If you’ve recently received the proposal of your dreams then your first big task will be to find the venue of your dreams which can be a very daunting task. For many people the thought of picking just one venue can seem daunting, especially with all the options there are out there. The main thing to remember is that it’s your day and you need to find somewhere that you both love and that symbolises you both as a couple.
The options for your venue are limitless nowadays and you can literally get married anywhere, allowing couples more freedom and flexibility. One of the first things to think about before you research venues is to consider where you want to tie the knot. With travel being so accessible there are lots of options allowing you to get married abroad somewhere you’ve always imagined. If you want to get married in the UK, then again with travel it means that you can get married anywhere in the country, not just somewhere local to you. Obviously you will need to take into account perhaps not just your own budget but that of your guests too if you want to opt for a wedding abroad, but there are lots of options out there to suit a variety of budgets.
Budget
When you are in your early wedding planning stage the first thing you need to consider before looking for your venue is what your budget is. Once you know what your maximum budget is, you can then look around at potential venues. For example, if you only have a small allowance then you won’t want to be looking at large, exclusive use stately homes. You will want to look for a venue that’s perhaps smaller or has intimate areas that can hired separately that you could use.
Number of guests
Another thing that you will want to think about in the early stages of wedding planning is to think about who you want to invite as this will play a part into what sort of venue you choose. Of course this will tie in with the overall amount of budget you have as the number of guests you can have at a wedding depends entirely on your budget. If you have the budget for 250 guests then you just need to find the venue to accommodate them!
Grand or intimate
There are so many choices when it comes to choosing your wedding venue and the sky really is the limit! This is particularly true if you are planning on having a celebrant as this gives you a lot more flexibility and freedom to get married anywhere you like, and sign your legal documents at a registry office at a later date. A celebrant also gives you the flexibility to get married in a wood or outside on a beach if that’s what you’d like to do.
If you have had to cut down on your guest numbers due to the current pandemic then you may want to opt for a smaller, more intimate wedding venue and there are plenty of options out there. If you had your heart set on a more grand location such as a stately home or castle, this can still be an option by choosing to hire just a particular room instead of the whole venue. If you have been affected by the current pandemic then it’s worth speaking to your venue to see what their thoughts are and they will be able to advise you of what your options are.
If your heart is really set on a big, grand venue then you could opt for a stately home or even a castle to really create a wow factor for your guests and your wedding photographs. I mean who wouldn’t love the idea of being the owners of a castle for the day! Many organisations hire out spaces too if you are looking for something different such as a modern art gallery or exhibition space.
Style of wedding you want
Another thing to consider is what style of wedding you want to have, would you prefer a blank canvas venue that allows you to be creative and do everything yourself, or would you prefer something more modern. If you choose to have a venue that is more of a blank canvas then it gives you the freedom and flexibility to create the backdrop you’d like and is especially good if you love a boho themed wedding.
Time of the year
The time of the year that you are getting married is also another factor that will come into choosing your venue. If you are planning on a mid-summer wedding then an outside space is more likely to be an option than if you are getting married in December. You may want to have an outside wedding in winter and create a winter wonderland which is possible with the right venue; you will just need to think about additional things such as outside heaters as you will want your guests to be comfortable.
