Your wedding day is a very important and special occasion. It is also the day that requires the most planning and preparation of your life. One of the first items on the to-do list is finding the wedding and reception venue of your dreams, which is not always an easy task. Wedding and reception venues in the UK come in all shapes and sizes, from the kitsch to the contemporary. Finding one that you love, and that suits your needs and your budget, can be time-consuming. Here we have prepared a few tips and considerations that we hope will help you in your search.
If you do not already have an ideal style of venue it is worth doing a bit of research on the internet and through wedding magazines to see what sort of feel you would like for the day. It can be helpful to create a mood board so that you can build up a real picture of how you would like your day to look.
In recent years, the trend for all things vintage has led to a lot of tea-party style weddings in converted barns and country settings. The UK also provides a wonderful variety of historic buildings, country manors, castles and even palaces that are available for weddings. These charming venues provide beautiful backdrops for wedding photographs and stunning rooms for entertaining your guests. There are also many striking contemporary venues in cosmopolitan city centres that provide elegant and minimalist spaces for modern wedding celebrations. These are just a few of the choices, so starting out with an idea of your favourite style will really help to narrow down your search.
Next to consider is the ideal location for your venue. The UK is blessed with a variety of different landscapes, from gleaming sky scrapers in metropolitan cities to rolling hills and meadows or dramatic and stunning coastlines. Think about what best represents you as a couple; do you like long walks in the country, picnics on the beach or the excitement of busy city streets? You also need to take into consideration where you and your guests will be travelling from and whether accommodation will be needed. If you do require accommodation, ensure that there is plenty of options near to your venue choice, or consider hotels as your venue; they provide excellent facilities for wedding receptions and many hold licenses for civil ceremonies.
You also need to have an idea of the number of people who will be attending the reception. This is so that you can ensure you find a venue large enough for your party, but it is also because some venues state a minimum capacity; meaning that there could be a surcharge if the number of guests attending your wedding is under their minimum requirement.
When you have a shortlist of venues it’s time to start arranging site visits. This allows you to check over the venue, look at their amenities, see the room and set-up options and look at the areas suitable for wedding photographs. It also gives you the change to meet the team who will be looking after you and your guests. It is really important that you get on with your event organiser as you will be in regular touch with them before your wedding and you need to trust them to take care of all the details for you on the day.
If you are looking for ways to keep your spending down, you could look for venues that offer all inclusive packages. Choosing a venue that comes with extras can mean significant savings. You could also consider informal dining options; buffets, hog roasts and sharing meals are cheaper alternatives to a formal sit-down meal and can make for a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Looking at dates during the week or in off-peak months can save a great deal. And negotiate! You can often arrange discounts if your happy to barter.
We hope these tips help you to find the wedding venue of your dreams. If you would like any help contacting venues for your big day email us at admin@venues.org.uk or speak with us via our live chat service.
