How to choose your venue..
Can’t decide on which venue to book? Where to look? What to look for, or even what to ask at the venue you are looking at? Hopefully the below helps!
Budget. Looking at those extravagant dream venues can be an awesome experience, but it can also be incredibly disappointing to fall in love with somewhere then find out that the dream Manor House you have just looked at just doesn’t fit into your budget. Do some research before looking at specific venues, or even find out who the point of contact is at the venue and send them an email to ask for their price packages, or what they can offer within your budget. This will save any nasty surprises and will save a wasted trip ! Discuss with your partner what your ‘must haves’ are for the day.
Top tip: if you are flexible on your wedding date, venues tend to post great offers on their social media for remaining dates in their diary or low season dates of the years to come. If you want a bargain, keep an eye out and follow your favourite venues on Instagram! Also, certain days of the week are much cheaper, so also ask your venue this when enquiring!
2. Location. Where do you want your big day to be? Are you getting married in the church where your grandparents got married, beautiful barn conversion or are you jetting of to Santorini? Whatever location you choose, make sure that the guests that you really want to share your day with are able to get there and that the venue can accommodate the number of people on your guest lists. If you have guests travelling from far away, choosing a venue with accommodation on site or nearby is a good idea. Choosing a very rural location may result in your guest list getting considerably smaller, or guests leaving early in the evening (which might not be a bad thing if you are early birds and can’t wait to get back to your honey moon suite!!). That being said, if you want to get married in a really rural location, just the two of you (and your witnesses of course) go for it! It’s your day, and you do you!!
Top tip: Websites such as ‘WithJoy’ are great for creating a wedding page and have great ways of sharing information with your guests such as order of the day, venue location, directions, closest hotels, train stations and any important information they need to know! Saves space on those invitations then!
3. Pick a date. How do you want your wedding photos to look? Do you want to be photographed in beautiful grounds with the sun shining or do you want a cosy winter wedding? Both can be equally as beautiful. The colour scheme for your wedding may also influence the date that you choose. Burgundy and oranges are great for Autumn weddings, whereas pastels would suit more in Spring. Prices of venues also vary usually depending on the season and day of the week, Something to consider before finalising your date!
Top tip: If you want to get married outside but you have chosen a date where the chances of rain may be slightly higher, pick a venue where you are happy with the ‘Plan B’.. Or failing that, stock up on brollies and embrace those outside rain shots!!!
4. Catering options. The food at your wedding can really set the tone of the day. If you are more of a relaxed couple you may be looking at a more laid back catering approach such as a pizza van or a hog roast (YUM). If you have got your heart set on something like this, make sure to ask your venue whether they will allow it. Some even offer a hog roast as part of their package! Some venues only allow you to use their in house caterers whereas some venues don’t have this, so the organising of the food will be down to you. Choose food that you like, it’s your wedding day and you’re paying!!
Top tip: If you choose in house catering and your venue offers it, go to the menu tasting! It’s a great excuse for a date night and you’ll also get to visit your venue again before the big day!
5. Venue rules. Big one to check! Some venues have lots of rules that you wouldn’t even think of! Certain confetti, certain brands of fireworks/smoke bombs, even sparklers you need to check! If there are things that you really want, such as a sparkler send off, just check with the venue for any rules ahead of time and any supplier limitations. Also things like certain vehicles for parking! Some venues don’t allow guests to park in camper vans even if they won’t be staying in them overnight. So well worth an email just to check these things.
Top tip: Confirm with your venue timings. What time can you access the venue. What time can the suppliers access the venue. What time do you need to vacate the honeymoon suite the following morning. Can cars be left overnight and collected the next day. What time to collect any decor the following morning. Always good to clarify these things early on so you can make prior arrangements!