Has anyone here booked a venue without going to see it?

minerva_windsong

I know, even typing it it sounds like a bad idea, but hear me out!

Long story short, my OH and I are hoping to get married in October/November 2014. We've decided to get married in York as it's where we met and within reasonable travelling distance for all offshoots of the family. There is one venue that we both really like from our research so far - it's right in the middle of town, it's very reasonably priced, it's got the history we want, it can cover the whole day and it's big enough for all our guests. The venue is very popular so we wanted to go and see it as soon as possible. We live in London.

However, the train tickets are really expensive - even with our railcards and if we only went for a day in the week the tickets would cost the equivalent of a quarter of the deposit for the venue, and we're trying to save up for going travelling in September. Neither of us can drive so that's out. Coach tickets are cheaper but would mean we would have to get off the coach, have an hour to look round the venue and then have to rush back to the coach.

The only other option is that we're going to my parents' in Lancashire for a weekend in early August and I'm wondering if it would be worth taking a day off either side of that - probably the Friday - and going across to York to look at the venue. That wouldn't cost much more than the tickets from London to York and we're having to go to Lancashire anyway. But my worry with that is that the date we want will be gone by the time we can go (although said date is a 'nice to have' rather than a must have). Plus there's no guarantee I'd get the time off work and OH doesn't want to take it due to going travelling - I should add he's already seen the venue but I haven't, although I don't mind going to look by myself.

OH says we should just book it as it ticks all the boxes and we know the city well enough, but I'm just a bit worried that if we do that when we eventually see it it won't be 'right' and we'll be out of pocket (the venue will only hold the deposit for seven days). I just don't know what to do!

StokieBecks

I booked a venue I have never been to and have only seen on the internet as I have booked it as part of a package through gretna wedding bureau.

I suppose its personal choice. I think i would have liked to have gone for a visit first but I am so looking forward to the first look when I arrive in ten days

stir_crazy

My OH didnt see the venue with me before we booked it, although he had been in it some years previously. I think if the roles had been reversed and my OH went to see it instead of me and was happy with it I would go along with him and booked it, then gone to see the venue at a later date.

How much does the venue have to be "right"? If you didnt absolutely love it, would you still be happy getting married there? If not, then I would suggest going to see it first.

BugglyB

It depends on what you are doing there minerva. If you are having the whole day there then I wouldn't book it without visiting.

I thought I'd found my perfect venue - location, size, everything was perfect. When I visited it I absolutely hated it. The restaurant that had looked so nice on the website was poky and dark. The ceremony room was much smaller than I thought it would be. I didn't realise til I got there that there was actually no bar. When you say OH has seen the venue has he been inside? seen a wedding there?

Another venue I loved but the woman was so awful I couldn't bear to have it there!

I would do everything you can do visit, even if its just one of you. October/November 2014 is not going to get booked up as fast as summer dates.

However if you are just having one part of the day there - ceremony, meal, whatever - it might not be as important.

btw so exciting to see you planning your wedding. I know we dont know each other but I had my fingers crossed for you on the wfap thread

double_mummy

i wouldnt worry about the date mine is at a v popular location that already has summer bookings for 2015 but i only booked my october 2012 wedding about 6 months ago x

dotchas

Just make sure you ask lots of questions before booking. Think of things that are important to you. Also see if you can find any reviews online for accomodation, food or weddings.
We are also getting married in Gretna and went off our first choice when we saw awful reviews on Tripadvisor. When we visited we even went off our second and third choices and chose one we hadn't originally considered. However by careful questioning we could have made the decision without visiting. i.e Is there a bar in the function room? Do you have any lists of things we cannot do? One venue said no table gems,candles or alcohol for favours.
Good luck

TheHolly

From personal experience I wouldn't! I was recommended a venue which sounded amazing! I looked on the website and it looked perfect, a lovely old hotel sat right on a river bank. I got there and there was a big main road between the hotel and the river - clever photography angles made it look like it was sat next to it! It was also just not the right place. I found that with a few venues I was sure I'd love. Strangely it was the one I was initially not bothered about that I fell in love with when I visited it!

[Deleted User]

Lift share - surely plenty of options for people going to-from london?

https://www.liftshare.com/uk/

Also pre-book 'advance fares' - can save £££'s - maybe enough to pay for a cheap b&b if the timings are late/early for trains to get the best bargains

Ultimately - you can't have it all, sorry to be blunt. If you want this venue, to see it and check it before you book then maybe you'll have to cut back your travel plans for September and use some of the money for this journey instead - your choice.

pbny24

Which venue is it?

minerva_windsong

I don't mind spending the money to go and see it but OH is the one insisting that we need to save, which is why I was trying to find the cheapest alternatives (and as I said I don't mind going by myself if that'll help make it cheaper). With regard to advance tickets, I don't know how well that would work as we're going on the 17th September so even going the weekend would probably cut it too fine. Liftshare looks good, I might see what I can find on that.

There is also a possibility that the weekend at my parents' might be moved forward to the first weekend in August so that might mean I can go and see the venue sooner. I've looked on the leave grid at work and I should be OK to take the time off but won't speak to my boss about it until I know for sure.

pbny24 wrote: »

Which venue is it?

This one - it's called Merchant Adventurers' Hall: http://www.theyorkcompany.co.uk/private-hire-weddings.php

It looks really nice from the pictures but I want to go so I can get an idea of things like space - and of course to make sure that it's right for us!

picklepick

Some other things to consider if you're planning on getting married somewhere far from where you live Not really specific to you if it isn't a hotel , but thought I'd post in case other are considering it.

Can they guarantee that you can stay the night before? If not, where will you stay? If it's a hotel nearby consider that check out on the day of your wedding may be 10 or 11 in the morning. (Not an issue if you're staying the following night aswell)

Remember that wherever it is, you'll need to have transported all your wedding bits to the venue beforehand, how are you going to do that?

If you're having a make up artist/hairdresser, you'll need to travel there again to have trials and they'll have to have somewhere suitable to help you get ready on the day.

The same goes for a florist, cake maker, photographer etc. Will you need to visit these people in person or would you be happy with choosing them over the internet?

Oh and menu tasting. You usually have a menu tasting a few weeks before your big day.