Five Things to Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Venue.
There are so many important decisions you have to make when planning your big day. Arguably, none more so than choosing your venue – there are few other decisions you can make before selecting one. Finding the perfect location is not just about where you’ll say ‘I do’; it’s so much more than that. Your venue determines the type of event you’ll have and sets the tone for the entire day.
At The Willows, we’re here to help. Here are 5 things to consider when choosing your venue.
1.What is your budget?
The importance of figuring this out is on par with choosing your venue. Don’t risk starting your new life as a couple in debt at the expense of throwing “the party to end all parties”. Plan within your means. So many aspects of a wedding can be planned on a budget. Once this has been decided, it will be much easier to decide on other things with your budget as your guide.
2. Do you want a religious ceremony?
If the answer is yes, you need to make sure your chosen venue is licensed for this. This includes getting married abroad; the venue you hold your ceremony must recognize marriage as legal in the UK, if you wish to be legally married the moment you say ‘I do’.
If your chosen religious ceremony is not recognized as legally binding in the UK, then you must also have a Civil Ceremony to make your marriage legal.
3. When would you like to get married?
Do you like the idea of celebrating your wedding in the warmer summer months, or do you prefer the romance of a cosy winter wedding? No matter what time of year you plan your big day, in the UK, there is always the threat of rain, so make sure your venue, if you’re planning on an outdoor wedding, has a contingency plan for inclement weather.
Venue prices also change throughout the year, and even throughout the week. Most venues offer cheaper rates for off-peak months or weekday dates. In the UK, peak wedding season is between April and September, and often December. Fridays, Saturdays and Bank Holidays being the peak days of the week. If these peak times are when you’d like your wedding to be, be sure to book at least 18 months in advance to secure your date.
4. Who are you inviting?
Do you and your partner want a small, intimate gathering, the party of the century, or somewhere in between? Figuring out how many guests are likely to be in attendance will help narrow down your list of venues. (When making this list, remember to include potential ‘+1s’.) Find somewhere that can appropriately accommodate your number of guests.
Along with this, you should consider a venue’s location. Are you inviting many people from out of town, or indeed yourselves, who will require overnight accommodation? If the answer is yes, when scouting out venues, it is important to find out whether they have rooms for guests to stay the night. However, on-site rooms, although advantageous, are not vitally important. Most venues that don’t have on-site accommodation have deals with hotels in their local area, saving you and your guests money on their stay.
5. What experience do you want your guests to have at your wedding?
When your guests think back upon your big day, what would you like them to remember the most? What will they talk about fondly? Will it be the bride and groom’s beautiful outfits, the incredible food, or how Instagrammable the venue was? Decide what is most important to you and make that the focus of your day.
Did you know?
Did you know that The Willows is licensed for Civil Ceremonies, has a variety of packages to suite most budgets, can accommodate up to 500 guests (and smaller weddings of less than 100), has deals with one of our local hotels, and is VERY Instagrammable. ☺