integrating hotels into their developments.
As a result of this close relationship, the stadium’s events team may be able to arrange accommodation on your behalf and even offer potential discounts to your wedding guests.
- Off-site accommodation
If the stadium doesn’t have an integrated hotel or can’t accommodate all your overnight guests, then you’ll need to consider nearby options. Fortunately, it’s more common for stadiums to partner with nearby hotels, giving you the option of convenient, discounted room rates for your wedding.
- Wedding coordinator
To support with booking guest accommodation and coordinating many other areas of your wedding, some stadiums will be able to offer you access to a dedicated, on-site wedding planner or events team.
Whether you require a helping hand putting up the decorations for your big day or need someone to coordinate vendors and manage the flow of the day, stadiums can often provide this essential support, allowing you to focus on what matters most.
- Final checks
Eager to ensure everything is carried out flawlessly for your wedding? As stadiums can hold several events at the same time, carrying out those final checks is crucial to clearing up any confusion and keeping the lines of communication open – consider:
- Supplier confirmations
Whether you’re working with the stadium for catering, florist, and wedding coordination support or have enlisted help from independent suppliers, confirming the details of their attendance, payment, and services at least one month before the special day is vital.
Not only can this approach help to avoid stress and resolve any potential issues well in advance of the wedding, but it also facilitates clearer communication for a smoother setup and execution.
- Stadium walkthrough
The majority of UK stadiums will offer final walkthroughs for weddings. This gives couples the perfect opportunity to finalise details, ask any last-minute questions, and address overlooked concerns, ultimately ensuring a smoother day from start to finish.
- Contingency plans
Unfortunately, even the most well-planned weddings don’t always go to plan. That’s where contingency plans come into play.
Whether a downpour impacts your plans for a pitch-side photoshoot or a vendor doesn’t arrive on time, the stadium’s events team can work with you to implement backup plans for different eventualities.
Memorable weddings at BrewDog Stadium
Whether you’re a devoted sports fan or a bride-to-be who wants all eyes on her for this exciting and romantic moment, choosing a stadium setting for your wedding or civil ceremony offers a unique, iconic, and truly unforgettable experience.
And where better to host your big day than the home for Saints – one of the most successful Rugby League teams of all time?
At BrewDog Stadium, all our suites are fully licensed to hold a wedding or civil ceremony and some even come complete with panoramic pitch views!
For floor-to-ceiling pitch views and an unmissable wall mural depicting the many sporting legends the club has welcomed through its doors, consider hosting your wedding in our historic Hall of Fame suite.
Or, for a more intimate affair, our Eric Ashton Boardroom with its Trophy Cabinet is a charming suite.
To arrange a tour of our wedding venue in St.Helens, Merseyside for your upcoming wedding or civil ceremony or to find out more about how we can be a part of your special day, speak to our friendly events team today on 01744 455 086 or fill in our online enquiry form.
Alternatively, simply view our weddings brochure to take a closer look at our wedding packages, suites, and catering opt