I’m a bit soppy when it comes to choosing your wedding venue and I firmly believe that you will walk into a venue and just get the vibe – a bit like buying a house. You’ll walk into the venue and just instantly feel at home and will be able to picture yourself getting married there. However, if you would like a bit of theory to go with your gut instincts, then have a read of my top tips when choosing your wedding venue.
Dewsall Court, Herefordshire by Rosie Kelly Photography.
Visit as a guest before booking a viewing
This one isn’t possible for every venue, but if it is, try and visit as a guest before you book a viewing. By doing this, you can be an ‘undercover boss’ and see what their customer service is like. You will get a similar experience to your guests on your wedding day – and happy guests equal an awesome party. Plus you can sample their food and drink before booking, if they have in house catering and bar.
Ask about their wet weather options
Boring, I know, but important. Many venues have wonderful options for outdoor ceremony and welcome drinks. But, this is the UK and the weather may not be your friend. From the start ask what their wet weather options are, view them and make sure you are happy with the alternative. The last thing you want is to book a venue based of their outdoor offering and then be disappointed that you have to use a wet weather option that you don’t like.
Curradine Barns, Worcestershire for Beth & Dale by Phil Brown Photography
Ask about Suppliers
Check what the venue will provide as part of their package. Do they have their own bar or catering? Is linen and tableware included? By asking these questions at the start you will know exactly which external supplier you will need to source. This will help with your budgeting and also when comparing venues.
Check your access times
Make sure you check what time you can have access to the venue. Is it the day before or the morning of the wedding? And what time can you get access from? It may seem like a small detail to be worrying about at the beginning of your wedding planning, but you will find that most suppliers will ask you these questions during your consultations. We need to know your access time so that we can advise on feasibility and factor in any extra staff that may be needed. For example, if you can only get into the bridal suite at 10am on the morning of your wedding, then you may need to consider having your wedding hair and makeup done elsewhere. Or, if you have access the evening before and have large floral installations planned, then your florist will likely visit the day before to begin the mechanics for the large flower displays.
Write down your top 3 must haves
Okay, this isn’t a question to ask, but it will help you decide which venue is for you. Both you and your partner should write down your top three non-negotiables for your wedding. Compare these lists and create a top three must haves for your wedding. Use these when you are comparing venues. For example, if you’re comparing a venue is quite cheap (but only meets two requirements off your list) to a more expensive venue that ticks all three, it will probably be better to choose the venue that scores 3/3 but pushes your budget a bit more.
Feeling overwhelmed with wedding planning and choosing your wedding venue? Then pop over to our wedding planning page where you can view all our wedding planning packages – including venue finding help, fancy that!