Best Advice on Choosing Your Wedding Venue

Numbers

First off, you have to know how many guests you are planning to have as this will determine straight away where you can or can’t have your party. You might have your heart set on a venue that is large but if your number of guests is much smaller than the capacity of the venue you will find the room will feel empty and that could cause the event to feel low on energy. You really want a venue which is big enough but not too small either.

Know your guests

If you have any guests who are more elderly or have any mobility disabilities you will need to ensure the rooms are fully accessible. You might also want to ensure your venue doesn’t require too many room changes and that the restrooms are easily accessible as well.

Location

The location of the venue has two main considerations; logistical and sentimental. Of course the nearer the venue is to the majority of your guests the easier things will be. Having a nearer venue will also mean more of your guests will be able to attend. That all said, you might opt for a venue that is a bit further and has some sentimental value to you. If it is a region you visited on holiday or if your family are from a particular part of the country, it is a great way of making your wedding special and more memorable if it is held in a place which isn’t your run of the mill venue.

Style

Consider the style of the wedding you want to have. If it is relaxed, formal or quirky the place you celebrate will have a massive impact on the feel and atmosphere you will be creating for your wedding. For a more traditional feel you might want to consider getting married in an old church before taking your guests to the venue. If you are having a Jewish wedding you might consider a place like Bevis Marks Synagogue for your Chuppah. Whatever faith you have there will always be some landmark temple or site where you can hold your wedding ceremony at and this can really help to add character to your celebration and make it even more memorable and special. For a more relaxed feel you can choose a barn venue or to celebrate in a marquee. If you want your wedding to feel more formal, you can opt for a city centre hotel or purpose built wedding venue.

Cost

Of course cost will always have a big impact on your choice. Make sure you know what it is you are getting and perhaps more importantly what it is that isn’t included in the venue package. Certain aspects such as lighting and dancefloors are sometimes included in a venue cost and this will save you money off an alternative venue which doesn’t have these included. That said, if the dancefloor is old looking and the wrong colour or the lighting included are just not sufficient you may end up spending more on top of the venue price to make the room look pretty.  You will want to take all these into consideration and try to be realistic on what level of venue ‘decor’ (lighting production and flower arrangements) will make you happy. In short, an initial ‘all inclusive’ venue which includes a stage, dancefloor and lighting might end up costing you more if you will be booking additional elements elsewhere anyway.

Love your venue

This might sound obvious but you really do want to be excited by your venue and inspired by it.

Your wedding day is one of the most important and most memorable days you will ever have so make it count! There are no tips on this, just to say to keep this at the front of your mind when visiting the different venues. Keep the flame going with your fiancé and have romantic meals out or drinks out on these wedding admin days to keep the excitement front and centre of the process. This will help you find a place that truly excites you to tie the knot!

Destination Weddings

Nothing is more exciting than a destination wedding. The moment you share the news with your family and friends everyone starts planning their holidays in the sun round your event. Having a destination style wedding can also make your family and friends bond even better in the day or two of the leadup or during the after party days where everyone is still mingling round a sunny pool in Greece or Italy.

It is no easy feat planning such an event abroad, but we have a few handy tips to help you plan your dream destination wedding with minimal hiccups and maximum peace of mind.

Vila Monte Farmhouse Portugal

Start from the top

Set a date and book your dream venue. The date might depend on the venues availability which is why I am writing them together. Figure out your ideal dates and preferred venue and get this booked as soon as you comfortably can. A fixed date and the location will help you drive the project forward and will help you book other suppliers in as well.

Simple is best

The fewer suppliers you have and the fewer logistical challenges the less complications you would experience. Where possible, use the venue’s catering if you are happy with their standards and options of course. Consider logistics for destination events perhaps even more than for events in your home country. Try to choose a venue that is close enough to an airport for easy and cheap connections. If you can have your sound supplied by your function band you should choose this option rather than trying to provide sound separately as this could end up costing more or worse, not suit the band’s requirements. Most music bands or function bands would bring their own sound if they can, but where this isn’t possible they would hire or ask you to hire sound support at the destination based on on their requirements. But make sure these are communicated clearly and professionally to the correct vendors to avoid disapointment.

Wedding Planning

Make sure you are going through the typical wedding planning process and don’t skip any stages or expect things to just work out by themselves. This might sound obvious but I felt it is worth reminding our readers. Sometimes, when planning a destination wedding couples are stuck in holiday mode and rely too much on their suppliers. Think about what your suppliers might need, and ask them for their requirements, so there are no surprises nearer the time or any unexpected last minute bills. Costly food bills for wedding suppliers who get stuck in some small town in Portugal, or Greece due to insufficient planning of their route is just an example of things that might happen.

Have a read of our other wedding planning blog for a more detailed list and further tips on how to plan your wedding here.

Keep your feet on the ground- absolutely not!

Don’t forget this is your big day, so it has to excite you and inspire you! First come up with the biggest baldest plans and only start scaling back on bits that you truely can’t afford or are outright physically impossible. Keep the dream alive through-out and don’t let the naysayers squash the vibe.

I believe you should first aim for the stars and only later on lower the gaze and only if you absolutely have to.

Early birds catches the worm

Where possible book suppliers in early and try not to dwell on some of these decisions too long. Use recommendations where this is possible and always quiz your suppliers in advance, make sure you agree on clear contracts and that your suppliers are not being too vague. Once you have compared a few suppliers for each category and cross examined their answers you should be in a good enough position to commit. we would always recommend suppliers who communicate quickly and clearly. Answering emails or texts efficiently is one of the best marks of professionalism and organization. If someone is slow to answer messages before they are paid, imagine how slow they would be after the invoice is cleared. So get in there early for your perfect destination wedding.

If you have any questions or want advise, please feel free to comment below! Good luck with your wedding planning!