Dorset Brides: Hints and tips for choosing your wedding venue

One of the most important factors in organising your big day is choosing the venue for both the marriage ceremony itself and the reception.

Civil weddings are now able to take place in a whole host of locations from zoos and football grounds to castles and stately homes.

Hotel Du Vin in Poole

So whether you want your wedding to be a small, intimate gathering or a rather more lavish affair, you’re certain to find a perfect venue right here in Dorset.

But there are, of course, some important considerations to make when visiting and making the choices for your wedding location.

Ideally, you should start thinking about the venue about a year before the day itself – many places can even get booked up two years in advance, so if you have your heart set on somewhere, make sure you make enquiries as soon as possible.

Don’t forget, this is the place you are going to entertain all your friends and family, have a meal and a party, so you need to take the time to make the right decision.

You will need to have a rough idea of the guest list at this stage, as most venues will have a set number of people they can cater for. This is also important when looking at costs for the wedding breakfast and buffet.

But try not to be swayed by the venue itself – even if it is beautiful, somewhere with a huge dance floor may not be the best choice if you don’t think you can fill it. Similarly, don’t try to cram all your guests into a tiny room with no space to move.

Ask if you can visit the venue when it’s all set up for another wedding, to give you a real idea of how it will look on the day.

If you are keen on a stately home, country house or museum, be aware that many will have restrictions in place, so don’t forget to ask about these when you go and visit.

The Lord Bute in Highcliffe

Noise restrictions, the finish time and whether you can bring your own florist, caterer, wine and DJ are all questions worth asking.

It’s also worth finding out if you can have access to the room beforehand to set it up yourself.

And don’t forget to check out the car parking situation and disabled access, if you need it.

If you’re choosing different locations for the ceremony and reception, think about how close they are together, whether they’re easy to find and how well sign-posted they are. You don’t want half your guests getting lost on the big day.

Do you have people coming from afar who may want to stay the night? Find out about accommodation either at the venue itself or nearby.

It may seem like a lot to consider, but if you get it right, the venue can really make your special day one to remember forever.