There are lots of elements to take into account here of course, but it's good to think about the venue early on, as this can shape a lot of other things down the line.
Here's a few things to think about when selecting a venue for your ceremony and reception.
Shop Around
It's the boring one to start with but it does have to be said that your budget can massively affect the venue you choose.
If you have an endless budget then you can pretty much have your pick of wherever you want, but if you have a more modest budget then it makes sense to shop around and compare prices of venues.
You need to know if you're getting a good deal for your dollar. Research venues on the internet and then go and have a look around.
Meeting with a venue's events planner can be so helpful, as they'll be able to tell you the practicalities and possibilities of making your dream day a reality. You can also ask them about cost and any other questions that you have.
They'll likely ask you about the date and timings for the day, so it's good to have a think about those before you go to meet them.
Churches
If you'd like to get married in a church, you'll need to either live in the parish or have been regularly attending the church for 6 months. You can find out which Church of England church belongs to your parish by using this website.
Be aware that, as with all venues, there will be a cost to using a church, such as the venue hire and payment for musicians, caretaker, etc...
Set The Tone
The venue you choose will be a big factor in setting the tone of the day.
Want to stay traditional? Consider choosing a venue set in the home town of the bride.
Want a fancy day? You could go for a huge church for the service, or a luxury hotel.
Want a more homely feel? A cute parish church or converted barn could be for you.
Are you city dwellers? Why not use an unexpected city centre venue? We got part way into talks with Leeds Art Gallery for our wedding reception - as this was where we went for our first date and where Tim proposed to me! Unfortunately, the venue had to pull out as they unexpectedly needed to have extensive work done to the building.
Or is the great outdoors more your bag? There are plenty of gorgeous venues set out in the countryside, or even not that far from cities and towns. Last summer we went to a wedding in the grounds of a local mill. The bride and groom arrived on canal boats, the ceremony was outside in front of a beautiful willow tree and there was a giant tent for the meal, speeches and party.
Decorations
When you're looking at venues, think about how you could decorate them. How do they relate to any Pinterest or mood boards that you've made? Do the venue have any photos of previous weddings that have taken place there?
Your Guests
It's important to take your guests into account when choosing your venue.
For instance, think about the distance that they'd need to travel, both to get to the service and then to go on to the reception if you're having them in separate venues.
If you're wanting to have a big wedding with lots of guests, then getting married abroad might not be the best idea. It's a long way for a lot of people to travel, and for those guests who aren't your close friends or family, the cost of travelling and accommodation might be too much for them to pay.
Catering
It's really important to think about the catering possibilities of a venue. Do they have their own caterers? Or are they happy for you to bring in your own? Do you like the sound of the menus they offer? Where would a meal take place? Are their prices within your budget?
Photos
The look, position and facilities of your venue are really important to think about in terms of the photos you'd like.
For instance, if you'd like some of the photos to be taken outside - would you like a cityscape in the background? Or a beautiful garden? Or something dramatic, like rolling hills or the ocean?
When we thought we were going to be using both a church and reception venue in Leeds city centre, we planned to go and have photos part way through the day in a park, so that we could have some photos that didn't have cement as a backdrop!
However, in the end our reception had grounds that we could have our photos in, so that was ideal.
When you look around venues, think about where group photos could be taken, and ask the events planner about ways that this has been done in the past.
What's the venue of your dreams?
Lisa xx
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