Things To Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Venue

Your Perfect Venue

Your wedding venue is likely to account for a large proportion of your wedding budget. It also plays a key role in how well your wedding day flows, so it’s important to spend some time and get it right.

Below are some things for you to consider to help make sure you find the venue that’s perfect for your wedding, before you sign on the dotted line…

1. Getting The Shortlist Right

There are thousands of venues catering for weddings, however not all of them will be right for you. This is a good thing – you can’t physically visit them all so it will help you to be able to identify a shortlist to focus on.

To do this you need to think about your vision for your wedding, your style, and what’s important to you both. If you’ve dreamt of grand castle with candle light everywhere then a tipi in a field is probably not for you. Similarly if you are looking for a small intimate rustic venue, then a grand stately house is unlikely to hit the mark.

Spend some time together listing the different key aspects that would make the ideal venue for you and then start searching using this criteria. You can then start to create a shortlist to visit.

2. Location, Location, Location

Deciding on a location will also help with creating your shortlist. Are you prepared to travel? Would your friends and family be prepared to travel? Or would you prefer to keep things closer to home?

If you are prepared to travel then below are some things you might want to consider:

• Will you be decorating the venue? If so, you’ll need to factor in travel time between visits and ensure you still have enough time to relax before your wedding day.
• Is there plenty of accommodation? Either at the venue or close by for those that will have to travel and may wish to stay over.
• Are there likely to be many international guests? Is the venue within a reasonable travel distance to the nearest airport, harbour etc?
• Would travel affect the number of Acceptances you receive? How many of your guests would be put off from travelling? Speaking to a few in advance can give a good idea – some might love the idea of a mini break!
• Can the venue be easily found? If not, are there ways to make it clearer with additional signage (and would you need any special permissions)?
• As with all venues, is there good access for suppliers to get into and out of the venue?

3. Deal or No Deal

It’s easy to be swayed by a beautiful venue. However if it doesn’t meet your key needs and vision then it’s likely to set you up for disappointment…

Prior to any visits, sit down and list your key non-negotiable’s. Then stick to them!

Here are some example considerations to help you start to create your non-negotiable’s:

• Clear Vision – Be really clear on your vision. It’s fine to be open to suggestions, however if it’s something you’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with (other than your partner!) then it’s likely to be something you might regret changing on a whim. Will it compliment your overall theme?
• Live Music – Does the venue permit live music? If you’d planned on having a friend or their band perform then you’ll need to be clear on whether this is a no go!
• Planning a sparkling send off? Then check that sparklers, fireworks, fire displays etc are permitted.
• Dream Cuisine? Does the venue cater for your ideal cuisine? Can they cater for any special dietary requirements etc?
• Popping a Cork – If you’d planned to supply your own alcohol to keep costs down, does the venue permit this? If they do is there a corkage charge and what is it?

4. Suppliers

Some venues will only allow the use of their ‘approved suppliers’. Now whilst the upside to this is that clearly they will have worked with the venue before and therefore know how things flow, are they the right fit for your wedding?

Some, not all, but some venues receive a commission from any weddings they are able to pass on to one of their suppliers. Therefore they may not be the best in their field but are put forward to you as they give a large commission to the venue. Luckily good venues realise that the suppliers they recommend reflect their wedding package and so most of the time suppliers are of a good quality.

Check with the venue if you are able to use your own suppliers and if there is any associated charge with doing so.

5. Strike A Pose

If you are planning on having photos at your reception then you’ll need to keep in mind if the venue has good photograph opportunities.

If it’s the venue of your dreams but doesn’t have great photo opportunities then ask if there is a good location nearby that your photographer could whizz you off to for 30mins or so.

Does the venue have good lighting of will this need to be added to your list of things to organise?

6. Help On The Day

Does the venue provide a Master of Ceremonies for you? Do they provide a Coordinator to run the day for you and coordinate all suppliers? Will this include any suppliers that you have arranged or just the venues suppliers?

Importantly, if they do provide you with a coordinator make sure it’s clear anything that they don’t cover for you. That way you can decide how to deal with anything else. Finally, make sure that you are able to meet with them several times before you wedding so that they are clear on your plans and expectations for the day.

7. Size is Everything

You’ll want to ensure that your venue is the right size for your wedding and guests. If the venue is too small everything will feel cramped. Not to mention the service is likely to be impacted as the waiting staff struggle to negotiate their way between guests chairs etc.

If the venues capacity is far greater than your wedding size then it can be difficult to create the right atmosphere. You’ll also be likely to spend more on decoration to fill any empty spaces to ensure your theme flows.

To avoid the above situations, make a rough guest list before you visit the venues. Take into account a contingency for any guests you initially have forgotten and any guests who may not be able to make it. This will help you to quickly rule out any that aren’t suitable.

If there is a venue that you have your heart set on but the numbers don’t seem to be working then give the venue a quick call. There may an option to have a marquee on the ground, or they may have a smaller room available.

Be careful not to underestimate numbers, especially with plus ones!

8. Preparation

Check with the venue when you have access to set up from and to. If you are styling the venue yourself then be careful not to underestimate the amount of time you will need. Ideally you’d want to decorate in advance of the wedding day, leaving your free to relax and enjoy the whole of your wedding day.

It’s also worth checking when suppliers can get access from to set up. Is there a separate back entrance for any suppliers setting up in the evening? Ideally you’d want to avoid them having to bring any equipment through where you or your guests are. Especially if you are keeping somethings a surprise for the evening!

9. Off Limits

Ask the venue if there are any restrictions. As you are most likely to be towards the beginning of your wedding planning journey when looking for your venue, you’re unlikely to have all of the details of your wedding worked out at this stage. Therefore it’s easier to find out what isn’t allowed rather than confirming what you will definitely need.

For example, if you are adamant that you want real candles rather than artificial then it’s important to find out if the venue allows for open flames or understand any restrictions.

If you are holding your ceremony at the venue, do they allow confetti to be thrown? Are there any restrictions as to the type of confetti allowed and the location(s) is may be thrown in.

10. Before You Sign On The Dotted Line…

Look for recommendations from previous couples. Do your research and don’t rely solely on the Venues testimonials on it’s website. You could try looking for the venue in a search engine or on a location website such as Trip Advisor.

Once you think you have found your perfect venue, ALWAYS read the terms and conditions of booking before signing anything. Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if any of the terms aren’t clear to you.

Take the time to enjoy your venue hunting. This is such a fun part of the wedding planning process but also very key to setting the theme to the whole day so take your time. It will help the rest of your planning to start to fall into place.

Happy Planning! ♥