How to find your dream venue
Hooray - you’re engaged! First things first, you need to find a venue.
Hooray - you’re engaged! And so the wedding planning fun begins. But first things first, you need to find a venue. Whether you’re wishing to tie the knot as soon as possible, or in years to come, we wholeheartedly understand how overwhelming finding the dream wedding venue can be. After all, there are many to choose from and so many things to consider. “So, where do we begin?” we hear you ask...
To help make your search as easy as possible, we’ve teamed up with the award winning wedding team at The Kedleston Country House in Derbyshire to create a wedding venue guide and a shopping check list to help you along the way. Here the events team have shared their top tips and advice…
THE VISION
Big party or intimate gathering? Just family, family & friends or everyone we know? A party, traditional or both? Relaxed & laid-back or a military operation? DIY or complete support? A church wedding or a civil ceremony? Indoors or outdoors? A home affair, elopement, stately home, woodland, barn, country house, tipi or marquee? The list can go on... and on! But it’s important to ask yourself these questions right at the beginning as it will help to make your search much easier. My biggest piece of advice is to begin by asking yourselves the following questions:
What is our dream wedding day? What wedding day do we BOTH want? What do we envision our day to look like?
THE BUDGET
Before you get your heart set on any venue, it’s best to do your research into the costs involved. Make yourself a spreadsheet and collate data on all of your favourite venues. Do they have minimum spend? Do they charge a hire fee? Do they offer set packages or a bespoke quotation? Are there any hidden costs? What’s included and what’s not included? Do their prices vary depending on the day of the week or seasons? And most importantly, does your budget accommodate this? Most venue’s provide wedding brochures displaying their costings but I recommend reaching out to the venue directly to request a clear quotation based on your needs and your VIP guest list. There's nothing wrong with requesting this before you plan to visit the venue to ensure its within your reach.
Print & take with you on your venue tour
BUDGET TOP TIP
Consider budgeting for canapés! I know a lot of couples see canapés during their drink’s reception as an unnecessary expense, especially when a substantial meal will be served shortly after, but with most wedding ceremonies taking place between 12pm and 2pm, guests will have missed lunch due to getting ready and travelling and may resort to a packet of crisps purchased from the bar, or even worse... an Uber Eats delivery (yes, it’s happened!)
GUEST LIST
Creating your initial guest will positively lead you in the right direction for finding your dream wedding venue. I recommend that firstly you create an initial VIP guest list based on your loved ones who must be there – the guests who cannot be compromised – the guests who you can’t imagine not witnessing you saying the big “I Do”. This will then allow you to discover if a venue is too big or too small and if your budget is achievable.
Most venues have a smaller guest capacity for civil ceremonies which then increase for evening receptions therefore, consider inviting your non-VIP’s for the evening celebrations. This may also help you to keep the costs down too. Also note, most venues will have a minimum number requirement which may vary depending on the day of the week you choose to marry.
VIEWING
Feel free to view as many venues as your excited wedding heart can contain. Viewing a venue is the perfect opportunity to get a genuine feel for not just the venue but also the team who will be helping you to achieve your big plans. It’s very easy to get swept away in the moment when viewing a venue and forgetting all of the initial questions you may have thought of, so take our Wedding Venue Check List to prompt you to ask all of the important questions.
If it’s convenient for the venue to do so, ask if you can view the venue when it’s dressed and set for a real wedding.
THE DATE
If you have a specific date in mind that you are not prepared to change, you need to act fast. And you may find that the lack of availability will eliminate a few venues from your viewing list. Venue prices may vary depending on the season and the day of the week you to choose to marry. If you do not have a set date in mind, this may work in your favour. Tying the knot Monday – Wednesday during January, February and March, is the cheapest time to marry at The Kedleston Country House and yet it’s one of my favourite times to marry! Like many other venues, the winter colours of the surrounding countryside make such a beautiful backdrop, its so dreamy.
The date you choose will also impact many other elements of your day such as the menu you serve, the flowers available, the colours/style/theme, the honeymoon and your outfits.
YOUR WEDDING YOUR WAY
On a final note, use this mantra: “Your Wedding, Your Way”. This is something I cannot stress enough! The best part about a wedding is that it’s a joining together of two individuals, and that should be reflected in your choices - let your personalities shine through, and remember that it’s no one else’s special day - just yours! The wedding planning process can be so enjoyable and beautiful, and our job is to take away any stress that you may be feeling. So get ahead, get prepared, and enjoy the process!
Image credits: Matt Field Photography
