If you’re recently engaged or just starting out on your Wedding Planning journey, then huge congratulations to you.
Now, with over 130 licenced Wedding Venues across Essex, the next big question is how to choose your Wedding venue? It’s a huge decision to make and can completely change the essence of the Wedding – so take your time!
To help you get on the right track, here are some points to consider when you're looking at potential Wedding Venues.
Is it the grounds? The view? Do you want to be able to get married in the woods or close to nature, or is a beach location more what you’re looking for? Is a venue with some history important or is it more about the location? How about exclusivity of the venue?
Don’t just think about the venue itself, but also other aspects of your Wedding that may be influenced by your venue, for example the catering- if you have your heart set on a specific caterer, will they work with your venue? Understand what aspects of your Wedding are priority to you and if they would be influenced by your venue choice. Bear in mind that some venues will only allow you to use suppliers from their supplier list, at your Wedding- if there’s someone specific that you want to be involved, and they're not on the venue list, it might be worth considering a different venue.
Check too, what’s included in your venue hire costs. Are tables and chairs, linens, crockery and catering all included in the price? For some venues these are included, for others this involves an additional charge. Don’t worry if it’s not included, they can always be hired, which can give your more control over the décor of your venue and the aesthetic of your space. The main thing is to know if there is additional cost involved up-front.
Working out what’s most important to you both, should help to narrow down your venue search. Ultimately find a Wedding Venue that reflects you and your personality and one that you feel comfortable in.
What theme have you planned for your Wedding
You will want your Wedding venue to compliment your Wedding style & theme- a country estate wouldn’t work so well for a festival style Wedding, likewise, you’re unlikely to choose a rustic barn for a glitz and glam, black-tie event.
Don’t worry if you haven’t chosen your Wedding theme or style yet- if you’re open to options, you can let the style of your venue guide you.
If there are certain style or entertainment elements that you have your heart set on, for example if you’re planning a Circus themed Wedding and want fire-eaters or fireworks, check in advance that the venue will allow this.
Firstly, sit down together and understand your overall Wedding budget. Then understand what portion of your Wedding Budget you want to allocate to your venue. It’s easy to get carried away and fall in love with a venue that’s out of your budget, so it’s important to understand your budget early on. Look at venues that will fit with your budget and stick with it- you’re guaranteed to find the perfect one that still works for you and your purse.
Consider too, ways of reducing your venue costs and make your budget stretch further- one simple way is to have a mid-week Wedding, when venue costs are usually a little lower. Avoiding certain dates (such as bank holidays and high season) will also make your venue costs more budget-friendly.
This is a factor that will again be influenced by your chosen Wedding style and theme- whether it be beachside, woodland, country or city.
But also think about where you and your guests will be travelling from- do you want to be close to home, so friends and family don’t have to travel too far? Keep you travel connections in mind too- if you have guests travelling from abroad, do you want to have easy access to an airport? If you have elderly grandparents, do you want to make travel quick and easy? Also consider, if you're planning to get ready at home, you probably won’t want to then spend an hour in the back of a car in your Wedding dress, so consider choosing a venue that’s close to home.
Are you holding your Wedding ceremony and reception at two different locations? If so, think about the travel time between the two venues and consider how yourselves and your guests will travel between the two.
Consider accommodation options, both for you and your guests. Not only will you be needing a beautiful room to spend your Wedding night, but if friends and family will be travelling from afar, they will also need somewhere to spend the night. So, think about whether accommodation is available on site, or whether alternative accommodation is easily available close by, in the quantities that you will require.
Consider your travel logistics when choosing your Wedding venue for yourselves as well as your guests, especially if your guest experience is high on your priority list.
With so many licenced Wedding Venues to choose from across Essex, there’s sure to be one that suits your Wedding style. However, if you’re looking to hold a Celebrant-led ceremony, then the world is your Oyster. You can choose to hold your ceremony wherever you want to, meaning your imagination is your only limitation to create the most perfect Wedding Day (just remember to arrange the legal side of things, before the big day!).
