16th September 2026
Congratulations! You and your partner are engaged and beginning to plan for one of the most amazing days of your lives together.
As you’ve likely already discovered, there’s so much to think about when planning your wedding – especially those important details that mean the most to you.
If you’re searching for Bedford wedding venues or places to get married in Bedfordshire, you’re in luck. The Bedford Swan Hotel is hosting our next Wedding Fair on Sunday 4th October, 2026 – a great opportunity to gather inspiration, meet wedding professionals face-to-face, and turn your big ideas into a bright reality on your special day.
To help you navigate all of the important aspects that go into planning your perfect wedding, our Wedding Fair will focus on four key areas to get you started.
Get A Slice of the Wedding Cake Action
Sampling servings of delicious wedding cakes is certainly one of the best parts of planning a wedding! But as they say, we eat with our eyes first. Your cake doesn’t just need to taste the part, it needs to look it, too.
Your wedding cake is more than a traditional treat to cut at the end of the meal – it can be the showstopper of your entire wedding reception.
So when you come to choosing your wedding cake, ask yourselves:
- What flavours do you and your partner enjoy the most?
- Would the wedding cake complement the wedding’s colour scheme?
- Would you prefer a traditional tiered cake, or something more modern? (Many wedding parties have chosen something that aligns more with their personalities – you could have a selection of mini desserts, or even wedding doughnuts!)
In short, your wedding cake can be as individual as you and your partner. At our next Wedding Fair, you’ll get the opportunity to talk to our wedding cake suppliers and chat through any personalisation options you have in mind for your big day.
Set the Tone with The Right Music
From the moment you walk down the aisle to the emotional first dance to the dancefloor party long into the night, music can completely change the atmosphere of your wedding. Are you looking for live music? A DJ? Or maybe both, to bring different vibes across the day?
Take time to consider the songs that mean the most to the two of you. It could be any genre, even if it’s a Spotify playlist of favourite songs you’ve collected over the years that symbolise your loving relationship.
You could also think about what types of music might fit the right times of the day – more relaxed songs works best during the wedding breakfast, while the high-energy jams are guaranteed to get everyone up on the dance floor later in the evening.
Snap Up Picture-Perfect Wedding Photography
Your treasured wedding photos will last long after the last dance of the night. Choosing a photographer that matches your vision for the big day is incredibly important.
Are you looking for natural, candid shots? Or do you want something more posed and glamorous to mark the occasion?
Look through full wedding galleries – not just the photographer’s favourites – and make sure you feel comfortable with their approach.
Wedding open days are a great opportunity to speak directly to photographers, get to know their personal style, and even arrange a trial photoshoot to see how their skills will translate to your actual wedding day.
Set the Scene With Wedding Décor and Finishing Touches
It’s often the smaller details that bring a wedding theme together. From table decorations and flowers to signage, lighting and finishing touches, your décor can help create the atmosphere you want your guests to experience.
Before you commit to a style, think about how it works with the rest of your plans, how it will look within your chosen venue, .
During most wedding open days, the venue will decorate their event space as it would be typically set up for a wedding day, so you can experience the space, size, and overall feeling before you choose to book a date.
At the Bedford Swan Hotel’s next wedding fair, our friendly weddings team will be on hand throughout the day to answer your questions about wedding decorations, give you a tour of our wedding venue, and share their insider tips and recommendations to help the day run smoothly.
Tour The Perfect Wedding Venue at the Bedford Swan Hotel & Thermal Spa
When looking for wedding venues in Bedford, the Bedford Swan Hotel & Thermal Spa provides an elegant setting overlooking the River Ouse. With its historic character, riverside location and dedicated wedding team, our hotel wedding venue offers couples the opportunity to celebrate their ceremony and reception in one memorable location.
Join Us for Our Next Wedding Fair in Bedford on October 4th 2026
- Location: The Bedford Swan Hotel & Thermal Spa
- Address: The Embankment, Bedford, MK40 1RW
- Date: Sunday 4th October, 2026
- Time: 11am – 3pm
- Entry: Free
- Parking: Free