Choosing the venue for your reception is one of the biggest decisions you will make for your wedding day. It is where you & your guests will spend the majority of the day & you want to make sure that it is the perfect match for the style, size & type of wedding you are having. So first things first, make a list of your requirements. Mark down the things that are most important to you. Is the date more important than the venue location, is having a particular photographer more important than the wedding date?
The Internet is a great place to do your preliminary research. Most venues will have a website containing wedding packages, venue information & photographs. It is a great way to find out if it fits your needs & you can often rule out some venues straight away if they can’t cater for the size of your guest list.
Have a rough idea of how many guests you intend to have before you make a shortlist of suitable venues. Only look at places that can cater for your numbers. If you think you will have 300 guests then don’t look at venues that can only cater for 200 people. Remember it is possible for a venue to be too big as well as too small. If you are having a small wedding then you may want to choose a venue that creates an intimate atmosphere & not one that is too vast.
Location is another important factor when choosing your venue. Do you want to have your ceremony & reception in the same venue? Has the venue previously held a civil ceremony or civil partnership on site? Ask the venue to explain the details of when, where & how both the ceremony & reception will take place. If you are having the ceremony & reception in different locations then try to keep the driving distance to no more than 1 hour.
Remember your budget! Approximately 50% of your budget goes towards your wedding reception so if you have a budget of €40pp then don’t torment yourself by looking at 5* venues that charge €70pp. Stretch your budget by checking with venues for midweek deals or special offers. What may have been outside your budget before could be affordable midweek or off season.
Photographs are the storyboard of your wedding day so it is important to find out if the venue can provide you with a picturesque backdrop both indoors & outdoors. If there are no suitable outdoor areas at the venue check to see if there a park or historical building nearby?
Ask the venue about their policy for music, fireworks etc & if there are any other venue restrictions. Some venues have a strict finish time to comply with noise regulations but finishing at 12.30am may not be your idea of the perfect party!
Once you’ve made a shortlist of venues you like you should then arrange to visit the venues. Happy hunting!
Images from:
www.adaremanor.com
www.medianovak.com
Sharon Mc Meel is a wedding planner and our newest guest blogger here at WeddingDates. As a professional wedding planner it is Sharon’s job to help you tell your story across all aspects of your wedding or civil partnership. She makes sure that your day reflects your individual personality, taste and style. She provides advice and assistance to you with your planning needs and ensure a stress-free wedding experience that you will remember for the rest of your lives.
