4 Top Tips for Choosing a Wedding Venue
Finding the right wedding venue can be much like buying a house: sometimes it just feels right. You might already have an idea of what sort of wedding you want – stately home, tipi, marquee, barn – but you will no doubt still be faced with a number of options to choose from. It takes a lot of time and research and can often be one of the hardest parts of planning a wedding. As well as being an emotional decision, you need to make sure that your venue ticks all the right practical boxes before you make a final choice.
Your venue will influence your budget (or vice versa) as well as the atmosphere on the day so before you sign on the dotted line, below are five important things to consider before you decide on your wedding venue.
Finding the right wedding venue can be much like buying a house: sometimes it just feels right.
Venue size. Look at how many people you’re planning to invite to your wedding versus the number of people the venue can comfortably cater for. A crowded reception can be quite uncomfortable but if a venue is too large, it can affect the atmosphere and the overall look and feel. Put an initial guest list together before you start venue shopping so that you can make a better decision.
What about the drinks? Alcohol and drinks are likely to play a big part of most weddings so it’s important to find out what the situation is regarding drinks. Most venues will provide a drinks service, but some will allow you to provide your own beverages whilst charging you ‘corkage’. Since you will also need a licensed bar to serve alcohol, find out whether the venue can assist with this so that you can factor those costs into your final budget.
Will they restrict you? Most venues have a certain number of restrictions, such as the maximum volume your DJ or band can play at, whether you are allowed sparklers, or even what type of confetti (if any) you are allowed to use. It’s certainly worth checking these before making a booking.
Preferred vendors. You’re going to be working with several different vendors in the time leading up to and on your wedding day. Some venues require you to use their vendors (such as bars, caterers etc) so find out about this before you make a booking. If they do work with specific vendors, make sure that you’re happy with their experience, style, personality, and pricing. When a venue works with preferred vendors, it does mean they’re confident in their experience and ability to delivery but it’s more important for you to choose vendors that fit in with your budget and overall preferences.
There are many different factors to consider when choosing the perfect wedding venue but make sure that it’s a space that speaks to your personalities and style as a couple. If you’d like any impartial recommendations about a particular venue, feel free to get in touch! Find Jon on Instagram (@joncripwellphoto) or Facebook or email jon@joncripwell.co.uk
