Wedding Venue SOS

Some say "Start with what you know" ... well that is good enough for me!

In the long and tedious search for our spring wedding 2013 we saw A LOT of venues across the Midlands. Sleek and sophisticated, grand and exquisite ... you name it - we have seen it. How great is it that even outside of London, and even away from the bustle of Birmingham, there is such a fabulous choice of venues for every couple looking for somewhere to tie the knot?!

So where were we going to find the perfect place to celebrate our own wedding day? The best advice I would give any couple would be to firstly write down the key facts.

1. When do you want to get married? Do you want a winter wonderland or fabulous festival theme? All this will dictate the time of year that best suits the style of celebration you hope to achieve. Also, are the times of year to be avoided for personal reasons? For me it was the cricket season... hubby to be (htb) is a keen cricketer, as are many of his close friends. Although it pains me to say it, the months of April to September were off limits for our own search. I wasn't destined to have the summer garden party apparently...
2. Are you getting married in the UK or abroad? From my experience this is something of a 'gut feeling' for either one or both of you, fairly early on. Talk openly about how you feel about getting married abroad. Some people LOVE the 'it's just you, me and those that love us' idea of a wedding far away. Some people would rather share their day with all their family and friends and can't imagine them not being there. There is no right or wrong!
3. How many people do you anticipate inviting? This is a key factor in budgeting for the day but also on the venue that you choose. Bigger venues may require a minimum number of guests that sounds easy enough to meet.. but when you do the sums is just not possible! 60 people at £50 a head is £3000 before you even talk venue hire charge... not such a great idea afterall?
4. Do you wish to tie the knott at the same venue as the reception? We have chosen to get married at my local church and hold the reception at a seperate venue. I will hold my hands up.. this is for more 'family tradition' reasons than a desire to be married in the eyes of God. But every couple is SO individual. For logistical reasons, this is going to be a little bit more complicated but to us, it is worth it. Again, have a chat and keep and open mind if you are unsure. Registry offices and 'in house' civil ceremony rooms are not the dark and dingy places that they are often associated with being. Take a look - you may be surprised.
5. Is there a large number of people travelling to the wedding? Having a wide network of family and friends is fantastic for you guys, but may require some thought when planning your venue. Venues that offer overnight stay would be perfect as it is convenient for your guests and will ensure the dance floor stays packed the whole night! Most venues that offer overnight rooms will offer you a discounted package or block booking allocation for your guests so be sure to ask. Alternatively, if you do set your heart on a venue without accomodation - check to see if they have discounted rates set up with local hotels or even better, negotiate your own!

This isn't an exaustive list, but it is pretty important. Especially if you have no idea where to start...  Notice I haven't mentioned specific venues? Well thats because at this stage I would really suggest having an open mind - the best venues are the ones that take their guests by surprise and wows them.


Finally once you have discussed the points above with your partner, have a chat about any initial themes or ideas that you have about the wedding of your dreams. This will evolve over time so don't worry if you haven't got a clear image in your head.

Let me give you an example... htb and I had a couple of key points we knew straight off

• We wanted something that really reflected the both of us as a couple
• We don't like anything that looks overdone or too thought out
• We wanted an intimate day for family and a HUGE party in the evening
• We wanted to include as many local suppliers, friends and family in the planning as possible

So we decided on a modern barn converstion with all the rustic and natural feel of a barn, and a contemporary edge for a great evening reception. Small and personal rather than grand and luxurious was more our style.... but as I will keep repeating - every couple is individual! There really is no right or wrong.  

There is one final thing - ASK EVERYONE. Whether they have been married in the area, been to a wedding, know someone who had a wedding or even know a friend of a friend who got married, they may well throw up somewhere you have never heard of and that my friend, could be the place that you say 'I do'