This will largely depend on the size of your guest list. Do you want everyone to attend, or can you afford to trim your guest list a little? Would you prefer an intimate Wedding with 20 close friends and family? Choose the right size space to fit the size of your Wedding- you don’t want to overfill a room so there’s no space to move around, but equally you don’t want the space to feel empty.
Also consider that the number of guests you have during the day doesn’t need to be the same number that you have at your evening reception. This is usually due to a venue’s seated capacity vs standing capacity- many venue guest numbers are therefore based on a sit down Wedding breakfast during the day and an evening buffet. If you want to mix it up and have a buffet Wedding breakfast, you might find the capacity of the venue changes as a result. Ask your venue about numbers and for a seating plan to help you to understand the space.
Think too about how you intend to use the space. Will the ceremony and the Wedding breakfast be in the same area? Is there space to turn the room around, whilst you have reception drinks? Is there another area that you can use in between?
Alternatively, if you’re planning a Spring or Summer Wedding, do you intend to have your ceremony outside? Is there an outdoor ceremony area at the venue? Are there landscaped gardens to create a natural backdrop for your ceremony as well as your photos?
Understanding how you intend your day to flow, will help you to visualise the space and see how you can use it.
Think too about your entertainment choices- a 10 piece band can take up quite a bit of space, and the outdoor garden games will need a sizeable lawn for the reception. Look at all of the space available at the venue, and understand if it’s too big, too small or fits your needs perfectly.
Often a factor that’s overlooked, lighting can be a big part of your Wedding Day. You want to be able to use your venue throughout the day and into the evening- so consider how the venue looks both in the day time and at night. Understand how you can add your own lighting to create the right atmosphere for your Wedding style & theme.
You’ll be taking lots of photos at your Wedding so think about where the sun sets ready for your golden hour photos, see how the light plays during the daytime as well as options for night shots.
Sometime it’ll be the one that you think you’re least going to like, that will end up being “the one”! By visiting several venues, you’ll get a feel for what you like and what you don’t like, which will help you to narrow down your list. Take note too of recommendations and reviews as experience may influence your decision.
Once you’ve chosen your venue, visit it multiple times- if you can, during the same season that you intend to get married. This way you can see the venue at the right time of year: you’ll see what the grounds are like for photos, as well as helping you to understand how to decorate. Visit on open days and Wedding Shows where you can, when the venue will be dressed for a Wedding, or if possible, pop along the morning of another Wedding, which will help you visualise what you can achieve with the space.
When you walk into “the one”, you’ll know. You’ll get that fluttery feeling and you’ll start comparing everything to that one. Trust yourself and follow your instincts, because chances are you’ve found the right Wedding Venue.
But don’t worry if that doesn’t happen straight away. Take your time and sleep on it- you just might have already found it and haven’t realised it yet. With so many venues to see and so many people to talk to, it can get pretty overwhelming, so take your time to think things over and trust that the right venue will come.
Top tip: take some photos as you’re walking around, to remind you of each venue when you’re back home discussing your options. And take a note book with you to jot down any ideas to revisit later.
And of course, if you need any help with your Wedding Venue searches or in fact any aspects of your Wedding Planning, contact me, to find out more about how I can help.
And finally, to receive your FREE copy of Questions to ask your Wedding Venue, to help you to choose the perfect venue for your Wedding Day, simply enter your details below and hit submit.
If you’re looking to plan your own, unique Wedding in Essex and the surrounding areas, you too can experience the perfect Wedding Day with the help, support & guidance of a professional Wedding Planner.
I can help you to unravel your ideas, develop you dreams & bring your Wedding vision to life. Connecting you with the very best and most trusted, local Wedding Professionals to craft your day; I can help you to create a more sustainable Wedding, without compromising on the style, elegance & luxury of your event.
With luxury & dedicated Wedding Planning support, you can enjoy a fun, relaxing & stress-free Wedding Planning Journey. You can also rest assured that every detail will be taken care of and your journey from start to finish will be in the safest hands.
No matter where you are in your Wedding Planning journey, I can offer support and guidance to help you achieve your perfect Day. To learn more about the Wedding Planning services available to you, follow the links below or contact me to discover how I can help.
