Getting Married at St. Mary’s Guildhall Coventry
Hey all, I’m starting a blog series about all the different venues I have been to and my experience of them on the day. This is to help any brides looking for some info about the venues they are looking at. Kind of a review, but mostly informative with some photos/videos of the venue so you can see a bit more of the venue you’re interested in.
This is the 1st Blog in my Wedding Venue series.
St. Mary’s Guildhall - The Great Hall - Coventry
Firstly, a bit of history. St Mary’s Guildhall was first opened in approximately 1342 as a much smaller venue, but over the years it was increased in size until 1414, where it became its current size. Then the Guildhall acted as the focus of guild business, chiefly as a ceremonial space, meeting place, and banqueting hall. Managing to survive the Blitz in WW2, the Guildhall stands next to the ruins of Coventry Cathedral on Bayley Lane, and is widely thought of as one of the finest surviving Medieval Guildhalls in the country.
The interior of The Great Hall is honestly one of the most beautiful I have ever been in. With huge original paintings from over the centuries hanging on the walls, the original exposed brick walls and gorgeously detailed stained glass windows, it really is a beautiful place to get married. The only thing that lets it down is the chairs they use, whilst a lovely royal dark green, they don’t necessarily fit the grandeur of the rest of the room and feel slightly dated. However, it is understandable because it is a traditional ceremonial hall, so putting in wooden chairs wouldn’t exactly fit. Things to note are the fact there are a few steep stairs to climb, so if you have elderly guests or wheelchair users please bare this in mind and ask if they have any lifts to gain access to The Great Hall. Lastly, also consider the fact that parking is difficult for this venue. There isn’t any next to it, so you will likely have to tell your guests to park in a carpark in Coventry City centre or get a taxi in.
The biggest bonus, other than the grandness of the inside, of course, is the fact you have the ruins of Coventry Cathedral right next to you for photos (I believe you have to pay a fee for this if you want to take your main group shots in here). But I had no problem doing a few couple shots in there. Either way, it is a gorgeous backdrop even if it’s just in the background. Then you have the cobbled streets and tudor houses which make for wonderful video and photo opportunities. The Great Hall is also perfect for those that like the look and style of a church/cathedral wedding but do not want to get married in one.
There is a ton of space here, both at the front and back, so lots of room for videographers and photographers. The couple essentially have a stage that is as wide as the room, leaving lots of room for you up front - there is even a hideaway at the front near the fire exit sign, the perfect place to hide a stationary camera or your gear. Lighting can be tricky in the Guildhall, especially if it’s a gloomy day. However, the windows are huge and let a lot of light in, but because they’re all high you will have to work with them and the shadows they create.
Overall, The Great Hall at St Mary’s Guildhall is a grand venue full of rich history, bosting lots of space for a medium-large wedding and will look incredible in your wedding films and photos.
Look out for my next blog post about a different venue!
Em x
St. Mary’s Guildhall in photos:
St Mary’s Guildhall in one of my films: