How to choose your Essex wedding venue
You’re engaged! But now you need to find your perfect wedding venue in Essex
As Essex’s wedding planner of the year 2023, I’m here to help!
Have you been searching for the perfect wedding venue in Essex? Look no further! Choosing your wedding venue is an important decision, so it's vital you take the time to explore all of the options available to you. Whether you're looking for something traditional or something more modern, you'll be sure to find the perfect spot to celebrate your special day in Essex.
So take a deep breath and get ready to make one of the most important decisions of your life whilst I talk you through a step by step guide and a list of important considerations to think about when choosing your venue!
Wedding Venues & suppliers who align
You have your eye on that gorgeous Essex wedding venue but really, it’ll be the suppliers you choose that could make (or break) that lovely aesthetic vision - my point here is choose suppliers who will deliver the overall wedding aesthetic that you want and enhances the venue, not takes away from it - consider creating a Pinterest board that you can show your suppliers before booking
Location location location
Essex is quite a big County so ask yourself, Is the venue easily accessible to both you and your guests? Is it close to any other points of interest such as hotels or transportation? These are important elements especially if you have people travelling to come to the big day - Consider who is coming to your wedding before settling on a location
Wedding guest numbers
The perfect opportunity to sit in the garden with a bottle of fizz (or tea if you’re feeling more ‘Bridgerton’) and start creating your list of guests - this is vital to choosing your venue and whilst there is a huge selection of wedding venues to choose in Essex, not all are capable of dealing with large numbers, or are too big for more intimate numbers - Make sure the venue can comfortably accommodate your guest list - whilst a wedding venue may say they can cater for up to 200 people, this number usually means the maximum number of tables and chairs, leaving not much breathing space or room for anything else - consider choosing a venue that caters for more than you are looking for so you have extra space, especially in the hotter months
Wedding Budget
I wouldn’t recommend it, you could visit every wedding venue in Essex however, my suggestion to you is write down a list of needs and wants, from this, start hunting for your ideal venue then narrow that list down to your top 5 (both of you choose your favourite, then 3 others) then start visiting them! Even better, try and visit on an open day where you will be able to see the venue all set up for a wedding day and start gathering quotes - make sure you find out exactly what is included in the cost and don’t get caught out with the VAT being added on at invoice stage! - Consider adding 20% on top of your budget to cater for those little extras that the venue offer as an upgrade option
Dates
Start looking at dates to hold your wedding day on, consider the months, days, school holidays, bank holidays and celebrations as these can make a difference to availability and more importantly, cost. There can be a considerable difference between a January midweek wedding compared to a Saturday in August for example - if budget is tight, consider opting for a last minute deal but remember, you have to give at least 28 days notice of marriage (yes, I have fully organised a wedding in less than 6 months!)
Compromise
As an engaged couple, you will fall into two categories, you both have the same vision for your wedding day or you have totally opposite tastes and cannot agree on everything. Remember, it is a day of celebration for both of you and there will have to be compromises made along the way, the same goes for your venue, it may not have a lake that you were hoping for but it has beautiful views from the wedding dining room - compromise. Consider creating you needs and wants list before visiting any wedding venue as this will help you rule venues in or out before you get overwhelmed
A wedding planner
Still feeling the heat? Consider hiring a wedding planner to support you. Not only do we know the best venues in the area but we are tenacious when it comes to supporting you in delivering YOUR best day. We know which suppliers work best with which venues and we can work to your budget so that you do not spend money you don’t have. Plus, we all need a non-biased wedding bestie right?
So there you have it; my top tips on how to choose your favourite wedding venue in Essex along with just some pictures of my personal favourites.
Where have you chosen to get married in Essex? Drop your comments below!
Contact Hayley, Owner of Amae Weddings & Events HERE for more information on Wedding Planning services in Essex and the UK.
Wedding Coordinator Vs Wedding Planner
What's the difference between a Wedding Planner & a Wedding Coordinator?
Both are invaluable to your planning process but join me as I discuss the benefits of both along with my 3 step guide as to whether you need a wedding planner.
What’s the difference between a Wedding Coordinator and a Wedding Planner?
Hiring a wedding planner can be seen as ‘so American’ but Wedding Planners always have and always will be a popular addition to your planning process. So join me as I talk about the difference between a coordinator and a planner and the benefits both bring to you.
Now, some of you may question the need for a wedding planner, if the venue is providing a coordinator in the cost of the package.
Wedding coordinators based at the venue are amazing, they know their venue inside out and have fantastic relationships with the venue team. They will have run numerous weddings at the venue and have a wealth of knowledge about what things do and don’t work well there. They will get in touch with you a few months before your wedding day and go through all of the details to do with the wedding day to ensure everything runs smoothly.
The following is in no way meant to take away from what a coordinator does (I’ve been one myself so I speak first hand) but I am simply pointing out the facts of the things they don’t do, that a Wedding Planner can*.
