Help! Debating pros and cons between booking a venue and trying to get a last min offer

Both venues are very very good...if you are still open to ideas and location, do also consider 3 lakes near Ware. The two original venues you mention have the same management team ironically.

What month are you looking at getting married in, The time of the year will affect how easy things will be.

Both are fantastic venues, Although I havent been to the fennes hotel it looks beautiful.

If your easy with the date and know you wan't one of these venues I don't think it will hurt. get your dress sorted and BMs dresses sort guest listetc so as soon as you have a date your readdy to go.

When we were looking I noticed a lot of the deals were mid week or very out of season weekends so you should factor it in when making the decision. Even with a couple of months notice people might struggle to get a day of work depending on what holiday etc they ahve booked.

On the plus side a non saturday non peak season wedding means suppliers are more likely to be free at short notice and also give good deals.

Hi there, I haven't done it myself, but here are my thoughts:

What time of year are you getting married? If it is Summer, then I'd book in advance as otherwise many of your guests may be away.

Do you have ppl coming from abroad or a lot of guests from outside the region that would need to book hotels? If so, again, it might be an idea to go ahead.

Are you flexible re mid-week - they might not have any saturdays free, but might end up with a midweek date seriously reduced.

If all your answers to these questions come out fine, then I'd say wait for a last minute deal. My friend got a last minute deal at Clearwell Castle and it was really good value.

Hmmm its a bit of a risk in my oppinion. I would go to both venues and tell them that you have been pricing around but that you love the venue and you are wondering what the best deal they could give you would be. I think mon-wednesdays are cheaper in most places as well, so bear that in mind. I know i personally couldn't have been that flexible as I have to book my hols in advance in work. But if you have the nerve to wait it out...well good on you!

Also worth bearing in mind that your other suppliers prices may go up between now and then. one supplier of ours prices went up in april with the budget - we luckily booked in february! so what you save on delaying booking the venue may just mean higher prices for not getting the early booking deals or "this year's" price from other suppliers.

A quite relevent point......it is generally thought that whichever government gets in next week that they will increase vat to 20%. This will affect a lot of people. Doing an early payment deal or getting rates set in stone soon could well be worth doing.

Thanks you guys.

Yes we are flexible with dates. I do shift work as do half the wedding party and half the guests so doing it on a weekday isnt so hard for us.

Hadnt thought about theVAT thing at all. Thats something I will have to take in to account deffinately.

Atleast now dont feel so crazy for attempting to do it this way.

Will let you guys know what I decide and keep everyone updated on the planning as we go no doubt!

The extra vat can be added on to any unpaid balance if the hotel do wish so the bigger the deposit the safer you will be with the vat. I dont imagine any new rise would happen until next year.

Although one party has confirmed an emergency budget within 2 months of the election......I would still be wary as the country's deficit and poor finances we have need dealing with earlier rather than later