Choosing Your Wedding Venue
Choosing your wedding venue is normally one of the first big decisions you make after getting engaged. It is also one of the most important decisions you will make as the venue sets the tone/style of your wedding and it can ultimately make or break your planning experience. Your venue should not just be a place that ‘fits’ your dream wedding theme or where you can imagine walking down the aisle – it should be a place that leaves both you and your partner feeling totally confident about your wedding day. Your venue is where everything and everyone comes together, so here are a few things to consider when choosing yours…
*Photo by Charlotte Sowman Photography and Chris Stanley from Focus Photography.
Budget
Before you even start visiting potential wedding venues, make time to sit down with your partner and discuss your venue budget. Once you have a figure in mind, get in touch with potential venues and enquire about their wedding packages and pricing. Only make an appointment to view if it works with your budget. Visiting and falling in love with a venue that is not within your budget is just setting yourself up for frustration and disappointment. Some venues may offer a substantial discount for weekday or winter weddings, so if you are on a budget this option may make it possible to have your wedding at your dream venue.
Is the venue available?
Many venues can be booked 1-2 years in advance, especially over peak wedding season. We would suggest booking your venue at least 12 months in advance, especially if you are wanting to get married on a Friday or Saturday in the middle of summer. If you are planning on a garden/outdoor wedding, it may also be helpful to view potential venues at a similar time of year to when you plan to get married so you can see what the area will look like for ceremony/photo backdrops etc.
Capcity
Your guest numbers can determine what wedding venues are available to choose from so before you start looking, work out a rough guest list and go from there. There is no point looking at wedding venues that only have capacity for 100 if your guest list is sitting at 130. Also consider the capacity of the venue in terms of how many tables and chairs there are, is there enough room for a band and a dance floor etc. If you are planning a small intimate wedding, a large venue may not create the right ambiance and therefore be unsuitable for the intimacy you are wanting to achieve.
Accommodation
If the majority of your guests are from out of town, are there enough motels, hotels, air BnB’s in the area to accommodate everyone?
Wet weather options
If you have fallen in love with a venue for its gorgeous garden or ceremony space or for the stunning photo opportunities, how would you feel if it was raining on your wedding day? Are there wet weather contingencies in place?
Accessibility
If you have elderly guests attending your wedding, or guests who may be in wheelchairs, is the wedding venue accessible and comfortable for these guests. You will need to not only look at whether there are steps to or from the venue but also the toilet facilities etc. You should also look at accessibility in terms of parking. Are there enough carparks, can cars be left safely overnight, is public transport available to make sure guests get home safely at the end of the night or do you need to think about providing a bus to transport guests?
What is included in the price
Is it really an all-inclusive venue? Don’t just assume that everything you see in the pictures is included in the price. Ask if the price include tables, chairs, crockery, cutlery, glassware, table linens, wait and bar staff, PA system, in-house catering, outdoor furniture, a wedding planner/coordinator etc. Who is responsible for the set-up/decorating of the venue and the pack-up/cleaning after the wedding? Check the fine print to ensure there are no hidden fees, that what you see is what you get.
Reviews and word of mouth
Look at the venue reviews online and take note of what others are saying about their experiences with the venue and its personnel. Word of mouth is one of the biggest forms of advertisement, so if you know someone who has been to an event at the venue don’t be afraid to ask questions and find out about their experience.
First impressions & gut feelings
Listen to your gut. Do you get a good feeling/vibe about the venue and the venue personnel? The venue is where everything and everything comes together on your wedding day, so you need to be confident not only in the venue but also in the people running it. Can you see yourself working closely with the wedding coordinator? Does he/she see your vision, and do you trust him/her to bring it to life for you and your partner. Will the wedding coordinator be overseeing your wedding day?
If you think Stonebridge could be the perfect venue for your special day, get in touch with us today. We would love the opportunity to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
