Venues

Choosing a venue is one of the most important things you will do within your wedding preparations as this sets the scene for the rest of your day and celebrations. Therefore it needs to be special. The venue you choose should reflect your personalities and the moods and themes of your wedding.

You may already have a place in mind, or you may be open to suggestions, but it is important to discuss options and make a list of required elements that your venue should contain. It is a good idea to look through brochures and directories, and Internet virtual tours are a great idea to get a brief glimpse at what that venue has to offer. However in order to get the best view it is important to inspect the venue personally before making a final decision, to make sure it is what you both want.

Types of venue vary widely and there are places that will suit every couple, below are a few suggestions on places to hold your celebrations:

However this list is not extensive, and if there is a place you have in mind why not give them a call and see if they are willing to cater for your wedding celebrations. You will find that most places do hold weddings throughout the year, but if you are thinking of holding your ceremony there remember to check that they hold a license to perform civil ceremonies.

If you are getting wed in a church then it is preferable to look at venues within a 5 mile radius, as you do not want guests to be travelling for long periods of time, and missing out on valuable celebration time! Also make sure your guests know where they are going and don't lose their way.

As soon as you have decided on a date it is important to book your venue as popular venues are booked up quickly, sometimes years in advance.
Dependant on what day you are marrying on depends on prices and you may find that some venues offer discount if you are getting married on a weekday so it is worth checking!

It is also important to check the times your venue will be available to you, so that if you are planning an all day wedding you are able to access the venue and not leave your guests waiting around. Also the same goes for a late event as the last thing you want is for your celebrations to be cut short if the venue has a time limitation.

Check with the venue to see if it will be yours exclusively or whether there are other guests or weddings accessing the venue on the same day as this may affect your choices.

When looking at venue space, size matters and choosing a small or larger venue will depend on guest numbers. However for the right atmosphere, you need to check how many guests the venue can cater for comfortably and this will be a major influence on your final decision, as you obviously want your guests to feel comfortable and the right atmosphere created. After all a venue that is too small will make guests feel uncomfortable and cramped, whereas a venue that is too large will make the room feel empty and bare with no atmosphere. There is usually a dedicated wedding coordinator at the venue that will be able to advise you on the right size of room to suit your needs.

Some venues will provide flowers so check whether these are provided or whether you need to provide your own. The same applies to other decorations. If the venue does provide these services then check that they will match your requirements and compliment your wedding themes and ideas.

When ordering your wedding breakfast and evening refreshments check the prices of meals and catering and check whether the venue offers a selection of preset menus. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and try a meal or have tasters as you need to know your guests will be served with the highest quality refreshments. Ask about the wine and champagne selection that is on offer, and also how much reception drinks will cost per head. Also check the venues drink licensing rules and also the policy on tips and gratuities. It may also be an idea to ask whether the venue will cater for specific dietary requirements and check that enough waiting staff and caterers will be supplied for your event. Some venues do provide a master of ceremonies, but you will need to check this. If you require a toastmaster then you will have to book this service separately.

When choosing your entertainment and music, restrictions may apply to some venues so if you are thinking of having a band or disco for your evening reception check beforehand to make sure the venue allows this. Some venues may provide their own entertainment for wedding receptions so it is also worth asking about this.

It may be an idea if you are marrying in a stately home or other venue with gardens, to ask whether you will be allowed the use of the gardens for your photographs. Again the wedding coordinator can answer these questions.

You will also need to check whether there are enough parking facilities for guests and if you have unusual transport, transporting you to your venue such as helicopter or horse drawn carriage check that the venue can accommodate this.

Check that the venue holds facilities for those guests who are disabled or young children/babies, as it is important guests are made to feel comfortable and relaxed so that they can enjoy your big day. Also check that the toilets at the venue are pleasant and large enough to accommodate as many guests will want to freshen up during the day and evening reception. Ask whether you may have use of a guest room during the day, so that you and other members of your bridal entourage can freshen up and if required change outfits between day and evening reception. Talk to the wedding coordinator about security at the venue and check there is a safe place to keep gifts and outfits.

Many couples stay overnight in the accommodation at the venue, so check out the honeymoon suite and ask about special rates, including discount if there are a large amount of guests staying over.

Above all whichever venue you choose, staff should be willing to accommodate your every need and individually tailor packages to suit your requirements.

Once you have made your final decision, you will usually need to pay a deposit to reserve the venue and it is a good idea to get written confirmation concerning all the issues and questions you have raised. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as the wedding coordinator at your chosen venue should be helpful and make you feel confident that you have made the right decision. That way you can be left to relax and enjoy your day knowing everything is taken care of.

Weddings-With-Style Tips:

The choices of venue are endless and the process of finding the perfect place is time consuming but above all the venue you choose should be a place that reflects your wedding themes and ideas. It should have friendly staff so that your guests feel at ease, enough space and car parking to accommodate everyone, and that wow factor you have been searching for! Make sure the venue is suitable for taking photographs inside as some venues do not have gardens or it may be raining, so you may be limited for photograph opportunities indoors.