Wedding Planning SOS: Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn? Wedding Venue Rescue

Posted on: 04/02/2012

Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog: Princess Castle

You know what (a wedding, duh!), who (you, him, plus a few others), why (that’s amore!) and now its time to sort out where. Oh. Tricky.

Luckily, this wedding blog’s fab guest blogger Helen of Bash Wedding Planning is here to help. You loved her last Wedding SOS post… so she’s back with more words of wisdom…

Do leave a comment to contribute to the conversation. I love to read what my readers have to say!

Over to the expert: Just as soon as you’ve pin pointed your priorities, armed with the answers to some extremely important questions – who, what, when and how – and with a budget in mind, the one remaining decision you need to make is WHERE?

Choosing a venue for your dream day can be problematic, not least because there are so many options available. Whether it’s to be a hotel, banqueting suite, village hall, stately home, sports club, marquee, castle, church, beech, barn or tee pee, is entirely up to you. But where do you start?

Unless you’ve been dreaming of a day unlike any other in a special location since you were twelve years old, chances are you could do with a helping hand. Before you jump feet first into making a decision that sets the tone for your wedding and determines so many other factors, relax! We’re here to provide some practical pointers to prevent you from making a costly mistake. After all, the venue is likely to be your biggest expense.

Before you start your research, let’s just think things through…

What type of ceremony would you like? Unless you’ve set your heart on a religious ceremony, in which case you’ll probably be married in a church or place of worship, there are numerous options available. A Civil Ceremony can take place in any licensed location OR, providing the legalities (signing of the legal marriage documents) are carried out separately, you can actually say ‘I DO’ anywhere you please. The main things to consider are how formal or friendly you want your ceremony to be, which might also be determined by how modern or historic an environment you choose.

Do you have a theme in mind? Are you searching for a city chic urban backdrop or a rustic romantic retreat? You have the opportunity to express yourselves and choose the mood you want to create, so please consider this carefully.

Size matters! Knowing approximately how many people you intend to invite and whether or not they’ll require accommodation is key. Some venues insist on a minimum number, whilst others may simply be way too small to accommodate your crowd. Do you want guests to stay together throughout the day and mingle? In this case, the shape and format of the venue is every bit as important as its capacity.

What’s the order of the day?

Do you need separate locations for the ceremony and the reception?

Armed with the answers to these questions, you’re ready to do some research. Check out your Regional Tourist Board website where you’re likely to find comprehensive listings of venues including hotels, stately homes and museums. But brace yourself. Whether you start on-line or ask for recommendations, you’re quite likely to be overwhelmed by the options available (or lack of them, depending on how well defined your criteria is!) At this point, it’s worth getting in touch with an experienced Wedding Planner. Chances are they’ve already done the leg work, developed some great contacts and are able to produce a shortlist for you, saving you oodles of time and stress.

Once you’ve drawn up a shortlist, it’s time to hit the road. Most venues appoint a Wedding or Event Coordinator whose responsibility it is to show you the venue in its best light and explain your options. Make an appointment to see them and go with a list of questions, the answers to which will help you to identify the pros and cons and ultimately, fine tune your choices.

Does the venue offer a wedding package? If so, what’s included?