Choosing a wedding venue hire is not easy. This requires that you consider a few key factors that play a crucial role in the event's success. When you know how to plan and what to keep in mind, it becomes easier to navigate your special day.

Planning a successful wedding is a process that demands you to make many choices, all of which help in creating the perfect picture. Well, one important choice in this process is to choose the perfect wedding venue, and the process is tough.

The UK market is filled with a wide range of venues, with the number estimated to be more than 7,000. This huge volume makes it tough for you to pick the right venue, which stops you from planning the picture-perfect wedding. This is why it is wise to opt for the services of wedding venue hire.

This service helps you pick the right venue that matches both your aesthetic needs and budget. However, choosing a wedding reception venue hire in London​ or other parts of the UK can be quite challenging. This is why our blog will proceed to make it easy for you.

In here, we will offer you a few essential tips that will help you in making the right selection and ensuring a successful process.

Tip 1: Define Your Wedding Vision & Theme

Before you proceed with the wedding venue hire for the big day, you must develop a clear vision. This gives you a structure of what you want the wedding to look like and how that can be achieved.

Based on the vision, you will have to choose the style and theme. Some of the popular wedding themes include traditional or classic, rustic or country, modern, destination, garden or outdoor, and others. Each style offers something different and demands its unique decor. This is why it is essential to pin down the wedding style at the very beginning.

Once you are set on the vision, it becomes easier to understand which venue you should opt for and what you should be looking for through a wedding venue service. It is important to remember that some venues limit decor changes, which impacts decoration hire choices. So, this way, you get to set a clear path for the rest of the choices as well.

Tip 2: Set a Realistic Budget

Planning a wedding comes with a high possibility of going over budget. And, considering the venue takes up almost 27% the total wedding budget, it is essential to start by setting a realistic budget for the venue and stick to it. This helps you in making no mistakes when opting for wedding reception venue hire in London​.

In the UK, venue hire typically includes the exclusive use of the physical space for an agreed period. This grants you access to the specific areas that you have booked for, lets you use enjoy the basic amenities, and other services that the venue offers. Apart from that, it might also include a few hidden costs like corkage, setup fees, and overtime charges.

However, the most crucial thing when booking the venue is to remember that prices vary based on the location, amenities, and area offered. So, consider that before proceeding.

Pro Tip: If you want to save on the budget, then you must pick a venue hire that offers additional perks like wedding decorations hire​ or furniture hire as well.

Table: Typical UK Wedding Venue Hire Costs

 Tip 3: Choose the Right Location for Your Guests

A wedding is not just about the bride and groom. Rather, it is also about the family members, friends, and guests overall, who make the day even more special. So, you must also consider your guests before picking a location. 

It is essential to pick a location that will be accessible for guests who are travelling from different parts of the UK and beyond. Apart from that, you must create your guest list to determine how many people will be coming and how much space will be required to host them. Most important of all, you must pick a venue hire that offers spaces with sufficient parking spaces. 

Pro Tip: Reaching the wedding venue while making way through the London traffic can be tough, so pick one that is located in a place devoid of congestion, and there are no supplier restrictions.  

Tip 4: Check Capacity & Layout Flexibility

When choosing a wedding venue hire, it is extremely important to consider the venue’s capacity and the flexibility of the layout. In most cases, it is essential to pick a venue that can comfortably seat 100 to 200 guests for the ceremony and reception. However, if your guest list is bigger, then you must opt for a bigger space. 

Most important of all, you must ensure that the venue has enough space for essential things like the dance floor, catering, and entertainment. This ensures that there is enough space for everything to be set perfectly without it looking cramped. 

Always remember that opting for a flexible venue layout that lets you customise the space according to your vision and needs. This also makes it easy when you proceed to easily lay out the furniture and bar setups that you get through wedding chair hire​ or furniture hire.

Tip 5: Consider Wedding Furniture & Chair Hire Early

Wedding furniture plays a big role in achieving the right look at the wedding, so it is best to opt for wedding furniture hire early on in the process. This helps in defining guest comfort, ambience, and aesthetic. This is what sets the crucial bricks in the planning process and turns a space into the venue of your dreams. 

However, when considering getting wedding furniture and chairs, it is essential for you consider the popular trends of the season. Some of the popular wedding furniture trends in the UK include Chiavari chairs, cross-back wooden chairs, and lounge seating areas. You must choose one depending on the style and theme of your wedding and the number of people you are planning to host. 

Tip 6: Ask About Decoration Restrictions

Some venue hire services come with potential restrictions on how you can decorate a place and what you can or cannot install. These restrictions might affect your styling process and end up causing unexpected stress and costs. So, it is best to start the process by asking about the possible restrictions. 

Generally, restrictions are set on decorations, confetti, or candles. Other than that, it might also cause hurdles in using any floral installations, chandeliers, or other decor items.

Pro Tip: Opt for venues that allow creative freedom.

Tip 7: Always Visit the Venue in Person

Digitalisation has made our lives easy, and now you can book everything online without even stepping out once. However, we still suggest you take time out of your schedule to visit the potential venues in person. Just take a day off from work or plan a trip to the venues on the weekend, and that will be more than enough. 

This is essential because photos are never enough and stop you from understanding the scale of things. However, it is not just about visiting the space, but about inspecting it properly when you visit. You must take a close look at the natural lighting, acoustics, and weather contingency areas of the venue. 

Tip 8: Check Availability & Book Early

The UK wedding season usually peaks between May and September, and most venues stay pretty packed during this time of the year. This is why you must book your venue early to grab the one that you like the most. This helps in eliminating challenges related to availability. 

Once you have booked the venue, it also makes it easy for you to book wedding decoration hire and other services. On top of that, popular venues in the UK usually close their booking window 12 to 18 months ahead, so being early is more than essential.

Tip 9: Work with Trusted Local Wedding Hire Suppliers

If you proceed to look for wedding venue hire suppliers in the market, then you will be overwhelmed with the number of options. However, it is always best to work with a trusted local supplier who is an expert in dealing with the challenges of the locality. 

This will help you with faster delivery and comparatively lower costs, making your life easier. Plus, there is a chance they will be familiar with the venue and will be able to help you with bundled services like wedding chair hire or other services. 

Looking for reliable wedding venue hire, furniture, chairs, and decorations across the UK or London? 

Contact our expert team today to start planning your perfect day.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Does Wedding Reception Venue Hire in London​ Come With Transportation Facilities?

No, it is not mandatory. Transportation hire is generally separate from venue hire, and hence, they are booked separately. So, it is best to ask the service provider before proceeding. 

Do suppliers of wedding venue hire let you choose outside vendors for decor and furniture? 

Yes, they do. However, in our opinion, it is best to pick a supplier that offers wedding decoration hire or furniture hire, besides offering venue hire. This helps in simplifying additional stress and improving coordination. 

Does the Price of the Venue Vary Depending on the Time of Year? 

Yes, definitely. Prices are always higher during peak wedding seasons. On top of that, it might even vary within the peak wedding season, depending on whether it is planned on the weekend or midweek.