A couple’s wedding day can be one of, if not the most important and special days of their lives, and something that most people only plan on doing once. Therefore the planning of the big day can be a very intimidating and laborious process that can take months if not years to do.
One of the most important things to get right when planning a wedding is the venue. There are many things to think about before booking a venue such as location, capacity, accommodation etc. all of which are very important. Here are some of the key things to consider:
The type of venue
Firstly consider the type of surroundings you wish to get married in as there are lots of different types of venues available all around the world, to fit your requirements, taste and budget.
Do you wish to exchange your vows in a traditional church? Or would you prefer a civil ceremony in a beautiful manor house wedding venue or hotel, or maybe something really grand and special such as a historic building or castle?
If your wedding is during the summer months you may want your special day to take place outside or in a marquee or a more unusual location such as: on a boat, in a zoo or wildlife park, museum or art gallery, iconic building or tourist attraction.
Number of guests
When choosing your venue you also need to consider your guest list. How many guests are you looking to invite to the ceremony and reception? How many would you like to invite to the service, meal and also disco afterwards? A small intimate ceremony may sound wildly romantic but is not always practical: imagine 40 guests split between bride and groom - that is 20 people each and if they are all ‘plus one’ invites, that is essentially only 10 couples for each side of the family!
Reception
Consider where you would like your reception to take place. Do you want your ceremony and reception to take place in one location or travel between the two? If you wish to have a church wedding this will often mean that you will have to travel from the church to a reception venue. However most civil ceremonies can take place in the same venue as the reception.
Location
When choosing a venue the location is very important. Many people have emotional attachments to a particular area, whether that be where they grew up or close to where they are living now, maybe even a foreign country that they particularly love. But you must also consider how far it is away from your friends and family. Could you choose a venue close enough that many of your guests would not have to stay in overnight accommodation and could get a taxi home? If not, does the venue provide on site accommodation or are there enough hotels nearby that family and friends could stay at? The location of the venue also impacts on your evening guests: can you expect people to travel for hours just to get to the disco and buffet?
When it comes to making the decisions, ultimately it is the happy couples’ opinions that matter most but as every married couple knows, you will receive wedding planning advice from many well meaning relatives and friends. It is often advisable to keep a scrapbook (or something similar) with your overall vision for your special day, to avoid being compromised by other people’s opinions and ideas.
Author Bio:
Submitted by Gemma Halliwell, Events & General Manager at Maunsel House and Woodlands Castle. Maunsel House is a magnificent 13th Century Manor wedding venue in Taunton. Set in 100 acres of stunning parkland, this Somerset Wedding venue is available for exclusive hire it serves as a luxurious location for weddings of any size. Woodlands Castle is its smaller, but just as magnificent, sister venue.
For more information visit: http://www.maunselhouse.co.uk