*Make sure you discuss exactly what’s included in your package with your planner/coordinator
Wedding Planners:
Can get involved from the very start of your planning process (the minute you are engaged)
Dedicates around 300 hours + to you and your day with the full coordination service
Helps create your whole vision, not just the wedding day itself
Creates mood boards and themes
Creates a budget plan and controls your finances
Vetting and liaising with all of your suppliers
Schedules all your meetings
Initiates difficult family conversations
Sets up your wedding website
Send, monitor and chase responses from your invitations
After being with you every step of the way, ensuring nothing gets missed on the day itself and that it all comes to fruition
So much more!
There are a lot of companies that advertise as wedding planners when in fact they are wedding stylists (the likes of companies that you hire accessories for your day from) but, some do offer a planning service also so make sure you check before committing if it is an actual wedding planner/coordinator that you are seeking .
Similarly, wedding planners offer coordination services. This is great if you are the sort of couple that wants to organise your wedding yourselves, but you want someone experienced there on the day itself to ensure everything runs smoothly and to make sure you and your hubby/wife are fully taken care of.
Wedding Planners are an invaluable investment to your planning process and take a considerable amount of pressure away from you. Your planning process should be fun, not stressful (hate that word!). So before you decide if a wedding planner is right for you, consider these 3 things:
Can you afford a planner? (most planners will actually save you money)
Do you have the time to invest into planning your wedding?
Will you need support with the logistics and formalities of wedding planning?
Don’t forget, I offer a complimentary consultation so will be more than happy to have an honest and frank discussion with you and if I feel you would not benefit from having a planner, I will recommend an alternative option.
Can’t wait to speak with you!
Contact Hayley.
Is it really the perfect venue?
How do you select the ‘right’ venue?
‘So what sort of venue do you envisage for your wedding/event?’ is one of the very first questions I will ask you. It’s one of THE biggest decisions you’ll need to make whether for your wedding or event - you cannot afford to get it wrong (literally).
In my years of experience, decisions are usually quite split with some of you looking for Manor Houses, Barns or Marquee’s. Some of you also know exactly what you’d like and stick with that (decisive, I like it!), others of you completely change your mind once you’ve seen a few venues and realise it’s not what you want (brilliant, means I get to shop around a bit more for you, I love shopping!).
@photosbylanty
Don’t get me wrong, it is extremely easy to fall in love with a venue, I know you’ve stalked them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn… you know all there is to know about it and you can actually visualise your wedding or event being held there (this is a GREAT thing by the way).
But… with the biggest chunk of your budget being spent on the venue, what should you look for other than beautiful aesthetics?
Location location! - is it easily accessible for you and your guests? Believe it or not, some guests will decide not to come simply because it is difficult to get to or the taxi would be too expensive. Either way, does it have parking for those guests that wish to drive?
Numbers - What are their minimum and maximum capacity numbers? Some venues have these minimum and maximum numbers so before you fall head over heels, check this out as it could massively affect your budget or shatter your dream when you realise it cannot house the numbers you want
Night before and night of - does the venue have accommodation? You may wish to stay the night before, especially if it’s for your wedding day. Similarly, it’s so much easier to spend the night at the same venue the night of your wedding or event, that way you can all enjoy breakfast together the next morning too!
Exclusivity - does the venue offer exclusivity for your event or is Fred the farmer going to pop in for a pint after his shift and gatecrash at the bar?
Catering - does the venue allow you to use your own caterers / bring your own alcohol or is it all in-house (this can push the cost up), are the kitchens on site or is the food brought in from a different location (yes, this happens and whilst there is nothing wrong with that, it’s something you might want to know about.)
Food tasting - does the venue offer you the opportunity to sample the food from the menu? This hugely ties in with number 3 - if you can’t have your own caterers, you at least need to be able to sample the food beforehand if you wish, even if you have to pay for it
Suppliers - are you able to use your own suppliers? Some venues will only permit you to use their recommended list, again, nothing wrong with this as long as they are reputable but, in my opinion, you should be able to use whomever you wish
Restrictions - what restrictions does the venue have in place (for example, what time can you access the property, do they allow fireworks, do they have music restrictions, can you have your own DJ) there are lot more questions to this part but hopefully this gives you an idea
Theme - if you already have a theme in mind, does the venue suit this? There’s no point booking a traditional manor house if your theme is rustic, it probably won’t look right
Budget - Ironically, none of the above matters if you can’t afford the venue. I like to work backwards, once you know your budget, work out costs for everything else (most people have a good idea which suppliers they want to use) then what is left, is for the venue. If it’s not much you know you have to sacrifice something (sorry!)
The other (easier) alternative is to hire a planner who will already know the best venues in the area or can do all of the research for you and probably save you money! WINNING!
For some venue inspiration, make sure you check out Country House Weddings who have 6 venues in the South of England, all absolutely stunning ranging from castles to country estates. Also make sure you check out some of the most beautiful venues in the country… Selected Venues - having worked for both groups, I can offer first hand information on how some of these venues run.
Contact Hayley