How many venues have you and your other half shortlisted ? There's no doubt about it, finding the perfect place to tie the knot can be tricky business. Here’s 5 simple steps from White Heather Events to consider when you're making arguably the biggest choice in wedding planning...
(Photo: Chloe Jane Wedding Photography)
“Choosing a venue is arguably the most important decision you can make in the early days of planning, because it’s the foundation upon which everything else is based,” says White Heather Events, a wedding and event planning service.
Here’s her five points to consider at the outset...
1) Guest numbers at your wedding
“You don’t need to know exactly, but having a rough idea allows you to immediately narrow down your search for a venue. Don’t forget about any ‘evening-only’ guests you’d like to invite.”
2) Single or multi-location venue
“Do you want to have your ceremony and reception in the same place, or would you like to marry in a town hall or church and have the reception somewhere else? If so, consider the maximum travel time you’d want between the two places.”
(Photo: Ashley-liv Jamieson Photography)
The questions to ask your wedding venue before booking
3) Accommodation for guests
“Give some thought to whether you and some/all of your guests would like to stay on site and if so, how many rooms you’d need and for how long. Ask about local accommodation options too.”
4) Accessibility for remote venues
“Depending on where you and your guests will be travelling from, the time and logistics involved in getting to some of Scotland’s more remote venues could be substantial. It’s worth considering how important it is to you to be within easy reach of airports and/or train stations.”
Stunning barn venues to tie the knot in Scotland
5) Price range within wedding budget
“As a rough rule of thumb, the venue and catering should equate to 40-50% of the total wedding cost. Knowing this can help give you a rough idea of the venues you should be considering.”
Find more tips and advice on White Heather Events website
Use venue visits to quiz the events managers and don’t come home with any unanswered questions. For example, if you are thinking about going with a blank-canvas venue, ask your shortlisted places if there are any suppliers they work with (and trust) who could help bring your vision to life. Alternatively, if you fancy hosting your ceremony outdoors? See what the venue can offer as a back-up plan if the weather turns nasty.
There is nothing better than looking back through your wedding photographs and being able to relive the beautiful moments you shared with your loved ones. Often venues will offer stunning surroundings for photographs, or can direct you to nearby beauty spots.
If you want striking photographs that look a certain way, it is worth checking out if any photographers have ever shot your dream venue before, and if there are any standout vistas for pictures.
How many venues have you shortlisted? Four? Forty? The number doesn’t matter – so long as you actually go in person to see the one you end up picking. You need to get a feel for it and see what it’s like beyond the online photos.
