Although wedding preparation can be really stressful, once you have the venue sorted you can say that you’re well on your way to having your big day finalised.
Having said that, you may find that choosing and securing your wedding venue is one of the most difficult parts of planning. If you’re having difficulty choosing your venue, this is the post for you, as our quick guide will point you in the right direction.
Work out what your non-negotiables are
Most people have some wedding non-negotiables and, if this is you, you’ll need to have them figured out as soon as possible and keep them in your mind, or written down, when you’re viewing potential venues. If you’re set on having a cocktail reception but the venue you’re looking at doesn’t have enough room and have no other solutions, you may as well write it off there and then.
We spoke to Lake District Country Hotels who said: “It’s so important that you discuss your non-negotiables with your venue as soon as possible as they may be able to provide you with some solutions before you completely rule them out.”
“If there’s no way that a venue can cater to your non-negotiables, it’s best to get that out of the way as soon as you possibly can as you’ll be wasting both your and the venue’s time.”
Know your guest list
Before you even begin looking at venues online or in brochures, you need to have at least a rough idea of your guest list. There’s no point in looking at (and maybe even falling in love with) a venue which won’t hold the capacity of guests you desire. In a similar vein, is it worth looking at venues that will be charging you more for spaces which you’re just not going to fill?
If you have at least a ballpark figure before you start looking, you’ll be able to spend your time on appropriate venues. If you find yourself struggling to put your guest list together, this article from The Knot should be able to give you some helpful pointers.
Consider the lighting
Despite being a huge factor in setting the overall vibe of a wedding, or any event for that matter, many people overlook a venue’s lighting options before they book. Which lighting you choose can make or break the mood of your big day, so it really is something that you should spend a bit of time thinking about.
It may be the case that your chosen venue has the perfect lighting for your dream wedding, but it could also be the case that their own lighting simply isn’t good enough. A lot of venues will allow you to bring your own lighting or use vendors, whereas others will not. Often a simple solution, like a string of fairy lights or a neon wedding sign can be all it takes to transform the space. Always check before booking, if the venue will allow this.
If the venue you’re considering doesn’t quite have lighting that matches your needs but will let you bring some of your own, here are 19 wedding lighting ideas that are nothing short of magical.
