Wedding Reception Venues

Advice on Choosing the perfect Wedding Venue

Choosing a Wedding Venue can be a minefield, so many factors to take into consideration in relation to a suitable venue in which to hold your Wedding Day. First of all, shortlisting a handful of suitable Wedding Venues which tick all of the boxes is a ‘must’ followed by ringing the venue itself and arranging a time to pop along and see the actual function room and layout for yourself.

Try to arrange to visit the Wedding Venue when the function room is actually laid out for a Wedding reception, and most venue management will be able to arrange such a visit, perhaps early in the morning before the Wedding guests are due to arrive. Some Wedding Venues will leave the room laid out in a ‘Wedding Style’ for viewings during other days of the week when the room is not in use. It is important that you see the function room set up for a Wedding Reception, as empty rooms can look very misleading as far as space is concerned, and you will also be able to see the cleaniness of the table wear, chair covers etc.

Some larger hotel venues and country houses will have a dedicated Wedding Coordinator who will usually be on hand to show you around and give you a guided tour of the actual venue. Try and make a list of questions beforehand that you would like to ask during the visit.

Make sure that you also ascertain the licensing hours, and the latest finish time for your evening wedding reception. Some venues may pressure you into ending your wedding reception at the end of their license period which is often 12 midnight or 1AM. This of course is often in their interests, as the more drink they can serve – the more money they can make over the bar. In deciding the finish time for your Evening reception, take into consideration the actual start time of your Wedding Ceremony, will your guests really appreciate a 1AM finish when they arrived at 3pm for the ceremony, or will they begin to drift off home early, leaving you with a handful of people for the final hour?. This will often apply to guests with younger children and also the elderly or those who have to travel any distance.

Make sure that you get the start and finish times confirmed to you in writing by the venue, and also make sure that you are aware of any additional charges, should you wish to extend your Wedding on the night,

Even in the Summertime, the weather can turn so even if you are planning a Wedding reception in mid-summer then ensure that there is adequate shelter or an indoor room available for the Wedding Ceremony, even if your first choice is to conduct the actual ceremony outside. The same applies to marquee weddings, it is usually an idea to ask the venue whether heating is available within the marquee as some late summer evenings can turn remarkably chilly and uncomfortable for your wedding guests.

If your Wedding Venue is also providing the catering for your Wedding Reception, then try and visit in order to taste the food before you book the venue. Good or Bad food, can otherwise make or break an otherwise perfect day. Inform the venue, in advance, of any guests who have special dietary needs and the numbers of Vegans / Vegetarians  amongst the guests, in order to avoid any embarrassment on the day.

Ask the venue if they are planning any building work in the coming months, its all well and good visiting a venue prior to your Wedding Day, only to find out upon arrival on the day, that your perfect place for Wedding Photographs would mean scaffolding appearing on part of the building in your photographs!.

Don’t just choose a venue just because it fits your budget, there are good and bad venues and good and bad staff at all levels and classes of venues, whatever the final figure on the quote. Part of the decision making process should be made by the initial visit to the venue, and in trusting your instincts. Were the staff courteous during your visit?, did the manager or wedding co-ordinator answer your questions confidentally and reassuringly?, are they happy to put a detailed quote to you in writing with all of the costs itemised as well as any additional charges which may be incured on the actual wedding day?.

Avoid any venues which offer you the usual high pressure sales techniques or offer discounts if you book quickly. Planning a Wedding Reception and Booking a Wedding venue are both difficult decisions to make and you will probably need time to think things over and discuss your thoughts with other people. Plus, you may want to take the time to read reviews on websites like this one, written by other Brides and Grooms.

Don’t forget any disabled or Elderly guests. For the past few years all venues open to the public have to have suitable disabled access into the venue, however this does not have to extend to all areas of the venue, so ensure that your ceremony and the Evening reception are all held in areas of the venue which actually have disabled access.

Planning a Wedding can be amazingly stressful, so don’t be afraid to approach the Wedding Venue with a view to obtaining recommendations for other Wedding Service providers. After all, this may be the first wedding that you have to plan, whilst venue managers and wedding coordinators will have seen thousands pass successfully through their doors, and so will be best placed to offer their professional advice. That said, don’t be tricked into thinking that you have to book the services of Wedding Professionals provided by the actual Wedding Venue.

So if you do already have a choice of Entertainment, Disco, Photographer, Chocolate Fountain etc don’t be pressured into thinking that you have to book those services recommended by or provided by the wedding venue.

Above all, this is your Special Wedding Day, and so you don’t have to applease other people or have a Wedding like so-and-so.

In fact – be creative!.