7 THINGS TO KNOW WHEN BOOKING YOUR WEDDING VENUE

Finding the venue for your wedding is fraught with potential problems from the onset. The secret to getting what you want is flexibility and remembering becoming a married couple is the main focus.

So where to start?

1 KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR

• Don't leave home without a clear idea of what type of surroundings you both want to get married in. The theme of your wedding is a good place to start. Is it classic, modern, rustic, informal, intimate?
• Do you mind separate venues for your wedding ceremony and reception?
• Create a checklist of what you want and take it with you. Make a note of how each venue responds to each of your requests.

2 KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

• Having no idea of the numbers and looking for a venue is a total time waster for you and venues. Numbers matter absolutely.
• An intimate wedding of fifty guests will be lost in an enormous banqueting hall, four hundred guests will not fit into a venue that seats one hundred comfortably.
• Don't make a decision until you've seen at least three venues.

3 KNOW YOUR BUDGET

• Venues can be your budget breaker. You'll pay a fortune for all those Pinterest romantic setting glitzy wedding venues. Remember unless it says "real" then it's staging to advertise vendors.
• Let your budget be the boundary to your decision. Stick to it.
• You can get what you want and more, with patience and being flexible.
• Just don't go and fall in love with a venue far beyond your budget, book it and have little left to pay for the rest of your wedding.
• Write down everything and add up the figures first. Then make choices.

4 KNOW WHEN & WHERE TO COMPROMISE

• You found the perfect location for internal décor with outside grounds for beautiful photographs but they only offer cold buffet style catering and  you want a three course meal.
• What's more important to you? Is there room for negotiation, such as the chef preparing some hot items on the buffet menu?

5 KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING

• As you are given a guided tour around the venue and features are highlighted, make notes.
• At the end of the tour find out exactly what you will get for your money.
• Are there different wedding packages? Is there a one-off fee and you pay per feature that you add or is everything included in the price?

Here is a link to a good checklist of relevant questions to ask at each venue:

https://www.thespruce.com/choosing-your-wedding-venue-3489581

6 KNOW WHAT'S IN THE FINE PRINT

• Don't be caught out with "hidden" charges and "fines" because you didn't realise you needed to pay deposits, have the premises cleared and hired goods returned at a specific time.
• Check that any staff the venue provides is not at extra cost to you?
• Don't agree to a service because it sounds nice but you don't actually need. It could add £200 more on your fee when you receive the bill.
• Failing to read the fine print could cost you dearly.

7 KNOW IT'S NOT "WHERE" BUT "WHO"
Don't get too bogged down in finding the perfect venue so that you both become stressed out.
The most important thing is on an agreed date the two of you will legally seal your love and commitment to each other. The location is secondary.

Here is a video a couple speaking candidly about planning their wedding, including the stress of finding the right venue. I hope you find it helpful and underlines some of my tips above.
Marlene