So you’ve just got engaged – congratulations! But where do you start especially when there are so many decisions to be made?! Maybe you are feeling slightly overwhelmed at where to actually get married and how to make sure it fits with all your wants and needs? When searching for your perfect venue, it’s very easy for your heart to run away with itself with the pure beauty of a location, when realistically it won’t fit with all your requirements! First things first! You need to write a list of what to look for in a venue and which questions to ask. Here are my top 5 tips to help you on your way!
1) Work out your guest list!
And when I say ‘your’ I mean ‘YOURS!’ It is your day, so whilst you may feel obliged to ask people because other people say ‘you should,’ bear in mind the extra costs involved. These will soon add up when you think of the wedding breakfast price per person and also will impact the size of your venue. This is why it is so important to have your guest list number as accurate as you can before committing to a venue. There is no point in visiting a large lavish manor house that can fit up to 200 guests, when you are having a smaller intimate wedding of 20. Of course, there is no reason at all that you can’t have that venue, but always try to envisage your wedding party in the space. A magnificent grand venue will look stunning, but with a much smaller crowd, people could end up looking lost and the space cold.
2) Visit the venue in person!
I really do urge you to go and see a venue with your own eyes before you commit. You will get a much clearer idea of the space and see for yourself how many people a venue can comfortably hold. Whilst planning our own wedding, I visited a gorgeous looking barn that stated it could fit 100 guests. It was all set up for a wedding fair and whilst it certainly did look pretty, it was a LOT smaller than I thought it would be, and I personally didn’t want to fit more than 50 people in there! I immediately ruled it out as I knew it wouldn’t be comfortable for our amount of guests, especially with it being a summer wedding! You also can’t dismiss your own feelings and the vibe that you get from visiting a venue in person.
3) The location & accessibility!
Firstly, think where the majority of your guests are coming from and their specific needs. Truth is, if someone really wants to be there, they will, but it is important to realize that some guests just may say ‘no’ if the venue is going to be too far for them. If you do want as many people there as possible, it’s best to try and source a venue which will be within an acceptable reach to the majority of your guests. Also, do think of the practicalities of a venue, such as step-free access for those that need it and a wet weather option, if you would like to get married outdoors.
4) Compile a list of all the non-negotiable things that a venue must have or allow at your wedding.
Most couples, when they start planning their wedding, have an idea if they would like a band; what type of food they would like to be eating; or maybe they’d like to set off fireworks in the evening. All venues are different, and whilst some are totally relaxed with an ‘anything goes’ attitude, there are others that may have stricter rules.
Things to consider include: a noise curfew for music due to neighbors; whether they allow fireworks or Chinese lanterns; or if they insist the only food allowed is their five-course meal. If this isn’t for you and you’d prefer something more relaxed like a hog roast or even a chip shop van, then this will help you source the correct venues and avoid wasting time visiting ones that won’t fit the vision of your day.
5) Lastly - will your wedding venue fit with your theme and style of wedding?
Whether you chose your wedding theme as soon as you said ‘I do!’ or you are still undecided, your choice of venue needs to totally work and complement your styling and overall aesthetic. You may even find that your choice of venue helps you decide on your theme by parts of its architecture or period detailing, or perhaps it just has that air of elegance that you want to represent on your own wedding day.
Try to think outside of the box and look at alternative wedding venues that are out there. Love something Gothic? A castle, abbey, or even a cave could totally give the right mood for your darker wedding theme. Perhaps you love a festival and want to recreate that atmosphere for your dream day, therefore a more formal venue such as a country manor wouldn’t work. A blank canvas space or an outdoor tipi wedding venue would work like a dream!
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