How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue
Choosing your wedding venue is one of the biggest (and most exciting) decisions you’ll make during your wedding planning journey. Your venue doesn’t just give your guests somewhere beautiful to come together, it sets the tone for your whole celebration. From the style and decor to your budget, guest list, and even which suppliers you’ll need, the right space will accommodate for all of these aspects.
With so many beautiful wedding venues across the UK, narrowing down your options can feel overwhelming, but with our guidance it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how to choose the perfect Wedding venue – from where to start, to what questions to ask before you book.
Step 1: Decide on Your Wedding Style
Before you start scrolling through Pinterest for wedding venue ideas or booking tours, take a moment to imagine the kind of day you want. Picture the colours, florals, and overall aesthetic you’re dreaming of. Once you know the mood you want to create, the right style of venue usually reveals itself. Your wedding style is the foundation of your whole celebration, and your venue should reflect who you are as a couple.
Dreaming of a cosy countryside wedding venue? A rustic barn or charming farm could be perfect. Want something elegant and timeless? You might fall in love with a classic manor house or stately home. Prefer something sleek and modern? City hotels, contemporary galleries, or industrial spaces offer a cool, contemporary vibe. And if you love the outdoors, UK coastal weddings and garden venues are overflowing with nature and offer plenty of picturesque backdrops.
There’s no right or wrong choice, just what feels most ‘you’. Once you’ve settled on your vibe, you can start to find wedding venue ideas and explore spaces that bring your vision to life (FBFW is full of inspiration if you need a starting point).
Step 2: Set Your Budget
It’s not the most glamorous part of wedding planning, but getting clear on your venue budget early will save you stress later on. UK wedding venues vary hugely in price depending on location, size, season, and what’s included.
Some venues offer exclusive-use packages, catering, decor, and onsite accommodation. Others may charge a venue hire fee, but require you to bring in external suppliers. When you choose a wedding venue, you must look at what’s actually included rather than just the headline price. A slightly more expensive venue that includes furniture, a dedicated coordinator, and catering can work out better value than a cheaper hire-only option.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a breakdown of costs or minimum spend requirements. And remember: your venue is often the biggest part of your budget, so it’s worth choosing one that ticks both your practical and emotional boxes.
Step 3: Who’s Made the Guest List?
You don’t need a final guest list yet, but having a rough idea of numbers will help you choose a venue that fits comfortably. A space that’s too big can feel empty, while a smaller venue may struggle to accommodate everyone on your definite ‘yes’ list.
Planning a micro wedding? Look at intimate wedding venues that specialise in smaller celebrations. Hosting a big party? Aim for venues with flexible layouts, large reception areas, and plenty of space for dining and dancing.
Capacity also affects your budget, catering costs, and seating arrangements – so it’s worth getting those estimates sorted early.
Step 4: Location, Location, Location
Where you choose to tie the knot can completely shape your day. Start by thinking about what’s most important to you. Do you want to stay close to home? Escape to the countryside? Bring everyone together for a coastal weekend?
If lots of guests are travelling, good transport links and nearby accommodation are essential. Countryside venues often offer more privacy and stunning scenery, while city venues tend to be easier to access and surrounded by hotels. If you’re thinking of a more remote or destination-style wedding, consider how guests will travel to and from the wedding venue safely.
It’s also super important to think about your photos. A venue with beautiful grounds, local landmarks, or scenic backdrops is going to make capturing your day effortless and a good variety of picture spots is essential.
Step 5: Visit and Ask Questions
Once you’ve shortlisted your favourites, it’s time for the fun part – venue visits! Seeing a wedding venue in person helps you understand the atmosphere, flow, and how your day might look and feel.
When you visit, here are the key questions to ask:
What’s included in the package? (Catering, decor, staffing, accommodation, exclusive use, etc.)
Can we use our own suppliers? (Some venues have preferred or required supplier lists.)
What’s the wet weather plan? (A must for UK weddings!)
What are the ceremony options? (Indoor, outdoor, licensed or not?)
How late can the celebrations go on?
Where are the photo opportunities onsite/nearby?
Is there a dedicated wedding coordinator?
What does the payment schedule look like?
Many venues offer open days, tours, or one-to-one viewing appointments and you can easily book these through For Better For Worse while browsing different spaces.
Don’t forget to trust your instincts. You’ll know far more from walking around the wedding venue space than from any photos online.
Step 6: Go with Your Gut
After all the comparisons, spreadsheets, and venue visits, there’s one final, and very important, factor: how the venue makes you feel. As well as ticking all the boxes for practicalities, the perfect choice will spark excitement, calm your nerves, and just feel right. You’ll be able to picture yourselves walking down the aisle, clinking glasses, and dancing the night away.
A wedding venue can look perfect on paper, but if you’re not excited about being there, it’s probably not ‘the one’.
Choosing a wedding venue is a huge milestone, and once you find the place that feels like ‘you’, everything else starts to fall into place. Whether you’re dreaming of a barn in the countryside, a grand manor house, a chic hotel, or a hidden gem by the coast, your perfect match is out there.
Ready to start exploring? Browse hundreds of beautiful wedding venues across the UK on For Better For Worse, your dream day starts here.