Choosing the perfect wedding venue for your reception is one of the biggest decisions you will make for your wedding day. This is where you and your guests will spend the majority of the day and you want to make sure it is the perfect match for the style, size and type of wedding you are having. So before jumping in and booking the first wedding venue that comes in your mind, make a list of your requirements. Then, you could mark down the things that are most important to you (i.e is the date more important than the venue location? is having a particular band more important than the wedding date?). Once you have completed this, it will allow you to narrow down your search of venues.

Shortlisting Suitable Venues For Your Wedding

Have a rough idea of how many guests you intend to have before you make a shortlist of suitable venues. Only look at places that can cater for your numbers. If you think you will have 300 guests then don’t look at venues that can only cater for 200 people. If you are having a small wedding then you may want to choose a venue that creates an intimate atmosphere & not one that is too vast.

Wedding Locations – How To Choose Them!

The wedding location is another important factor when choosing your venue. Do you want to have your ceremony and reception in the same venue?  Has the venue previously held a civil ceremony or civil partnership on site? Ask the venue to explain the details of when, where and how both the ceremony and reception will take place. If you are having the ceremony and reception in different locations then try to keep the driving distance to less than 1 hour.

Remember your budget! Approximately 50% of your budget will go towards your wedding reception so if you have a budget of €40pp then don’t torture yourself by looking at 5* venues that charge at least €80pp-€100pp. If you are flexible with dates, check with the venues for midweek deals or special offers, so that what could have been outside your budget could become more affordable midweek or off season.

Don’t Forget The Wedding Photos Or The Party!

Photographs and videos are the storyboard of your wedding day so it is important to find out if the venue can provide you with a picturesque backdrop both indoors and outdoors. If there are no suitable outdoor areas at the venue, there might be a park, botanical gardens or historical building nearby for your photographs? For more info about choosing wedding photographers make sure you check my recent post.

And finally, check with the venue about their policy for music, fireworks etc…and if there are any other restrictions. Some venues have a strict finish time to comply with noise regulations but finishing at 12.30am may not be your idea of the perfect party!

Need Help To Find Your Perfect Wedding Venue?

I hope you found some of the above tips and suggestions useful to help you find your perfect wedding venue. Choosing the right venue is always daunting as you’ll ever have one big day but if you would like to know how I could make your wedding extra special then give me a call now on +353 85 866 0711 or contact me online here. Thanks, Edith.