Wedding Venue Searching

1. Numbers! Start by composing a rough guest list so you know your estimated day and evening numbers. There is no point falling in love with your dream venue if it cannot hold all your friends and family or on the other hand if the venue is not going to be filled with enough people. Check with the venue what their maximum day and evening numbers are. Ask them to show you a typical room layout so you can envisage your numbers in the rooms.

2. Ceremony? Are you looking to have a church ceremony or a civil ceremony? Talk to your partner and close family about it as people often have strong views on this subject! If looking for a civil service check with the venue that they have a marriage license, most do now but not all. It is important to co-ordinate booking your venue and the church/registrars at the same time to ensure availability of both.

3. Hotel or DIY? There are so many venues to choose from now make sure you look at as many as possible! You may have your heart set on a traditional hotel venue but could fall in love with a village hall or alternatively the logistics of that barn could be outweighed by the ease of a county house wedding. Look at other options such as a marquee or even a boat! Suppliers are more used to working in different venues so can guide you along.

4. Location? It is important to consider the location of the venue. If your families live in separate parts of the country it is sometimes nice to pick somewhere in the middle. If the day will be held in a location where the majority of people live, check if the key wedding party members are happy to play host to visitors for a few days. Give guests plenty of warning if they will be expected to travel. Consider the distance between the ceremony and reception. You don't want people getting lost or spending a lot of the day travelling.

4. Accommodation? Is there adequate accommodation for the guests locally? If you are booking hotel rooms it is always wise to arrange with the hotel to block book them in advance. It may be worth thinking about arranging transport from your venue to the hotel at the end of the night especially in rural areas, depending on numbers it could be a coach, a number of taxis or a car share system.

5. Colour Scheme? People often forget to consider the decor in the venue when planning their day. Look at the wall paper, carpets and soft furnishings and work with them! Often the beauty of a venue is lost due to mismatched colour schemes. Don't be put off by dodgy decor. If your village hall has retro curtains could you ask to hang some voile ones instead or could you get chair covers to cover the clashing seats!!

6. Facilities? Think about what facilities are available to you. We love a quirky or alternative venue but it is important to factor in what you may need to make it 'happen'. You may need to hire in tables, chairs, crockery and cutlery. Some places you may need to get in generators or toilets. Ask ahead so you have no surprises. The flexibility in being able to have a cheaper menu option such as a afternoon tea or BBQ and supplying your own drink normally offsets the cost of these extras but do the maths!

7. Nominated Suppliers? Most venues are now flexible about who you bring in to do your flowers, decor, photos, music etc but it is worth checking as some have a set number of suppliers they use. This is no bad thing as those suppliers have been picked for their reputation and standards so consider every option. If you have preferred suppliers talk to the owners/manager and suggest them for their recommended list.

8. Hours? If you have plans for an all night party do check the licensing hours of the venue; bar and music. These won't necessarily be set by the owners but will be laid down by the local council. Some are restricted due to neighbours in close proximity etc. Check the bar times, music times and the overall end time. Some will let you stay after the bar and music finish so it is worth asking. Hotel venues usually have a residents bar everyone can decamp to.

9. Price? Before you fall in love with a venue do the sums! Add up everything you need to; room hire, ceremony fees, food and drink costs and hire costs. You do not want any nasty surprises a few months later!

10. The right feeling? The most important thing to consider. The venue and its people will hold a special place in your heart for a long time. Visit a number of times, do internet research and ask questions. You will know when you have found the one!

PS Don't forget to ask about access!! Find out when you will be able to get into the venue - will it be the day before or just the day itself. Will you have the day after to clear up? Often this depends on whether there are other weddings happening the day before or after. Some venues will offer you sole use for a whole three days which is perfect for setting up and breaking down but some will charge per day or per hour. Ask these questions before you book as it can have a big impact on the logistics of the event.