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!).

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?

1. 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?

2. 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

3. 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!

4. 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?

5. 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.)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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