One of the biggest decision that any couple faces when it comes to their big day is where to actually hold the ceremony. 
 
No matter where you pick, it’s going to eat a considerable portion of your budget, so it’s important to get right. 
 
We’ve picked out five things which we think are most important when choosing your venue, but make sure you always have your budget in the back of your mind, it’s no good putting all your money toward a dream venue if it lets other things such as the food and the dress down. 
 
With that said, here are our five top things to consider when looking for a wedding venue. 
 

Size 

First things first, you obviously need to make sure that all of your guests are going to be able to fit in the venue. 
 
Bear this in mind when booking viewings. Most venues will look huge when you first see them, but once it’s full of tables, guests, a bar and an area for the band of DJ to play in, it starts to look a lot more cramped! 
 
The last thing that you want is for your guests to feel like they’re being crammed in like sardines, so always look to err on the side of caution when it comes to size. 
 
If you underestimate and go for a venue that turns out to be too small, you might find yourself having to trim your guest list! 

Lighting 

One of the best ways that you can go about creating the right mood for your venue is with lighting
 
This largely depends on the timing of the wedding. If your ceremony is taking place during the day, then you’ll want to make sure that your venue has plenty of windows so that you can let as much natural light in as possible. 
 
On the other hand, a night ceremony will call for some creative lighting. While you might want things to be moody and atmospheric, be wary of making things too dark, you want your guests to be able to see where they’re walking! 
 
We recommend heading to your venue at around the same time as your ceremony will be taking place to get a better idea of how it’s going to look on the big day. 

Theme 

Many couples have a very clear idea of their colour palette or theme, and while there’s a lot you can do with decorations and lighting to help achieve this, your venue ultimately needs to complement the theme too. 
 
For example, if you want to go with a contemporary, modern feel, an old country house is going to be fairly difficult to adapt to fit this vision. 
 
This doesn’t mean the venue is going to have to completely match your decorations but just make sure there isn’t a complete contrast. 
 
If you’ve yet to nail down a theme for your big day, why not head over to Wedding Ideas to try and source a little bit of inspiration. 

Power 

You might not initially think of it, but it’s important to find a venue that has a good supply of power outlets. 
 
Most venues which are regularly used for weddings should be ok, but at a less conventional venue, it makes sense to have a quick sweep round the room and check out all the power sockets. 
 
It also makes sense to consult with your band or DJ as they’re the ones who are going to need to use the power the most. 
 
You don’t want to turn up on the day and find out that your entertainment is going to have to take place on the opposite side of the venue! 

Views 

A great way to take your guests’ breath away is with a stunning view as a backdrop to the ceremony, whether it be the city skyline or somewhere with beautiful rolling countryside such as the Lake District
 
While this might not always be possible due to budget and location restrictions, make sure that the rest of the venue makes up for it with a combination of décor, architecture and location. 
 
Whether it be a huge chandelier or sculpture or an impressive ballroom, your venue needs something which is going to leave your guests talking for months to come. 
Are you feeling inspired? Then it’s time to get planning the most special day of your life. While you’re making your arrangements, don’t forget to plan for toilet facilities for your guests. We offer luxury toilet hire that is perfect for all events, so contact us today to find out more. 
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