Choosing the right venue with all the amenities and perfect scenery is perhaps the most important decision you have to take during the entire wedding planning phase. According to surveys, a wedding venue is also the most expensive splurge out of all the different components that go into a perfect wedding.
You can definitely save when getting married here and there on your dress, photography, or décor. But an astounding venue, if chosen correctly, sets the tone for the entire day.
Follow our guide on what your wedding venue must haves to give you a day to remember as bride and groom.
Make sure it ticks all the boxes
Sit down with your partner and come up with a checklist of must haves for your venue. This could be things like a romantic staircase for wedding photos, to a mixture of indoor and outdoor areas for your guests to enjoy.
Your venue has to accommodate all of the special occasions for the wedding day. Visualise everything from walking down the aisle, to tossing the bouquet, to the first dance, to the bridal party and wedding guest photos, to cutting the cake. Does your chosen venue have space and appropriate settings for everything you want to do? All of these moments will be captured on film so it’s best to visualise where they can be done to avoid disappointment later down the line.
When seeing venues, ask for a tour and also look at real weddings that have taken place there for inspiration. Wedding photos from previous nuptials may be available which can fire up the imagination.
Don’t Compromise On The Space
The last thing you want on your wedding day is a gorgeous space crammed to the rafters with stacked tables, chairs and flowers. When looking for the ideal venue, make sure you look for options that are an appropriate size for your guest list, and the activities you want to do on the day. To get a correct estimation of the actual size of the space, visit the property during another wedding with all the amenities already in place.
The number of guests is crucial here, so hopefully, you have a rough figure in mind as the venue needs to match. Overcrowding will prevent you and your guests from being comfortable on the day, but under crowding will leave your venue looking sparse.
Budget
As we’ve mentioned, the venue is usually the biggest financial outlay of your wedding day. Our survey completed by 4561 brides earlier in 2021 showed the average wedding in 2020 to cost £24,435, but bear in mind this was heavily influenced by guest restrictions. With cancellations and short notice not taken into account, the average wedding venue cost was £3698.
If you plan to get married in 2022 or beyond, you may find that the venues have increased prices to recoup lost monies so this needs to be budgeted for. We always suggest that the venue is the first thing booked and the date saved for the guests.
Privacy
Privacy can vary widely according to the venue you choose. Many hotels, beaches, or locations like zoos and museums will still remain open to the public while your wedding goes ahead. If you opt for one of these venues and can’t swing exclusive hire, be prepared for strangers to trek past your wedding. If you don’t like the idea, then look into venues with exclusive hire contracts. Alternatively you can also look into smaller venues as these usually do not have enough space to house a wedding and the general public.
A View You Like
If you’re splurging thousands of pounds on this dream venue of yours, why not opt for the views you love. Remember that the views will serve as a backdrop to all the main events happening there. It will also be present in your wedding photos, so whether it’s the gorgeous skyline, a stunning water feature, dreamy forest views or astounding artistic galleries, make sure you find the one that’s worth the investment. If you want skyline views, a wedding venue in London will provide those iconic views for a memorable day (and photographs!)
Fully Equipped Staff
As we all know, the actual wedding day is indeed a stressful one. We all want everything to go as planned, and what’s better than having a well-equipped and professional staff at your service at the venue at all times. Whether it’s time to dim the lights, turn the music up or serve dinner to the guests, you need to make sure that there is a dedicated team of staff members on their toes to help make the night special and memorable. After your big day goes off without a hitch be sure to tip your staff and servers well.
Flooring Option
If you’re getting married outdoors, regardless of whether or not you have booked a tent you still may need to build a stable dancefloor. This can add a surprisingly high cost to the budget spreadsheet, but is essential for the comfort and safety of your guests.
If you are slightly short on budget and want real wooden floorings without the high costs, try asking the venue owners for any laminate flooring. Laminated floorings are a composite made of synthetic woods with a lamination process and provide much more advantage than the actual hardwood floorings. It also has a protective clear coating that makes the floorings non-porous and water-resistant. Plus, it makes a great dance floor for the first dance as husband and wife!
Plan B
Let’s be realistic, a UK wedding needs a wet weather plan. On your special day, there will be many things you can’t control, and nothing is more destructive than heavy rain if you plan outdoor activities. It’s wise to be prudent and be prepared, so any change on the day is seamless.
Location and accessibility
Choosing the perfect location doesn’t just come down to how it looks. The logistics of the day are incredibly important, and can make or break a beautifully planned wedding. Consider the road access to the venue, parking allowances, and the ease of access to overnight accommodation.
Any evening reception serving alcohol needs to consider safe transport for guests who will be drinking. If your venue is remote, you can offset the inconvenience to your guests by hiring minibuses if needed.
You will find that the most glorious historical venues are not always well-equipped to handle guests with disabilities. Check beforehand that there is wheelchair access and appropriate disabled loos to avoid any discomfort for your guests in need of them.
Ultimately, while the most picturesque venues may be off the beaten track, phone signal and access routes are to be ignored at your peril.
Availability
If you are looking into booking your venue then hopefully you have first consulted key members of your wedding party to know when the essential people are free and have dates in mind to get married. The tough part is then finding a date the venue is available.
Saturday is the preferred day for weddings. Most people are off work/school that day and the following for any sore heads. But crucially it also gives you the Friday night for the rehearsal dinner to meet up with family and friends the evening before, which is worth doing as the day flies by in a flash. Prices are often cheaper on weekdays, so if you are looking to save as much as possible then this could be a good option for you. However, do consider that some people will find this harder to attend.
These are by no means the only things for your wedding day checklist, just some key points to consider when you start your search for the best wedding venue in your area.
