No matter what your budget you can find a venue to create the ideal backdrop to your perfect wedding day. If price is no barrier then you might opt to have a castle or manor house for your venue. Think about the impression you want to create – does the period the building dates from match what you want in terms of your wedding dress, the type of music and reception you want and so on? An Elizabethan Manor House will certainly make an impression but does it have the right kind of room for a disco if that is really what you want? If you have guests travelling a long way and needing to stay overnight then accommodation at the venue is a big plus factor, some venues will allow you to have exclusive use of the hotel for you and your guests – in some cases for the entire weekend.

If you have a large number of guests and are struggling to find a venue that can cater for all of them then consider hiring marquee, these can often be attached to the building to considerably increase the floor space available either for a sit down meal or an area for the evening entertainment. If you have a friend or relation who has a large enough garden to erect a marquee you will save a fortune in venue fees. However, you will have to consider catering arrangements if you go down this road, most marquee companies will have contacts they can recommend. Hog roasts are becoming increasingly popular and are an economical way to feed a large number of guests and can be a good option for weddings held in community halls or marquees.

Venue decoration should be carefully considered, chair covers can greatly enhance the look of the venue, sashes can be added to suit your colour scheme. Balloons are a great way to liven up the look of an otherwise bare community hall or otherwise dull interior. Flowers always make lovely centrepieces with perhaps candles for an evening reception. If you like the idea of a traditional English country wedding colourful bunting looks great with a marquee.

Many country inns have function rooms that cater to weddings – the more separate the function area the better so that you can enjoy your wedding without too much curiosity from the regulars! The advantage is that all the catering arrangements are taken care of and you can always have a meal in advance to check the quality of the food. There is usually at least some accommodation available for those guests that have come from further afield and in many cases a bridal suite for the newly married couple.



Always consider the look of the venue from the outside and whether there is an attractive backdrop for photographs. Consider the type of flowers that will be in bloom at the time of your wedding, is there a lake or other feature that would add interest to the photos? If you dream of arriving in a horse and carriage a long scenic drive up to the venue is a must.

A major consideration is whether you intend to have a civil ceremony or not. Many larger hotels and country houses are now licensed to hold civil ceremonies and having the ceremony and reception in the same place makes for a much more relaxed occasion. If you are planning a church wedding or you are getting married in the local registry office you ideally will not want to travel too far to the reception venue. Always ensure that there will be ample car parking for your guests at the venue of your choice.

Whatever your preferences you can create the wedding day of your dreams as long as you plan ahead and make sure you ask the right questions.