When planning your big day, one of the most important aspects of all is the venue itself. As the venue will set the atmosphere for the whole day, it’s imperative that everything is just right.

Not only should your venue suit your theme and budget, it’s also important that it can fit all of your guests and that all the little practical elements can be catered for, in order for everything to run smoothly on your perfect day!

So with that in mind, we’ve put together this quick guide to choosing a wedding venue to help you through the process.

View several venues

Even if you think you already know exactly where you’d like to get married, it’s really important to not rush into booking the first place you go to visit, however much you love it.

Viewing a few different venues may simply cement in your mind how much you want to go with your first favourite, but it’s important to get that perspective and compare a few.

You may find somewhere you love even more or you may find the perfect bargain you didn’t know was out there, and it’s always best to be completely sure of your decision. You absolutely don’t want to come across your dream venue after you’ve already booked somewhere and it’s too late to make changes.

Consider your guest list

Having everybody at your special day is understandably important, and whether you want a more intimate do, or all of your friends and family in attendance, having the right capacity is a must.

So we recommend that you and your partner sit down and make individual lists of your ideal guest lists, and then compare and agree on a final number before you even start looking for venues.

This way you can only go and view the venues that are right for you, which will save you not only time but also the angst of finding a venue you adore but that can’t accommodate your nearest and dearest.

Think about your budget

Again, there’s probably not much use looking at venues you’ll never be able to afford, although it is fun to browse.

Work out exactly how much you’ll have to spend on your big day, taking into account your vendors, and draw up a budget before you begin venue hunting.

If you need some ideas for ways you can be a little bit creative and thrifty to cut back in a few areas we absolutely love this roundup from Buzzfeed!

Make sure it suits your needs

Different venues all have a different feel about them and it’s important to make sure it feels just right for you.

Broadoaks Country House Hotel in Windermere offers the perfect venue for the most luxurious wedding!

What’s more, they have all-inclusive wedding packages available so you can be sure everything is taken care of on your big day.

We hope this has given you some pointers when it comes to choosing the perfect wedding venue for your big day!