Finding the perfect venue is one of the most important and central aspects of planning a wedding. The venue can determine the possibilities in style, layout, capacity, and, depending on what the individual venue offers, it can also affect many aspects of the event planning process.
Whether you're a venue, an event planner looking for some tips, or the couple-to-be searching for the perfect place for the special day, these are some of the most important aspects of a perfect wedding venue:
We are talking about weddings, so naturally, the look of the venue is kind of a big deal. Here are a few elements to consider:
Any style of venue is a potentially-perfect one, for the right couple. There are no right or wrong styles, as each couple has their own preferences. Some people might be looking for elegant ballrooms, some might want a rustic setting, and for some, a beach hotel is an ideal option.
As a couple, first figure out what style you like. Hint: Pinterest is the perfect place to get inspired.
As a venue, no matter what style you have, the key is to really know how to highlight it. And if you can cater to different styles, make sure you have plenty of pictures showing how the space can transform depending on the couple’s preference.
It’s no surprise that wedding pictures are really important. As they should be. You don't get married every day, so of course, when you look back at your wedding pictures, you want them to be perfect.
For that, the setting of the venue can be a powerful tool.
Identify what are the best picture-perfect spots your venue can offer. Maybe it’s the manor’s facade, maybe it’s the unique garden, or the hotel’s sea view.
If your venue doesn’t have that, get creative. Are there any areas close to your venue where couples can take pictures? Maybe you’re located right next to a beautiful park or a river. Offer this option to the couple.
And if there’s still nothing, don’t worry, there’s nothing a good indoor décor can’t achieve. You just need someone to design some amazing indoor settings to showcase to potential clients.
As mentioned, pictures are important to make couples fall in love with your venue. But just pictures of the space aren't enough.
Many couples want to see pictures of real weddings that took place at the venue, to visualise how their own wedding could look like. This is also very useful from a more practical standpoint, to show the couples various aspects such as different layouts.
Future remodelling work is an often overlooked aspect, but it’s important to keep it in mind to avoid future issues.
Imagine if, during their visit, a couple falls in love with the aesthetic created by your ballroom’s curtains and carpet. They book the venue, only to find out during the wedding that the space was remodelled, the curtains and carpet are gone, and the space now has a look they don’t like. Yikes.
Therefore, communication is key. If you do have any remodelling work planned, inform the couple before they book. Ask them what it is they like about the venue, and if you're about to change it, either inform them of the changes or postpone the work.
Now that we got the visual aspects out of the way, it’s time to get practical. Here are some important things to consider:
While the couple might dream of the perfect outdoor wedding that your venue can offer, let’s be real: the weather might not cooperate. Ahem… especially in the UK.
Therefore, it’s good to offer an indoor option as a backup plan in case it rains. You can also create a partially indoor and partially outdoor setting from the start. This way, people can enjoy the fresh air, but they can also head indoors if it suddenly starts raining.
Although it's very common to have the wedding ceremony in a different place than the party, many venues have a wedding licence, enabling the wedding to take place in one single location.
Having one central location can be very useful for the couple and guests, so as a venue, it might be worth looking into the option of obtaining a licence if possible.
While many couples want a DIY style of wedding, just as many are happy with an all-inclusive style (arranged by a venue that specialises in weddings and offers various packages that take everything into account).
A more DIY wedding can initially seem cheaper, but that’s not always the case. Costs tend to creep where you don’t expect them, whereas for an all-inclusive wedding, you know from the start how much the wedding will cost and what you’re going to get.
Another benefit of all-inclusive weddings is that it makes the process MUCH easier. The couple just has to go over some details and pick a package. Easy peasy. So as a venue, consider setting up some packages in the all-inclusive style to cater to a wider audience.