Planning

One of the most important questions you'll ask yourself in your planning journey is how to choose a wedding venue. Selecting the right venue for you and your partner plays a critical role in the triumph of your big day. Having the right backdrop for your theme is vital, and you want to choose a place that allows you to create the wedding of your dreams. With so many options to choose from, finding the perfect venue isn't always easy. Whether you're looking for a country house, a barn, a glasshouse, or something more unusual, it's important to know how to go about choosing the right one for you. We'll be going over some very important tips to keep you on track during your planning journey. So, shall we dive in? Let's hope your venue has a pool, otherwise that might be a bit painful. 


Tips and tricks on how to choose your wedding venue from Rock My Wedding 

Budget: Judge it!

It may seem obvious, but before you go and visit a venue, consider if it falls within your budget. Not the most romantic piece of advice, but it is still very important. Have a sit down with your partner and work out how much you want to spend early on. This means when you get to venue searching, you'll know what you're working with. The last thing you want is falling head over heels in love with a venue, only for it to be completely out of your budget. It's also important to remember that a venue price won't always be what you see on the website. Venues often have hidden prices here and there - for decor, floral design, in-house catering, etc. So having a list of questions to ask your wedding venue when visiting is crucial to ensure you don't end up paying way more than you originally thought. Midweek weddings are growing a lot in popularity, as deciding to hold your big day on Monday to Thursday will make a massive difference to your venue spend. Also, never forget to ask for help from your talented family and friends. DIYing your decor, accessories and more is not only fab for the budget, but a great project to spend some quality time with your loved ones on. 

Location, location, location!

No, we're not talking about Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer here (sadly). The location is obviously going to be very important when it comes to choosing your wedding venue. Between you and your partner, it's possible you've got friends and family spread across the country (or even the world). So choosing the right location is vital to ensure as many people can come as possible. If you do decide to travel, fantastic! But there are some things to bare in mind. Do you feel comfortable travelling a long distance for your big day? Are you ok with the fact that some wedding guests won't be able to attend because of travel? Destination weddings do require more planning, but if you're fine with that, they are definitely worth it. You just have to bare your guests in mind - not everyone can afford a week off in Italy. 

Your venue will also vary in price depending on the location. Weddings in city centres tend to cost more than those in more rural areas. Understanding your budget and knowing how much you want to allocate to your wedding venue in comparison to other areas of your day is crucial. Aside from travel and cost, have a big think. Is there a particular location that has a special meaning to you both? Maybe it's where you met or had your first date, or where your first apartment was? Having your wedding in a place that's special to both of you can be a really lovely touch. 

Wedding venue X theme 

Picking a venue isn't just as simple as seeing a space you like and saying "Yes, we'll take it!". Oh, how we wish. You need to think about whether the wedding venue will work with your desired theme/aesthetic. If you're going for a traditional day, then a country house is a great idea. Going for something more rustic? A barn wedding venue would be a brilliant backdrop for that. Feeling botanical? Then a glasshouse could be just up your street. Do you both love the outdoors? Then an outdoor, summer wedding might be the one for you, in a marquee, or a venue with lots of gorgeous gardens and grounds. Choosing a venue that reflects your personalities is important, and this will come out even more with your theme, your florals, decor, and your outfits. Of course, if you want an eclectic mix of different themes and colours, then that's completely up to you. All of it is up to you! But just bear in mind that, with so many venues to choose from, it's easy to get distracted. Write down what things in your theme are most important to you. Try to figure out whether these things would be made easier/better with a certain kind of venue. 

What's included?

Venues often offer more than meets the eye. Once you've made your list of potential venues, you then need to ask them what is included in the price/package to ensure you're not missing any hidden costs. Being able to compare like-for-like prices prior to making a final decision is crucial. A wedding venue with tables, chairs, florals, furniture, catering, crockery and linens included might cost more than a venue where you need to rent or bring your own. Now, this isn't always a bad thing. It can give you as much freedom as you want to hire external wedding suppliers, which is a plus. Especially when certain inspiration websites have such a fantastic list of curated Recommended suppliers. Hint hint. 

Visit your wedding venue twice (at LEAST!)

It's likely that you will visit quite a few venues before you make your decision. When you think you have found 'the one', trust us when we say - go back and visit it again and again. Check that it's as perfect as you remember. When you visit a wedding venue, it gives you a fantastic opportunity to imagine and plan your special day accordingly. Have a wander down the aisle, take in your surroundings, explore the grounds, and take some practice selfies. By the second/third time you visit, you'll likely have come on leaps and bounds in your planning journey. You'll know what florals you're having, the dress you want, and you'll have a better idea of your theme and how many guests you'll have. Whilst your big day is slowly but surely becoming coherent, it's important to make sure your vision still fits in line with your venue. It's also easy to get swept up in a whirlwind of emotions when you first visit, as venues tend to be pretty spectacular. So the following visit, try to be more evaluative, rather than emotional. 

Hopefully, this will help you whittle down a venue in your wedding planning journey! 


We've said it before, and I'll bet my savings account (which is non-existent but just for dramatic effect) we'll say it again; your day, your way. Choose the venue that is right for you - we just recommend following our tidbits of information to make that process easier! Speaking of bank accounts - you don't have to break yours to have a fantastic wedding. As made evident by our roundup of stunning weddings for under 10k. Like we mentioned earlier, choosing your wedding venue is a crucial and early stage of your wedding planning journey. But what about the rest of it? Wouldn't it be oh-so-helpful if someone had a 12-month wedding checklist for planning your day? Yes, yes it would. 

Sasha Kirkham

Written by Sasha Kirkham

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Venue: Elmore Court | Cover Image: Eve Dunlop Photography
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