You may not be aware of this, but every decision you make about your wedding day contributes to the design and the overall look. Therefore, certain choices have a greater influence than others. However, one of the most significant decisions you will have to make is choosing the location. Many couples don’t know that the wedding atmosphere is directly influenced by the location. This is why picking the perfect UK wedding venue is essential. No pressure, right? Well, there doesn’t need to be any pressure if you take the advice of experts in the industry.
Our recommendation is to start early with your research and select a place that suits your style. When we say early, this means at least a year before your date. Additionally, keep in mind the venue’s overall capacity and the types of packages they offer.
So, let’s take a look at what you as a couple should consider when you start your hunt for your dream wedding location.
How To Pick The Right UK Wedding Venue For Your Love Story
Flexibility of Dates
When discussing dates, couples often have a dilemma about whether to pick the wedding date first or the venue. This greatly depends on the time of the year you are getting married and of course the popularity of the venue. You may have a date set, but the venue may not be available.
Therefore, we advise you to select approximate flexible dates. Getting married during a busy wedding season can also make finding an available date challenging. This is why many couples usually first pick the venue and then the date based on availability. However, remember that an excellent wedding venue should be booked up to 12 or even 18 months in advance.
Decide on the Number of Venues
Do you stick with one or two dream wedding venues? One for the ceremony and the other for the reception? Most couples wish to keep it simple and just go with one venue where they tie the knot. This decision will be easy on their budget and, at the same time, good for the guests because they will not need to worry about transportation.
In the end, if you decide to choose two separate locations, you will need to consider the travel time between them. This means careful and detailed event planning and an accurate schedule for your vendors to follow.
Capacity
Many couples rush their decisions, not considering the number of guests and the venue’s capacity. Therefore, when selecting a space, think about this because it is impossible to fit 300 guests into an area designed for 150. So, if you have an eye on a specific venue but cannot accommodate all your guests in that space, the location is a deal breaker.
The reverse is also debatable. Why use a venue meant for 300 guests when you only have 150? It will look empty and leave a very sad picture among the guests. Select venues for the reception and ceremony that can fit the total number of guests.
Check out the Packages
When doing your research and on-site rounds, you will learn that many of these dream wedding venues don’t provide full service, such as staffing, catering bar, etc., which typically results in a lower-cost package. If the mentioned services are included in the package, then you should expect to pay up to 50% of your budget to cover the costs. Some couples find this to be a major drawback when selecting a marriage venue.
On the other hand, you should search for lower-cost external vendor service providers to fill in the gaps.
Does it Fit Your Style?
If the space doesn’t match your vision of a dream wedding venue, then that is a big no. The venue style comes down to personal preferences and should resemble your characters as a couple. Some gravitate towards indoor venues, while others prefer outdoor areas like panoramic view wineries and in-bloom gardens.
Also, you have Bohemian brides, who will surely go for creating their own wedding location by selecting a wide open space and building it from scratch.
Transportation
This may not come to mind in the beginning, but one very important factor is planning the transportation to create a positive guest experience. When selecting the desired marriage venue, you must ensure there is enough parking space for the guest’s cars without making them walk a mile from the ceremony site. If you are having your wedding at a hotel, double-check that there will be enough vacant parking spots for all your guests.
After all, they’re coming to enrich your wedding celebration, so you need to make things as comfortable as possible. So your family and friends must travel to and from your special day without any discomfort.
Have a Backup Plan
The most important thing that you should cover from the get-go is having a wedding plan B. It may not cross your mind, but what happens if it suddenly starts raining? Always ask the venue you visit whether they provide an alternative in case of an emergency. You wouldn’t want to have a wedding venue that doesn’t provide a backup plan. At the same time, you must also confirm a cancellation policy with the venue in case something happens ahead of the day.
Trust Your Instincts
Ultimately, choosing a location comes down to what feels right and aligns with your vision of a dream wedding venue. When establishing communication with the venue coordinator, you may want to pay attention to the interaction to ensure you feel comfortable and have an easy time communicating with them.
Overall, as experienced UK wedding photographers, we can agree that finding the right wedding spot comes down to gut feeling. Go with whatever makes you feel comfortable.
You may also want to choose a seasoned wedding photography team like ours. Our skilled photographers and videographers will undoubtedly document all those special moments and emotions of the day while conveying your venue’s atmosphere. Contact us, and let’s talk about your wedding vision!
