Live 24-Seven is a high quality life magazine covering Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Birmingham…..In Aug 2013 they contacted Alexis Walker, a wedding planning expert specialising in Italy and the UK and I to give them our top five tips to find your perfect wedding venue.………
Get clear – Your wedding day is all about you both, so your perfect wedding venue should reflect who you are together. Are you sophisticated city slickers with a penchant for a Cosmopolitan? If so an elegant black tie wedding would work wonders. Or are you more a relaxed by the sea-no tie-and-flip-flops kinda couple? Then head to the ocean and feel the sand between your toes on your big day. Being clear on what feel of wedding you want will set the tone for the day and help pop you both on the right path to finding your venue.
Get practical – Many years of wedding planning have taught me that you are required to make both practical and emotional decisions in equal measure (take that Freud!). So start practical; guest numbers will determine the capacity of the venue. If you are expecting friends and family from afar it will require overnight accommodation. Logistically does it need to be located near an airport for limited commuting time?
Get savvy – Be clear on your budget from the outset. Searching for a wedding venue will be for most, a once in a lifetime experience and so the majority have little or no knowledge of just how much these things cost. Set a budget you both feel comfortable with so when you first enquire you can rule each venue in or out quickly & smartly. As a general guide a good venue or hotel will start at approximately £90 per person for a traditional sit down wedding breakfast inclusive of wines and soft drinks. If you’re looking for exclusivity expect to pay an additional venue hire charge that can range from £500 upwards. Our advice; don’t be afraid to negotiate!
Get married – It could be that you want to get married in the same spot as your proposal, or your first picnic together, or another location that has special meaning. Justine says “Imagine the romance of your wedding ceremony in the woods amongst the bluebells, on a beach, on a mountain top or even in your own garden!” By using a celebrant such as Justine to conduct your personalised ceremony, whether in a licensed venue or not – you have the flexibility to incorporate traditions and content of your choice and widen your venue search to anywhere you want.
Get up and go –What looks beautiful on the page isn’t always what feels right in your heart (this is where the emotional decisions come in!). It is only when you visit will you get the immediate feeling that it really is the place for you both. Our advice; go undercover and check it out incognito; sample the food, the service, the personnel and strange but true…… the toilets!
For more information, top tips and ideas on getting married visit Alexis Wedding Planning & Design and Just Celebrations