The Venue

Some people plan their whole day around their dream wedding location, while others start with a totally open mind. Either way, choosing your wedding venue is one of the most important wedding planning decisions you'll make. Here are some of the points to consider.

Two parts to every wedding

The first thing to take into account when choosing a wedding location is that there are likely to be two parts of your wedding to organise – the wedding ceremony and the wedding reception. There are now less and less weddings taking place in church, instead people are choosing venues such as country homes and hotels. The main reason for this is the choices that are available. Currently you can only get married in a church within your parish and this is limiting.

Size of your wedding

The type of wedding you have will depend partly on how big it will be, so here are some things to think about before approaching wedding venues.

Number of wedding guests
It may sound obvious but many venues will not be able to magic up extra space from nowhere if you add 20 extra guests at the last minute. You should have a good idea of numbers before you start looking at venues.

Sit-down or stand-up wedding reception?
A formal meal will obviously require more space than a stand-up buffet, so a venue whose seated capacity is 100 might well be able to accommodate 200 for a canapé reception. Which do you want?

How big is your wedding band or disco?
Bands and other forms entertainment can take up a large amount of space, as can a dance floor, so decide when and where you want the entertainment to take place, and check with the venue that this can be done in the space available.

A small wedding venue can be beautiful
Of course you should make sure that your guests are not squashed in like sardines, but atmosphere-wise it can be almost as bad for a small number of people to be rattling around in a huge, high-ceilinged reception room. Make sure your venue is not too big for your needs.

A different wedding venue

Any number of buildings can make a perfect wedding reception venue, but here are some of the most popular options.

Historic wedding reception venue
Castles, country houses and stately homes are among the locations many dream of for their big day. If your budget can stretch to it, this offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the use of a stunning building.

Hotel wedding reception
There are so many different types of hotel that there’s likely to be something for everyone, from traditional to ultra-modern. Having accommodation on the spot is, of course, a big plus.

Marquee wedding reception
If you have access to spacious gardens or other outdoor space, a marquee could be worth considering. Many people are surprised at how pricey it can be to hire a marquee for their wedding, but the plus side is that you can take control of wedding catering and could save a considerable amount by providing your own alcohol.

Restaurant or pub wedding reception
Food and drink are among the main ingredients for a successful wedding reception, so where better to head than to a lovely restaurant or pub? Bear in mind that you’re more likely to find a good match if your wedding party is smaller, and if you’re lucky you might even be able to escape the heavy costs that are often quoted as soon as you mention the ‘w’ word!

A popular choice is to use a hotel, as they can offer you the facilities to get married and have your reception all in one place. This would cut down your costs on transport and the venue may provide a wedding package at a discounted rate. If you choose to hold your wedding and reception in one place remember to check how many people the venue will hold, often the ceremony room has a limited capacity compared to the reception room.

Remember if you are having a religious service make sure the people involved in your wedding who are not religious know what they are supposed to be doing and don’t feel uncomfortable. What is obvious to you will not be obvious to people who are not used to attending church. Don’t be offended if people choose not be involved in prayers or religious readings.