When Bex and Lauran decided to tie the knot, they wanted a venue as unique and dynamic as their love story. The Bond in Digbeth, Birmingham’s newest wedding destination, provided the perfect backdrop for their special day. Skilfully reimagined from a landmark industrial building in downtown Digbeth, every nook and cranny of The Bond has a fascinating history. Set against the backdrop of the Grand Union canal, this is the place for grand unions.
Recently rediscovered and redeveloped, The Bond was once the beating heart of the city’s industry in the 19th century. Its Victorian industrial heritage contrasts beautifully with modern Digbeth’s urban-cool street art, hipster restaurants, and indie bars, creating an irresistible vibe. With its iconic red-brick vernacular and arresting architectural features, The Bond has had many incarnations since it was first built — from a gas works and ice factory to a warehouse for HP Sauce.
Today, The Bond has been carefully and imaginatively transformed into Digbeth’s most ravishing wedding venue.
Setting the Scene
Our styling was designed to complement both the venue and the couple. We created a handmade rustic arch adorned with lush foliage and dried flowers, which served as the focal point for the ceremony. After the vows, we repositioned the arch behind the sweetheart table, adding a “happily ever after” neon sign for a touch of modern romance.
Candles and copper-coloured plinths lined the aisle and were later repurposed with additional foliage, fairy lights, and dried flowers to make stunning centrepieces. The aisle seats were draped in grey chiffon with foliage and dried flower adornments, adding a soft, elegant touch.
Capturing the Day
Jodie of Blonde Shot captured the essence of the day perfectly. Her photos are more like pieces of art than ‘just photos’. Describing her style as warm tones, slightly moody yet romantic with a dash of a cinematic feel, Jodie’s work perfectly encapsulated the beauty and emotion of Bex and Lauran’s wedding. Her amazing work features throughout this blog.
A Ceremony to Remember
Zena Birch led the unique ceremony, bringing her philosophy of personalised ceremonies to life. As Zena says, “A ceremony should reflect who you are, that is why everyone will have gathered to witness your commitments and as such I will endeavour to make sure that the ceremony I write and the style with which it is delivered is in keeping with your hopes and wishes for each other.”
A Showstopper Cake
Cakes by Sophie Page pulled out all the stops with a showstopper cake. Sophie explained, “They wanted something to tie in with the dried flowers they were having – a bit earthy, undone, and cool – like their venue. They weren’t ‘flowers’ loving couple, so loved the idea of pampas and dried more unusual items like dried poppy seed heads and eucalyptus. We had a warm colour palette of taupe, mocha, and ivory with buttercream textures.” The flavours included mocha, cookie, and vanilla, delighting guests with every bite.
Memorable Moments
When asked about their favourite parts of the day, Bex shared, “I think the most memorable part of the day was when my sister Shelly performed a cover of Rag’n’Bone Man’s ‘Human’ and had edited the lyrics. It was quite the moment and got everyone involved which was incredible.”
She added, “Also, this isn’t because you’re asking but when I just asked Lauran those questions the first thing she said wasn’t seeing me (typical!) she said ‘just how amazing the venue looked’. We had so many compliments about the venue and how it had been dressed.”
Top Tips for Planning Your Wedding
Bex and Lauran’s top tips for wedding planning are invaluable: “I think the biggest tip, despite it being hard to do is to work with suppliers who other people recommend but then spend time getting to know them. Your gut tells you when the vibe is right with someone and in our case we hit it off with you and the other suppliers really well.
We feel like we’ve even made friends out of it which is a bit mad. That way, the day is a reflection of you. This was so important to us as we aren’t big glitzy people so having a minimalist vibe that fitted the venue as well was essential.
Then things like the photos we have had and the way the celebrant conducted the ceremony it was just us and all our guests said it was so memorable and unique which is what we wanted.”
They also emphasised the importance of trusting your suppliers: “It didn’t actually feel all that stressful either, so if you have that trust with your suppliers it goes a long way. Don’t be a bridezilla, you’re working with these suppliers for a reason so let them do their thing!”
A Day to Remember
Bex and Lauran’s wedding at The Bond was truly unforgettable. The venue’s unique blend of historical charm and modern cool provided the perfect setting for their love story. It was an absolute honour to be part of their special day and to help bring their vision to life. Here’s to many more beautiful unions at The Bond!
If you’re planning your own wedding and want a venue that offers something truly unique, look no further than The Bond in Digbeth.
And if you need styling that captures your essence and complements your venue, Kara Mia Venue Styling is here to make your dream day a reality. Book your consultation with us – we’d love to hear all about your wedding plans!
Suppliers
Make up – Beth Hall Make Up Artist
