One of the first things you’ll be thinking of when you begin planning your special day is the venue. Trying to decide what you and your partner want in a venue will need planning and prioritising; it can be difficult to find a venue that ticks all the boxes so it’s important to establish a core list of essentials. Another option is to work with an experienced wedding planner, like David, who can take your list and work with your budget to find you the venue of your dreams. Either way, there is no doubt that venue is top of the list.

This blog will help guide you with hints at some of things that you might be thinking about before you make that all important decision.

The Numbers First up is the big one, confirming how many guests are attending your wedding. You need to decide if you are having guests to the whole event or if you’ll have some additional guest to evening reception only. With this in mind you can look at the main numbers for the day, it’s a good idea to decide from the beginning if this is going to be a large wedding with every family member right down to your third cousin, or an intimate wedding with close family and friends. For some couples, this can be a difficult choice, it ultimately comes down to budget.

Most venues will have guidelines on how much their packages cost per head, this can help you decide on the scale. The best tip is to remember that the special day is about you both as a couple, and you can do things whatever way makes you happy. So, there is no pressure to invite lots or little.

Larger weddings will, of course, require a wedding venue that has the capacity and again this can take some careful planning. With more intimate weddings you can have more choice, however, bear in mind that some larger venues won’t match the intimate feel of the day.

So, sit down together with a pen and paper, write down two lists of guests without thinking too much, those will be the best foundation for finalized numbers. They are the people who first came to mind when you thought who you wanted to witness and celebrate your big day with. You can now start to eliminate a few venues on the basis of numbers but unless it’s clear they can’t cater to your needs, ask the question to clarify.

The Facilities This is about deciding whether you want to have the whole day in one place, service and reception or whether you only need the reception. It’s also a good idea to think of whether you would like additional facilities, like a spa for you and your guests to enjoy, or a garden for photos to be taken. These factors can help you realise some favourites or remove some definite no’s.

Most importantly, decide if you need rooms onsite, for some couples it isn’t important, guests may live nearby or be close to great transport links. If it isn’t a priority then you could be looking at some great savings!

The Style Once you know numbers and have decided on exactly the facilities you need, another important element to decide before you go venue hunting is the style. Are you looking for a decadent hotel, where they can take care of everything? Or would you prefer a more hands on approach, where you can make the majority of the decisions?

For the more intimate wedding, you may decent on a rustic barn, with whimsical fairylights and lovely scenery as your backdrop. Or perhaps a city wedding is what you’ve always wanted, whichever you prefer, deciding your style together will make things a lot easier later on in the preparations.

The Details The smaller details are things that won’t make or break your decision but are still a good idea to confirm as early as possible. Food might be a major priority for you, so finding a venue that does a high-quality menu tailored to your tastes will be essential. You never know, one of your favourite restaurants may also cater for weddings, so it’s a good idea to come up with these additional details.

Consider location as an important detail, do you want it to be close to home for guests or do you have no preference? Perhaps you want to be in the countryside or maybe near the beach? Do you want to be able to arrange activities, games or other quirky details? If so, venues that are flexible will be required.

There are so many things to consider when it comes to choosing a venue, these are just some that are definitely important in that initial search. By sticking to these, you will hopefully end up with a shortlist to go view, which is a very exciting time.

But if all this isn’t for you, and the thought of planning terrifies you, then David’s Bride’s Butler service is the perfect Wedding Planner service for you. David will look after every little detail and ensure that you have the most special day possible. To learn more about any of these beautiful venues pictured, send a message!