£90 - £115 pp
Up to 240
On-Site
Exclusive Use
Wedding Licence
shortlisted
COVID-19 Update
Hello,
We are currently available to receive enquiries and offer virtual tours of our beautiful space. We have dates throughout 2021 available to book.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your wedding further.
Best wishes
Weddings at Queen Mary
Our extraordinary venue creates a perfect backdrop to ensure you wow your guests by providing a unique setting for a wedding day like no other!
Pricing & Costs
Packages(price per head)
Prices Start At
£90
Maximum Price
£115
Minimum Number of Guests
100
Our price per head package includes:
Dedicated Wedding Coordinator throughout your planning process
Hire of the Octagon (8 hours)
Menu tasting session for two
All table linen, crockery, glassware, cutlery, tables and chairs
A microphone for announcements and speeches
One glass of Prosecco per person for the drinks reception
Two course fork buffet
Unlimited still and sparkling water
House red and white wine (half a bottle per person)
One glass of Prosecco per person for the toast
Security for the duration of the event
Cleaning of the venue
Features & Capacity
Overview
Venue Type
University
Dining Capacity
240
Reception Capacity
240
Usual Access Time
12:00 PM
Usual Finish Time
12:00 AM
Venue
Exclusive Use
Bridal Changing Facilities
Disabled Access
Grade I/II Listed Building
On-Site Parking
In-House Wedding Coordinator
Food and Drink
In-House Wine List
In-house Catering
Halal Catering
Alcohol Licence
Kosher Catering
Corkage Charge for Own Alcohol
Ceremony & Reception
Sound System Available
Dancefloor Available
Confetti Permitted
Wedding Licence
Cultural Specialists
Muslim Wedding Specialist
Asian Wedding Specialist
Full Description
The Senior Common Room hosts civil ceremonies for up to 100 guests and is ideal for those seeking an intimate ceremony. This exclusive use historical private members club is located on the first floor of the iconic Queens’ Building, overlooking the Queens’ Lawn and Victorian Clocktower.
The Octagon provides a spectacular backdrop to any wedding day, and is licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 240 guests and can host 100 to 240 guests for a wedding breakfast. Dining in the Octagon is an unforgettable experience. This extraordinary Grade II listed venue provides a truly atmospheric setting for your special day. The Octagon’s shelves are lined with brightly coloured books and busts of eminent authors which compliment the beautiful domed ceiling.
Celebrate your wedding breakfast with a seated meal or hot fork buffet from our well-crafted menus. Our experienced in-house hospitality team will talk you through your options, and help you plan the perfect dining experience for you and your guests. We are able to cater for all dietary requirements.
Our dedicated team aim to deliver a beautiful, relaxed wedding in the heart of East London. We are here to provide help and support to keep your mind at rest.
Personal Message from the Manager
Name of Wedding Contact: Ellie
Hi I'm really looking forward to helping you with one of life's biggest decisions and sharing how Weddings at Queen Mary can help make your big day, as stress free as possible! We are passionate about sharing our space with you and would love for you to come and see it - whether for a ceremony on its own, a reception or a ceremony and reception. If you have a question, however small, get in touch and I'll help!
Experience
Year Business Was Established
2013
No. of Weddings Hosted
Between 30 and 50
Public Liability Insurance
true
No. of People In Team
3
Reviews
(15)
Caroline and Tom
Married in August 2019
September 2019
Wonderful wedding experience with a great team!
We had a wonderful day, and it was thanks to the QMUL team for a great job to support us. They were flexible on several of our requests and I never had to worry. Plus the venue makes for some great photos!
Tom
Married in August 2019
September 2019
Great communication
Saran communicated so well that it made all the planning easy. Highly recommend her and her team.
Matt and Steph
Married in April 2019
April 2019
Simply stunning venue - the perfect day
We cannot recommend QMUL enough as a venue for your wedding.
We chose The Octagon at QMUL as our reception venue having fallen in love with the space on going to see it - it really is even more breathtaking when you see it in person.
