Shrewsbury Prison cells set to be transformed for wedding event
The Big Shrewsbury Wedding Fayre will take place at The Dana
More than 120 wedding suppliers are expected to gather at Shrewsbury Prison for a new wedding fayre next year.
The Big Shrewsbury Wedding Fayre will take place at The Dana on Sunday, May 9, 2027, from 11am to 3pm.
Organisers plan to use more than 90 former Victorian prison cells as individual exhibitor spaces, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the historic building while meeting businesses involved in the wedding industry.
Suppliers are expected to include photographers, florists, bridal specialists, entertainers, cake makers, caterers, décor companies, transport providers and beauty professionals.
There will also be additional exhibition areas and outdoor spaces, where appropriate, alongside food, drink and entertainment.
The event is being organised by Shropshire Events Group Ltd and Shire Weddings & Events Ltd.
Sean Goodman, managing director of Shropshire Events Group, said the unusual venue would allow the event to take a different approach from a traditional wedding fayre.
“We didn't want rows and rows of tables in a function room,” he said.
“We wanted to create an experience that couples would be excited to attend and that businesses would be proud to exhibit at.”
He said visitors would be able to walk through the Victorian prison and discover different wedding businesses behind the former cell doors.
Organisers are encouraging exhibitors to make use of the individual spaces, which measure around 7ft by 12ft, and create their own displays.
Mr Goodman said the event would also provide an opportunity to showcase independent wedding businesses from Shropshire and surrounding areas.
“There is an incredible wedding industry here in Shropshire, filled with talented independent businesses,” he said.
“We want to put those businesses in front of couples who are actively planning their weddings and create genuine opportunities for conversations, enquiries and bookings.”
The event will be aimed at couples planning weddings in 2027, 2028 and beyond.
Organisers hope the combination of wedding suppliers and the historic setting will make the event different from a conventional wedding exhibition, with ambitions for it to become an annual event in Shropshire.