How did you chose your venue? new question added page 3

Nearby and inexpensive. We're having a budget wedding and venue was our main compromise.

I wanted a venue that was close to the church and this one ticked all the boxes and felt right when we were there. Slightly more expensive than some of the others but it was the right decision.

The food choices are good and come highly recommended

The venue is gorgeous

The accomodation is reasonable and close to the reception room (around the courtyard) for those with kiddies

We were looking for somthing close to home with picture opportunities inside and outside. We viewed loads of places and ended up booking the last venue we viewed. It's perfect and has everything we wanted

As FF says really, nearby and within budget, i also wanted to make sure we would have a room included in our package, as it stands we have the bridal suite complimentary and 20 rooms have been put aside for our guests at a reduced rate, its in lovely surroundings and should make for nice pics, the staff are also very nice, the room where the band will be is a little smaller than we would have liked but it leads through to the bar/lounge area so im sure people will mingle between the two rooms - not everyone will want to be in the same room as a 5 piece live band all night! lol x

We wanted something nice with accomodation, & when we started looking around we also wanted somewhere that wouldn't have had lots of golfers wandering around!!

Ours ticked every box, the coordinator was fab- she answered my long list of questions and was incredibly friendly and seemed so professional. It just had everything we wanted, and they were willing to comprimise or find solutions for things that they didnt have but we wanted.

Also when we said that we loved the place but they were more expensive than another, they knocked money off the room rate (which considering we've got an August date they could have filled easily), and because they dont have a huge function room (300 people) like some other places, we are not being considered second rate to a bigger wedding. They also would check it was ok with us before booking another wedding into the smaller room (Which is outside of the suite area we have booked).

Basically though, it came down to 'the feeling'... (as smooshy as that sounds) x

Budget chose ours really.

I would've loved my wedding at a hotel so everybody could've stayed but that still blew our budget completely so managed to find our hall which is a sports and social club but it's quirky and different and we're getting a major discount as we helped paint the bloody thing!!

thats one way of doing it!! did you make sure it would co-ordinate with your colour scheme?? lol x

as a couple of ppl have said - local and within budget. I have been at a few evening do's, 1 wedding and a couple of formal dinners there so i no the food is good!! It is a beautiful hotel and the staff are lovely! We also get the bridal suite for the night! ?

its https://www.silverbirchhotel.com/index.cfm/page_key/4

We wanted a beautiful barn type conversion within a decent travelling distance of our church. We only ever looked at the one venue. Lovely space both inside and out, we get the use of the house for 2 nights, can pick our own menu and bring our own booze without paying corkage.

Erm... Brunel is one of D's heros (his engineering hero, the other hero is Darwin) and we knew they did weddings as a friend of ours had their evening reception there a couple of years ago.

Our original plan was a pub - nice and relaxed and different - but we called them up to enquire about dates in May and that was it - we were sold! ?

Ahhh well we did masses of internet research, ruled out those taht were massievely over budget no point seeing it if we couldn'tafford it. Then visited a fair few places

but ultimately it was one of the first venues we saw that was our favourite, we loved it when we saw it, an added bonus was it is close to the town we both grew up in.

Where are you having it GB? Brunel Manor?

Hey FF - SS Great Britain!! ?

We stayed at ours a few years ago for a family get together and we both fell in love! didnt even look anywhere else. its a big country house and we've got it all from monday to friday. ?

We are getting married on Halloween so wanted something a bit gothic and atmospheric (without turning it into a fancy dress party)...and on a budget, we are getting married at Brownsover Hall, an old gothic manor house, apparently with it's own ghost, perfect lol! And it is also a hotel, and offered everything under one roof, ceremony, reception and accomodation for us and guests if they want it x

We compromised on about everything else we could, including asking friends for vouchers towards the photographer instead of a gift list, so that we could have this lovely venue. As a wildlife and landscape photographer, my h2b thought this venue would be superb as it's a mansion in a large park, with a ruined castle, lake, woodlands etc...

We didnt want a venue that anyone we know had already had.

I'd heard that this place was lush and decided to look at it online. It is only about 20 mins drive from our town but its just enough to be unique and out of the way from all the hustle and bustle. Its set in the middle of rural Devon and there are fields and hills all around making it personal and private and I just LOVE IT!!!! When we visited it we immediately felt the warmness of the place and they said we are to treat it like our 'home' for that whole weekend - you cant get better than that!!?

It was chosen because it did the £1000 package and that's all i'm afraid!

We wanted somewhere countryfied but close (provided buses), small n cosy (80 or so guests) and gardens for the smokers as opposed to having them walk out into the streets therefore disappearing from our party.. wasnt very expensive,...and accomodation on hand also....

I wanted to get married in a castle so it narrowed my options right down, obviously budget and how much it can accommodate came into the equation too!x

Location - it's near the Cathedral and Castle so perfect for photos, close by for all family and friends to attend without them having to travel too far, within budget, cheap beer! outside terrace area with BBQ range which is perfect as we're not having a formal sit down meal, just a BBQ. Exclusivety - we have the entire hotel to ourselves from 1pm onwards which was the biggest selling point.

I prefer to the gardens, castles, huge trees, bright flowers and open vision. It seems to be a old-time style. Hopefully I will find such a place near my town!

Ours was down to: close by to the church, central for everyone to get to, not too expensive and not far from a hotel so people can stay over if needs be.

So we went for a hotel about a mile away from the church (5 minute drive), it's just off the motorway so eay to get to, guests can book a room at a special rate, and the price is very reasonable ? Perfect!

Mainly based around budget and is close to where we live. We also heard very good things from lots of people i know, one of ladies who i go to Toy Library with my son had her wedding there and I didnt even know!

One of our best friends is the wedding co-ordinator at our venue so it was always a given! It's a hotel also so accomodation is available and we are staying for a few nights. We compromised on a few aspects but it is worth it to be able to call her a ridiculous o'clock was a thousand questions!!

are you on the sherry this morning, laura????

Wow! SS Great Britain! Great Choice!! I work in a school and we did a huge project on Brunel and went to visit it!! It was beautiful! Cant wait to see some pictures!!!

We found ours just be visiting loads of different places, depending on dates and friendly staff ? We decided on a golf club which is close to the church and as family are keen golfers thought it was ideal!

Good luck!!

P xx

? I am not Teehee, I am in the middle of moving house though so I think I need to be!!

Thanks ladies that was enlightening now another question would you risk a venue that wasn't built?

I wouldnt personally.

If the place was delayed for whatever reason, or something happened....what would you do?

But on the other hand it could be amazing....but i just wouldnt want to risk it.

x

Personally I wouldn't. There's loads to consider with that. How do you know what it'll look like when it's finished, what if they change the plans half way through and you get something totally different to what you were expecting, you may be booking based on your numbers and that could change when they do the fire regs when it's complete, what if the project falls through and it doesn't get finished on time, what if it does all go to plan but you actually don't like it in the end?................ Sorry to put a dampener on it hun, i just think it's a bit risky. What were you looking at?