When it comes to planning your wedding day, one of the most important factors to consider is finding the right venue. There are so many things to think about, from the style, décor and size to the accessibility and location, and we understand how hard it can be to filter through the never ending list of potential venues and picking the one that suits you both for your special day. That’s why we’ve created a breakdown of top tips to consider when it comes to finding the perfect wedding venue in London.
Venue Style
Every one of our wedding venues across London have a completely different style and it is important to have an idea in mind of the specific type of venue you want to host your guests. From modern and contemporary venues to somewhere with history and period features, there is an array of venues to choose from and it will make choosing the perfect spot a lot easier if you narrow down potential options at the start of your planning. It is also worth considering the style of the wedding itself, whether you want something outside with a more casual feel or a black tie and formal occasion. As a wedding venue finder, we have long list of venues to choose from, such as the breath taking Chiswick House and Gardens to the historical Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. Make sure to check out our venues here to get some inspo!
Location, location, location.
When you’re planning your wedding day, one of the things at the top of your list must be the location. This is a super important factor to consider as you want to make sure you are choosing the right spot that suits you and your partner as well as your guests. There are many venues that allow for the ceremony and the reception, however if you are travelling between two different locations on the day you must take into account the journey and the timings. Can your guests get there easily? Is there transport available? Is there a taxi company you can pre-book to save time? These are just some of the areas to think about ahead of the day. Additionally, you want to make sure the location is easily accessible for your guests in terms of transport: if you’re looking outside of London it is key to think about parking, train stations and bus routes for your guests and share this information ahead of time to make life easier for them. If you have guests travelling from far and wide, think about sharing hotels nearby so everyone can relax knowing they have somewhere to head back to after dancing the night away.
Eve tip: To help make things easier for you, we have included a breakdown of how to access each venue, including the closest tube and train stations and the time it takes to walk to the venue so you can share with your guests without having to do too much research!
Venue Facilities
When planning your wedding, you will of course take into account the facilities you want, from toilets, kitchens and cloakrooms to wheelchair access and car parking space. We recommend doing a recce of the venue when you’re visiting and make sure you’re happy with the layout and the accessibility of the facilities. Whilst you don’t want the toilets to be a long walk from the reception room, you equally don’t want them to be directly next to the room and it is important to consider the seating layout so your guests don’t end are up being seated next to the loos! Something else to ask the team showing you around is the accessibility – is it easy for you and your guests to locate the entrance and the reception room?
Each of our venues include a list of the facilities so you can easily make sure to identify if the venue ticks all your boxes.
Catering
We’ve had some experience with planning weddings so we understand the difficulty that comes with organising the catering and we’re here to help. There are so many different catering styles to choose from: whether you want a casual and relaxed set up with canapes and nibbles or a three course sit-down meal. We have a number of amazing venues that offer catering, each with a team on site to plan the catering with you and who will be there on the day so you can relax knowing everything is taken care of.
Eve tip: Before you set your mind on a particular venue, make sure to check they offer catering or have perfect catering team for you to avoid being disappointed!
Plan B
Whilst it’s not something you necessarily want to think about, it is sometimes a good idea to have a backup plan just in case your dream venue doesn’t end up being the perfect choice. For example, you may fall in love with a venue you’ve found online but then when it comes to visiting you may realise the location isn’t quite right or the facilities and the size aren’t suitable. If you have a couple of venues on your list that you love, this will help to avoid the disappointment you feel if number one doesn’t work out.
All in all, there are a number of important factors to consider when you’re finding the perfect wedding venue, and we are always here to offer a helping hand when the time comes to get planning. Make sure to reach out if you need any advice. Happy venue searching!