It’s hard to underestimate the importance of choosing the perfect wedding location. When you don’t book the location, your wedding will be an empty canvas, and it’s nearly impossible to make any important decisions about the venue. The wedding venue you choose will dictate the overall style and atmosphere of your wedding, and also the budget and location, therefore it’s crucial to pick carefully. When you’ve decided on your wedding location the location will dictate the rest of the day itself from food to photography, and even the attire you wear.
The choice of a wedding venue is always a difficult task however, it can be made simpler by first deciding the type of wedding you’re looking for, as well as the type of atmosphere you’d like to set – we guarantee it’s the only thing your guests will remember for the anniversary of your wedding!
To assist you in your wedding venue hunt We’ve put together a listing of the top five wedding venues, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each. After you’ve decided on the type of wedding you’re looking for this guide can help narrow things down!
Two Big Wedding Venue Questions Two Big Wedding Venue Questions
Before you begin researching wedding venues, you should arrange an intimate chat with your partner during which you discuss concepts for the wedding day as well as (hopefully!) decide on the type of celebration you’d like to throw. There are plenty of excellent articles on the beginning stages of planning your wedding and determining what kind of wedding you prefer There are two major questions you must answer before making a decision:
1. How many guests are you planning to invite?
Find out the approximate number of guests prior to even thinking about making an itinerary of possible venues. If you’re planning to host over 200 people, for instance, your venue choice will be severely restricted by this number. In general, for weddings that have over 150 people, you’ll likely end up in the hotel or an exclusive marquee or exclusive hire venue for weddings with less than 50 guests, a private location or a restaurant is the best. If you’re not planning to get married soon We suggest you choose the number of guests you’d like to have in a perfect world instead of trying to figure out the Covid-19 rules that might be in place when the big day arrives.
2. How active do you want to be?
If you’re looking to reduce the stress and strain of planning your wedding, marquee hire or an exclusive hire venue is probably not an ideal choice – a wedding in a hotel, where the wedding planner in house handles the bulk of the tasks, is the best. If you’re the opposite you intend to manage each and every detail on your own an exclusive venue for hire or marquee wedding is right for you.
Hotel Wedding Venue
The way to plan an event in Ireland was fairly simple it was as simple as booking the local hotel, and the local church, and that was it! Although Irish wedding couples are becoming more creative and adventurous in the choice of their wedding location, venue and method of ceremony There are plenty of reasons why a hotel could be the perfect option.
Pros:
Package Deals Hotels that can cater to many weddings typically offer affordable packages, which makes budgeting a lot easier.
Wedding coordinator in-house The wedding coordinator will take care of every aspect of your wedding day
Trust: A reputable place with a good reputation allows you to be sure of your decision
Accommodation: It’s on the premises for the majority, but not all of your guests
Recommendations: Many venues offer recommendations for reliable suppliers
Cons:
There is less flexibility: You will likely be limited in the style of your decor and food, wine, etc., and will you will have less time to prepare your room and decorate it.
Packages: They can be expensive , and the extras could really cost a lot.
The same old thing, the same old Function rooms in hotels can be boring, and in certain cases it is more work to personalize it and make it contemporary.
Certain venues require couples to only using specific suppliers.
Wedding Venue for Exclusive Hire
A popular option for Irish couple is the exclusive wedding venue that is ideal for couples who are planning an formal(ish) wedding with a dinner and dancing wedding, but don’t need an hotel.
Pros:
Privacy: Since you’re the only guests you’ll enjoy all the privacy of a private gathering
Wow Factor Venues that are private are usually stunning and unique venues with authentic character
A personal touch The private wedding location is typically run by the owner personally, and hosts only a handful of weddings per year, which means you’ll have a more intimate relationship with the venue and the people
Cons:
Small: A lot of private venues are only ideal for weddings with smaller numbers inside the home within the house
Cost: For larger weddings, hiring a marquee is usually possible, however it typically, it costs more
Planning: Private events require greater coordination between suppliers, so wedding planners are often required
Restrictions: A private wedding venue that you hire is who owns the property, and is often their home, which means you may not get the full use of the venue
Wedding at Home, Marquee or Wedding
The most personal of all choosing to have your wedding held in a marquee at your home or in a special location is an excellent option in the event that you possess the room and mental enthusiasm to go for it. Be aware that planning an event in a marquee isn’t for the faint of heart!
Pros:
More personal: hosting a party in your home will ensure that both you and guests be immediately at the ease
Control: You control the day’s events from the decor to the suppliers You can also spend an entire week to set up and decorating to your heart’s content if would like to.
There are no restrictions: You can enjoy an open bar and party until 6am and no one will ever tell you to shut off your music (except perhaps your neighbors!)
Budgeting: A wedding marquee isn’t cheap, however there’s more opportunity to save money in certain areas.
Cons:
Hidden Costs: Unlike the package offered by a hotel, the cost of the wedding marquee aren’t easily measurable, and could surprise you.
Marquees in these days are weatherproof, however the rainy weather can affect the appearance and feel of your wedding in the garden
Intrusion: Your private space will be spied on by suppliers in the days leading up to the wedding
Coordinating and organising: A wedding in your home is lots of tasks for you as the organizer, and you are likely to require a day coordinator to help with the wedding organizing
Restaurants or pubs are great wedding venues.
For couples who love food and prefer a more intimate and less traditional wedding, a good bar or restaurant is definitely worthy of consideration for your reception.
Pros:
The Food Your guests will be grateful to you for this one!
Atmosphere: The ambience is typically more relaxed and intimate.
Wedding decor: Selecting a gorgeous venue means that wedding decorations can be reduced to the minimum
A wider selection of choices Restaurants are becoming more and more offer weddings as a service
Cons:
No Accommodation Guest accommodation isn’t typically available on site
Restaurants with good reviews typically are located in cities, which means the country wedding could be challenging
Late Night: Late licenses are more difficult for restaurants.
There is no dance floor: Dance floor space may be limited or unavailable at all
Ceremony Venue for the ceremony is typically required. Some establishments will provide a suitable location, but not all
A Little Sense of Occasion: It may not matter to you however, if you’ve ever dreamed of a big white wedding, a bar isn’t likely to be the right choice.
DIY Weddings AKA Anything You Like
If you’re considering an outdoor ceremony on the cliffs or a picnic-style reception, or an evening party at the shore, you’ll likely have the same pros and pros of having your wedding in your home or an exclusive venue for hire. This will require more organization and planning (and of course, hidden costs) however, if you and your partner are both interested in creating something special and unique, we’re sure it’ll be a success!
The last thing to keep in mind is that every wedding venue is unique. There are bars that offer packages and hotels that function as exclusive hire venues , so we’ve had to come up with many generalizations here however we hope that our advice can help guide you and your spouse towards the right direction.