How to Know When You’ve Found the Perfect Wedding Venue

Choosing the perfect wedding venue is no mean feat. It’s up there with some of the most expensive wedding planning decisions you will make, so it goes without saying, choose wisely! There's such a great range of wedding venues out there; there's something for everyone, including you. So whether you're looking for a rustic barn, beach vibes, a chic hotel venue, or a boho festival celebration, don't rush into making a decision until you've weighed up all your options. If you think you've found your dream wedding venue, keep scrolling to discover some of the signs that you've found the one before you seal the deal!

It's available on your chosen wedding day

First and foremost, the venue must be available on your chosen wedding date. Even if everything else appears to be in order, it won't be much help to you if your wedding can't be held on the day you have scheduled. There's no point in longing over something you can't have, so before you even plan a visit, ask the wedding coordinator about the venue's availability!

It's within your budget

It goes without saying that the right wedding venue must fit your wedding budget. If it’s going to eat up 90% of your funds, leaving you with the remaining to buy your outfits, flowers, food, decor and more - you’ll need to reconsider. You don't want to spend a year surviving on budget meals and having to get a second mortgage on your house so that you could slow dance all night in a romantic ballroom!

It's in the right area

You're likely to have a good idea of the location of your wedding at this point - it may not be exact, but you should know whether it will be local to you or if you're opting for a European adventure and have decided on a destination wedding. If the wedding location you're considering is there or even close by, put it on the list of possibilities. Remember that during the wedding planning process, you'll have to make some compromises, but location shouldn't be one of them.

It has the right capacity

Even though you may not have a final guest count, you will have a rough idea of the guest list for your wedding. If you find a venue that only holds 100 guests, but you've invited 150, that wedding venue is just out of the question. Equally, if you've found somewhere that has a capacity for up to 175 guests and you're opting for an intimate celebration of 25, it's probably not the one for you. Most venues offer a range of venue spaces/rooms from which you can choose, so let them know your headcount, and they will be able to advise on the right room for your requirements.

It offers all the facilities you need

Make sure you go to your wedding venue viewing armed with a list of essential facilities that you need from a venue. These may range from:

• Onsite catering
• Flexible catering team that can adhere to a range of dietary - requirements
• On-site wedding planner/ coordinator
• Experienced front-of-house staff
• A stage for entertainment and necessary technical equipment
• Choice of space to hold your wedding ceremony and reception
• Necessary furniture
• Outdoor options
• Ample parking
• Accommodation, especially for out-of-town guests

The reviews are top notch

Want to find out all the latest about a potential wedding location? Read the review made by others. Some couples may have had a very different experience than what they bargained for, and you’ll want to know exactly what you’re entering into before signing any contracts. It's time to proceed if the venue has a five-star rating and rave reviews, but only after you've viewed it in person!

You can visualise your day there

You may not have decided on the exact type of wedding venue you want, but you probably know what sort of wedding style or theme you’re going for - so let that be your compass. For example, a rustic barn in the countryside would be the ideal wedding location for you if your camera roll and Pinterest are both loaded with images of boho-chic festival vibes and decor.

There are great photo opportunities

From the moment you set foot in the venue or even scrolling through photos of it prior to your viewing, you find yourself scoping out the perfect spots to take your wedding photos; it’s probably a solid option. While this shouldn’t be the primary thing that sells you on a place, it should definitely play a role. After all, those photos might be up on the wall for a very long time!

The staff are amazing

You should get on well with the venue/wedding coordinator from the off; it's incredibly important that you have a good rapport with the individuals you will be working closely with during the months to come. If the venue coordinator was able to respond to all of your questions without missing a beat and strikes you as the kind of person you'd want to hang out with outside of work - this is a great sign. This will mean that during the planning phase, you'll have an open and honest line of communication, which is absolutely necessary when organising such a milestone occasion.

Trust your gut

First impressions count, so if you were wowed from the moment you stepped into one of the venues you viewed, then go with your instincts. On the flip side, if you have any doubts or concerns, then address them promptly, and if you're not satisfied, it's probably not the venue for you.

Finding your dream venue can be tricky, and it is such an integral part of your celebration that it needs to be right. Start your venue search early and take your time. Don't make any rash decisions; even if you think you've found the perfect venue, sleep on it, take a step back, and make sure it ticks all the boxes. If not, move on; there are plenty more out there. You will eventually land on the perfect one that will fit the bill AND provide you with a beautiful backdrop to the wedding you have always dreamed of.