Banking on the best wedding

How to choose a venue, for richer or poorer brides..

You’ve saidyes, said yes, youhave you have your dream 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 things first, work on your budget. You may want a grand setting like a grand country house for your special day or a small, intimate setting – 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.

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

lldreach out with your questions via email. When creating your venues spreadsheet, keep in mind – availability, type of venue and layout. 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 that you want? Consider hidden costs – knowing about potential hidden costs up front will guarantee your budget can actually cover it all. These can range costs of photography to flowers and stationery add- ons. Most couples admit to spending more than they intended but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to stick to your wedding budget.

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