Planning your wedding? Choosing the perfect venue for the big day is a priority. But with so much choice available where do you start?

Here are our tips on how to choose a wedding venue in the UK and the most important questions you need to ask.  

Think about your style

Do you want something traditional and formal? Or unusual and relaxed? If you’re looking for a laid-back festival wedding vibe with haystacks, bunting and photobooths, then an old, draughty, marble-ceilinged stately home just won’t cut it.

When you visit a potential wedding venue, look at the décor and the lighting. Does this suit the style of your wedding? If not, is it something you can change? Think about the atmosphere you want to create on the big day. This will help you decide which type of wedding venue to choose.

Size matters

How many people are coming? Are you inviting all those cousins you never see from Australia and literally everyone you work with? Or are you going for an altogether more intimate affair with just your closest family and friends? Deciding whether you need a wedding venue for 200 or something smaller, will narrow your search straight away.

It’s important to choose the right venue for the number of guests. You don’t want a few people rattling round in a vast space. Nor do you want people crammed in like sardines. Think about guests with accessibility needs too such as older family members with frames or wheelchairs, or parents with buggies. Is there enough room for them to move around comfortably?

Location, location, location

Do all your friends and family live locally? In which case, choosing to have your wedding down the road is probably the best option. But if everyone is coming from further afield – even from overseas – a destination wedding venue makes sense. Think about transport. Is it within easy reach of a motorway? And if people are driving, is there somewhere they can park? Are there reliable local cab firms that can get guests from train stations and hotels to the venue? And how about accommodation? Are there local hotels, and bed and breakfasts available? Or is there accommodation at the venue? Perhaps even somewhere to glamp in the grounds? 

Indoors or outdoors

Do you fancy an indoors or outdoors wedding? Outdoor weddings can be beautiful, especially during the summer months. And the photos always look fantastic. But you also need a back-up plan in case the great British weather lets you down. So when you’re choosing a wedding venue for an outdoors wedding look for a venue that has plenty of flexible spaces such as pretty courtyard. It still means you can get married outside without having to walk across wet grass. And are there lovely indoor spaces where you can quickly decamp if the heavens open?

Even if you have your wedding and celebration indoors, chances are you’ll want some wedding photographs taken outside. So when you visit the venue make a note of all the areas in the grounds that would make a stunning backdrop for your photos.

Visit at the right time of the year

If you’re planning a summer wedding, visit the venue during the summer months the year before so you can see what flowers are out, what areas of the grounds are sunny and if the venue is cool and comfortable. Likewise, if you’re planning a winter wedding, visit during the winter months so you can make sure the venue is warm enough, and where you need to put the candles or fairy lights to make it look magical.

Stick to your budget

Budgets are important. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still have the perfect wedding celebration. Midweek weddings are gaining in popularity and often make a venue more affordable. Look at other ways to save money too. Perhaps a family member can make the cake. Or put the table decorations together for you. Wildflowers in jam jars always look pretty and cost practically nothing. Or you could choose to wear a vintage wedding dress. Check that you’re comparing like for like when choosing a wedding venue. One venue may seem cheaper than another but have hidden costs like table hire, crockery or corkage. Remember to ask what’s included.

Read the reviews

This seems obvious. But it’s worth taking a look at what other brides and grooms have said about a particular wedding venue. There will almost certainly be testimonials on the venue’s website. But it’s worth delving a little deeper. See if there’s any feedback on Facebook. Or other sites like Mumsnet. If you search online and find photographs of the venue, drop the photographer an email and ask them what their thoughts are.

Meet the team 

It’s important you have a good relationship with the team at the venue. They need to be friendly and approachable and happy to answer any questions you have. They will have seen hundreds of weddings too, so don’t be afraid to pick their brains about food, photographs and accommodation.

Your day, your way

Make sure the wedding venue you choose can give you everything you need to make your special day personal. When it comes to decorations are you limited by what you can do? Or can you choose how to decorate the tables, chairs and the room any which way you like, from wildflowers to glitterballs?  

Do you want a band or a DJ? If so, is there enough space? Or do just want to plug in your phone and play your own downloaded playlist? Check that you can do this.

If you want to use your own caterers and other suppliers such as florists, can you? Or will the venue make you use their own? (Which can often be expensive.)

And lastly, is there a curfew? Will you asked to pack up and leave at a certain time? Or will you be able to party on through the night? (Which is always preferable.)

When it’s time to choose a wedding venue, make sure the venue you pick lets you and partner have your wedding day exactly how you want it.