From the start Saran has been great to deal with. We had a lot of questions and she answered them all in good time, we always felt confident in her and her calm and relaxed nature helped us to feel relaxed, safe in the knowledge that our planning was in good hands!
The day ran so smoothly thanks to Saran and her catering and hospitality team. The food was absolutely delicious (can highly recommend the lamb kleftiko!) We had lots of positive comments from guests about the food, the staff and the location.
We could not have asked for more from a wedding venue and had the best day.
Helen and Daren
Married in September 2018
August 2016
We had an amazing day!
We had an amazing day celebrating our 'For Life Party' at Queen Mary University of London. We chose QMUL because we live locally and wanted to pick somewhere that felt special but that was in keeping with our lives. The venue worked perfectly for holding the ceremony, drinks and reception all in the same place, with a great flow between the different spaces. The Octagon is a fantastic space for the reception, not only is it a beautiful room, but it also has plenty of space for dancing and games and for the kids to run around!
We really could not have been more impressed by the catering team. Having shown lots of flexibility in working with us to design the menu, on the day everything was executed to perfection. All of our guests raved about the food, with many saying it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding!
Finally, it was great working with Saran, who was super responsive throughout the process, very patient with our specifications about lots of little details and a calm and reassuring presence on the day. A massive thank you to the whole team for making the day run so smoothly!
Tom and Emma
Married in August 2018
December 2018
The best venue ever!
From our first viewing we knew we wanted our reception at The Octagon. Saran and her team were absolutely amazing throughout the whole booking process. They made sure that we could have the things we wanted (such as owls!!) This meant the whole day was very relaxed from beginning to end and we could have wished for anything better. The food was delicious and our guests all commented on what an amazing space it was for a reception. Would completely recommend The Octagon for your wedding reception without hesitation.
Jasmin Islam
Married in April 2018
December 2018
Amazing day and absolutely fantastic staff!!!!
I can not thank Saran and her team enough for all the support and effort they put in to help our wedding run smoothly.
From the start they were so helpful, really quick to respond and nothing was too much effort. From recommending florists, lighting, chairs and helping with a last minute table planning disaster the were brilliant!
I can not recommend this venue enough- I just can't believe how reasonable it is for such an amazing service!!! I almost want to do it all again:)
Jasmin ( and Kieran) x
Wedding Showcase at Weddings at Queen Mary
29th February 2020
We are delighted to invite you to our Premiere Wedding Showcase. Visit the Enchanting Octagon on the 29th of February 2020 at 11:00 - 3:00. Please RSVP on weddings@qmul.ac.uk
Preferred Supplier List
(3)
FAQ
(10)
Describe the best wedding that happened at your venue?
One of our couples had a passion for gin - they used gin bottles as flower vases, invited their guests to 'find their seat, and let dinner be gin' - named their tables after various gins and used personalised Polaroid photos of their actual guests for their place cards!
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Plan, plan and plan - use the experience of your coordinator if you're struggling with the big picture!
What’s your favourite personal touch you’ve seen at a wedding?
Standing out from the 'usual' by taking the 'expected' and changing this - for example, instead of giving guests 'wedding favours' one of our couples gave a donation to charity on behalf of all their guests with a 'badge' memento to acknowledge this.
Describe your venue in 5 adjectives.
An historic, octagonal library with bags of ambience and wow!
Where’s the best photo spot at your venue?
On the balcony overlooking the Octagon with your guests behind!
Have you had any celebrity guest or wedding at your venue?
Not yet, but we would love to have one!
What’s your favourite canapé?
Smoked salmon blinis with crème fraîche and caviar.
What’s your favourite midnight treat?
Pizza and Brownies!
What is your venue's most unique feature?
The ability to have your ceremony, drinks reception and wedding breakfast all within seconds in an uniquely historic presence under one roof, each with their own unique atmosphere.
What part of your business are you most proud of?
Sharing these 'hidden' gems with those looking for a wow factor!