Things to Consider When Selecting a Wedding Venue

The early stages of planning a wedding can feel like a delicate balancing act sometimes, and each decision seems to depend on the outcome of a different decision…and the pressure to confirm SOMETHING so that you can give definite answers to other people can be crushing at times. 

One major decision it is worth trying to lock down fairly early though is the venue. Your choice of venue can and will effect a lot of other choices, so whilst it might seem like a good idea to get a venue locked down as quickly as possible, we’d recommend taking your time to make sure your venue works for you and the wedding you want - and here are our top tips for getting it right.

Capacity and restrictions

We recommend sorting out at least a rough guest list before starting to look - there’s nothing worse than finding the perfect venue…only to find out that it only holds half the people you want to invite. Some venues have limitations on children as well, so if you’re planning on having an army of tiny bridesmaids and page boys, double check they’ll be allowed through the doors!

 

Bottoms up!

Drinks are a big part of weddings, and often a big part of the budget as well! Some venues will allow you to supply your own drinks for all or part of the wedding, possibly with a corkage charge, whilst others will insist you buy the booze from them. If you can supply your own bottles, even with corkage, this can often work out cheaper, so it’s worth asking!

 

Preferred vendors

Some venues will either insist you use their in-house suppliers, or will have a list of preferred vendors that you have to choose from - caterers, DJs and photographers for example - so this is a question worth asking on your initial look round. You may be able to negotiate using your own suppliers for an additional fee, but this isn’t always guaranteed.

 

Location Location Location!

Many couples will have an area, if not an actual venue in mind when they start looking, and it’s worth considering the logistics of the general area in mind when starting your search. A lot of venues are outside of towns, and getting there via public transport might not be possible - and it’s always worth checking that cab companies are happy to come there as well! If people are planning to drive, is there ample car parking -  and can cars be left overnight if people want to drink and collect their cars the following day?

This isn’t an exhaustive list of things to consider, but it’s a start! Have you come across any questions you think are an absolute must when looking at venues? Let us know below!