Wedding Planning Advice – Finding Your Venue (Part 1)
Friday, July 31st, 2009
Posted in Planning Advice , Venues
Once you have decided on a date, drawn up a planning schedule and set your wedding budget , you’re ready to start organising your big day. The first thing on your list is to find a venue – this is a very important decision, so it’s worth taking plenty of time to make sure you find the perfect location. As part of our Planning Advice series, we examine the important questions to ask when considering wedding venues.
The type of venue you choose will be heavily influenced by the style of your wedding, the number of guests and your budget, but there are other points to take into consideration. Before you spend hours researching prospective venues, consider the following:
1. Where do you want to hold your wedding? If you are holding your ceremony at a church or register office, focus on an area that is no more than 30 minutes drive away
2. What style of venue do you want? For example, do you want somewhere historical, rustic, or contemporary? Think about how your venue will tie in with your wedding style or theme
3. How many guests will your venue need to accommodate for both the day and evening?
4. Do you need a venue with a license to hold civil ceremonies?
5. What is your budget for venue hire?
6. Do you want to hire your own caterers? Not all venues will allow you to bring in external catering
7. Do you want onsite accommodation?
8. Do you need disabled access? This is an important consideration, as some older buildings may not have lifts installed
By answering these questions you will avoid wasting time looking at venues that are unsuitable, and will instead be in a strong position to start a more focused search. As a starting point, start by looking at online wedding directories or searching on the internet for wedding venues in your chosen area. Make a shortlist of those that meet your requirements and visit the top 3-4. Avoid visiting too many initially, as it’s easy to be overwhelmed – if none of them are suitable, you can always re-visit your list.
What to Look For in a Prospective Wedding Venue
When you visit a potential venue, make sure you see as much as possible to get a good feel for the complete setting. Don’t just look at the function room you would be using – walk around the gardens, have a drink in the bar and look at the honeymoon suite and guest bedrooms. You may find it helpful to take photographs or make a sketch of the room layout to remind you of the venue when you get home. As you look around the venue, ask yourself the following:
1. Is the venue clean and in a good state of repair?
2. Are the staff friendly and knowledgeable? Most venues have a dedicated function manager who should be able to offer advice and answer your questions
3. Are the toilets clean? Are there adequate disabled facilities if required?
4. What is the decor and furniture like? This might not seem very important, but if your venue has brightly coloured carpets, walls or curtains it could clash with your colour scheme. You may also need to factor in additional costs for decorative items like draping or chair covers
5. Is there plenty of onsite parking?
6. Will there be a dedicated co-ordinator present on the day? If not, you may want to consider a Wedding Day Management service to ensure everything runs smoothly
It can feel daunting when you first start viewing wedding venues, but take your time and enjoy the experience! Chances are you’ll get a feeling as to whether the venue is right for your wedding within the first few minutes, but always take time with your viewing. It is an important decision, so don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, or to go back for a second visit before you make your final choice.
If you’re struggling to find the perfect location, or simply don’t have time, you might like to take a look at our Venue Sourcing Service . We do all of the legwork for you, meaning you can enjoy making a stress-free decision without spending hours trawling the internet or reading brochures.
Next month: more specific questions to ask a venue and how to avoid unexpected charges
Photo Credits:
Hall:
The Fennes
Gardens:
Yaxley Hall