Wedding venue what to look 4 & questions to ask

sharpee

After 3 years my boyfriend proposed and we're planning on getting married spring next year in Newcastle.:j:j:j

Now having no experience of weddings at all I have no idea what I am supposed to be looking for in a venue and what sort of questions to ask! To add to my dilemma I don't even have any females friends who could offer advice and we all know men are not really that helpful when it comes to weddings.

My fiance reply when I asked him what he wanted was 'whatever you want' which while is really nice isn't very helpful!

Any advice would really be appreciated!

P.S. I am hoping for somewhere that we can do everything at: cerommony, wedding breakfast and hopefully overnight accomodation

emsbet

Here's a list of questions that I used when I was looking at venues.

- Number of people can accomodate
- Cost per head
- Is there a room hire? How much? Or is there a minimum number of guests?
- What's included in the price - i.e glasses crockery, linen, cake stand, cake knife?
- Is there a Master of Ceremonies included in price. If not how much does one cost? (If you want one)
- Payment - method, installments, deposits, when is balance due?
- How long will they hold your date before you have to pay a deposit?
- Layout options
- Can you decorate with your own things? Do they allow candles (if you want them)
- Drinks options, packages, corkage?
- Is there a set spend at the bar?
- Do they do menu tastings?
- What veggie options are there?
- Can you devise your own menu?
- Timings
- When will you have access to the room to set up?/ Do they set up for you?
- When does the room need to be cleared by?
- Time bar closes, time entertainment has to stop
- How many parking spaces are there?
- What accomodation is available for guests?
- Is there anyway to take the pictures if it's raining?

Can't think of anything else at the moment. Hope this helps.

xx

White_Sapphire

Hi Sharpee,

There are loads of templates on the interwebs. This is my list:

• Is your venue available on the required date?
• What are the options and costs for the use of your venue (including separate room hire costs depending on which rooms are used/exclusive hire etc)
• What registrar's authority do you come under?
• How many people can you accomodate?
• How many car parking spaces are available?
• Do you allow confetti to be thrown?
• Do you allow candles?
• When can we have access to decorate the venue? (morning of wedding from 11am, day before, etc)
• Are there areas which can be used as a creche/chillout room, etc?
• How many rooms are available for overnight stay?
• What are the costs of accomodation?
• Is breakfast included?
• What is the checkout time the following day?
• If no accomodation or not enough for all guests, can you recommend b&Bs/hotels, etc nearby?
• Do you have a room where presents can be stored until we can collect them, and are you insured against loss or damage?
• Are we able to use our own caterer?
• Can you supply examples of suggested menus with prices from your suggested/recommended caterer?
• Do you supply a cake stand and knife?
• What time do you serve alcohol until?
• Are we able to supply our own drink? What are the costs (corkage) for this?
• What time must the reception finish by?
• Do you charge extra to stay open later?

Just chop and change as fits your own requirements - for instance we don't have any wheelchair-bound guests, but you might need to check disabled access, and so on.

sharpee

Thanks for that!

Added issue is I live 300 miles away as i moved away for work so can't visit all the places myself

White_Sapphire

Thanks emsbet, there are a few extra questions for me to add to my list!

x

White_Sapphire

sharpee wrote: »

Thanks for that!

Added issue is I live 300 miles away as i moved away for work so can't visit all the places myself

Who's going to visit the venues? Whoever it is, give them your list, and then you can just have a look round the few that meet all your criteria when you're in the area!

The_Prole

Hi Sharpee,

Congratulations! I'm getting married in Newcastle later this year. Lots of wedding events on the weekend of 29th and 30th Jan - UK Wedding Show on at the Metro Arena and I'm having my reception at As You Like It in Jesmond. They also have a wedding fair on the 29th Jan between 12 and 4pm. Details are on their website

Amymo

Hey Sharpee and The Prole, I'm getting married in Gateshead so it's nice to have local folk in the wedding forum to share ideas with! Sharpie, check in here regularly, lots of good advice and ideas! I think in a way whatever you want is a sweet thing to say, my OH said that and although I've had free rein with flowers, decs etc it was lovely to choose food, music and reception venue together, in his head it;s probably a wee while away, but a gentle nudge when you've done your research and you'll be planning like mad!

Don't think I can handle another wedding fayre though the arena one is supposed to be good, my MIL and Mam will run away with all sorts of ideas and H2B won't go near them! As You Like It is a beautiful venue, and the food is phenomenal! We're getting married at local church and have booked Saltwell Towers.

sharpee

Hey The Prole & Amymo

I'm gutted as I'm on holiday end of the month but am planning on coming up to go to the Wedding fayre on the 20th Feb at the Hilton.

Although I now live in Hampshire I'm born and breed Newcastle so there is no-way I'm not getting married up there. Its just a pain as I haven't lived up there for 10 years I'm not as familiar with all the venues.

Hopefully I'm going to DIY quite a bit like invites, table decs etc as we're only having a small wedding. As all his side will be travelling up for Portsmouth I want somewhere nice where we can put them up for a couple of nights. I think thats only fair as you can't expect them to fork out a lot of money for our big day.

Its all so exciting I can't think of anything else!!!

Maybe we should start a Newcastle thread

emsbet

White_Sapphire wrote: »

Who's going to visit the venues? Whoever it is, give them your list, and then you can just have a look round the few that meet all your criteria when you're in the area!

That's a good idea. also maybe get them to take lots of pictures for you including the outside of the building.

Thanks emsbet, there are a few extra questions for me to add to my list!

x

You're welcome. I got most of them from a website when I first got engaged. I don't remember which one though - I've looked at that many!

xx

floss2

Also, Take OH to a few wedding fairs (this is the season for them) to get ideas of what you both do & don't like..... ballon arches, chair covers, fluffy feathery table centres, chocolate fountains, elaborate favours, sweetie buffets, full Highland dress including kilt & sporran..... we went to one, at the venue we had chosen, and it clarified a lot of decisions!