The Venue

Choosing the right venue for your wedding

You've announced your engagement, agreed your budget, sent save the date cards, tried on an abundance of dresses and started that dreaded diet! You may find yourself asking, what do I need to do next?

You need to choose your venue. The venue is one of the most important details of your day. Your choice in venue could dictate the entire theme for your wedding. Your wedding colour scheme and theme should compliment your venue. If your venue is an old country cottage, consider a rustic wedding theme featuring plenty of 'shabby chic' details or a vintage floral theme.

Your choice in venue could dictate the entire theme for your wedding

Not sure what to ask your prospective venue or what you need to consider when visiting venues? At Ideal Bride we have asked the experts on behalf of our readers. The questions we put to each venue were;

• What help and advice tips do you give to brides and grooms when they are choosing a venue? What is your best tip?
• In your opinion what should brides and grooms be considering when sourcing a venue?
• Are there any 'hidden' factors which a bride and groom may not have considered?

What the experts say:

Geoff Goddard from St Michael's manor hotel, St Albans, Hertfordshire, sayS

My best tip to brides and grooms would be to not leave the table plan until the last minute, arranging family and friends is not as easy as you think!

When viewing venues consider:-

• Are there opportunities to take photographs both inside and outside the venue?
• Check there is enough overnight accommodation at the venue or nearby
• Does the style of food accommodate all of your guests?
• Is the venue able to be flexible with timings throughout the day? Pre planned schedules are hard to keep to.

Consideration should be given to arrangements for the end of the evening, should guests wish to continue the celebrations. Also if there are any special events happening that day in the world or specifically to the area surrounding the venue. (Often popular sporting events can distract the groom!)

Jodie cook from Marmadukes boutique hotel, Bootham, York, says

Communication - Remember it's not just the brides wedding! Does the groom have any ideas about theme, colour and most importantly location? Sit down and chat about what you both had in mind before you start looking for a venue; mood boards are really helpful so you can collaborate on the perfect venue. Does the venue fit in with the theme?

Location - Don't forget your guests fair enough your paying for the meal and wedding but don't forget they have to travel to the location, pay for accommodation; buy a new outfit and presents. It might be your big day but not everyone is prepared to fork out quite as much as the bride and groom so don't make them feel like they have to. Do you have exclusivity of the venue? Will there be other weddings the same day as yours?

Packages - When looking round venues you will more then likely be offered a number of packages to choose from don't always go with the cheapest you might think it's cheaper but once you have forked out for flowers, entertainment and added extras it can work out cheaper to go with an more expensive package. Think about the capacity of the venue – is it too big, too small?

With everything else going through your mind when choosing a venue, there may be factors which you have over looked. Think about:-

• The officiator - who is going to perform the ceremony?
• Children - Think about if you want children at your evening reception; it's meant to be place to celebrate, let down your hair and get drunk. Having to constantly watch the children is a full time job. I always find that setting an 8pm curfew works so they are there for the wedding breakfast and in bed by the time the drink starts flowing.
• Rooms changes- Some locations are quite small so take into consideration that the staff need time and space to make the changes perhaps having a cocktail hour in between the wedding ceremony and the breakfast.
• Toasts- In my personal experience I find the toast works best in between the main and desserts it gives everyone time to have a break in-between course and it means when the meals over you can go and relax before the evening reception.

We would like to thank all contributors for sharing their expertise and knowledge and hope the information provided is of great use to all you brides and grooms out their looking for help and advice. Everyone at Ideal Bride wishes brides and grooms to be, the best of luck with finding the perfect venue. If you are interested in any of the venues featured, please contact the venue directly, see contact details.

2nd July 2011