Your dream come true!

You’ve said yes, you have your ideal day in your head but now you have to plan and make your dream become a reality.

And one of the most important decisions you will have to make is deciding on a venue for your ceremony and reception.

First thing’s first, work budget.

You may want a plush setting like a grand country house for your special day or a small, intimate venue – or you may decide to run away to the sun to tie the knot and host a party for family and friends when you return.

But whatever you decide, you must start by agreeing on, and sticking to, a budget.

Here is our guide to helping you prioritise your spending and how to stick within your set budget too.

1. Don’t sign a contract with an expensive venue only to realise down the line you have no money left for that DJ you’ve been dreaming of booking.

2. Begin with a guest list – the cost of many of your budget items, from per-person food costs to bridesmaid bouquets, is going to depend on how many people you expect to attend. on your

3. Get spreadsheet happy – this is a place to track all of your research on wedding venue ideas so that you can organise it and then review it without losing your mind.

A word of warning – the most frustrating part of finding a venue is the initial research. If you can’t find answers on a venue’s site, use the spreadsheet to reach out with your questions via email. Often venues are stingy with info online but, if approached, they have a marketing packet ready to share that has a lot of the initial information you will be looking for. When creating your very own research spreadsheet for wedding venue ideas, these are some of the details to consider:availability, type of venue – such as hotel, outdoor, historical, restaurant – and layout.

Take a note if it has space for all aspects of your wedding (the ceremony, cocktails, reception).

Sometimes this isn’t clear until a site visit. If you are doing a cocktail party rather than a sit-down meal, the space is likely to fit more people.

On rates, enter the rough information available online. You can have a further column for when you narrow things down. Take a note of websites so you can easily go back and remind yourself of photos on the venue’s site.

Have a column for restrictions – does the website list any major restrictions, such as a definite end time that would affect your decision?

Car parking and transportation are important. Make any notes regarding free parking, public transit access, or other transportation considerations.

On catering, see if they have restrictions, such as an in-house caterer or a preferred list of caterers you are required to work with.

4. Money, money, money – can you afford this venue? Don’t torture yourself and look at a £12,000 venue if you have a £5000 budget. Is this venue available on the date (or month, or time of year) that you want?

5. Consider hidden costs – knowing about potential hidden costs up front will guarantee your budget can actually cover it all.

It is thought that nearly half of couples admit to spending more than they initially intended but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep control.