How to find the perfect hotel wedding venue for you
What makes the perfect wedding venue? A large space with enough room to fit all your extended family and friends? Perhaps somewhere smaller for an intimate atmosphere with your nearest and dearest? Classic architecture and historical features might create a fairytale setting for some, but they could get in the way if you want a blank canvas to bring a unique vision to life.
No matter what perfect looks like for you, we can all follow some simple advice to find the wedding venue of our dreams.
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Define your vision
For some people, the dream wedding day has been in the works for decades, others might not have given it a second thought. Whether you’ve got a Pinterest board for the colours of the page boy’s pocket square or you’re leaving things to the last minute, it’s important to have a clear idea about how you want the day to look and feel.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional venue like the stunning 17th-century chapel at Crewe Hall Hotel, Cheshire, or a more rustic space like the beautiful barn at Norton Park Hotel, Winchester, it’s important you decide on your must-haves as early as possible. It’s no use having a clear picture in your head, get colour schemes, themes and other important details down on paper before making your dreams a reality.
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Decide how many guests you want to invite
Before you scout out wedding venues it’s important to decide how many people you’d like to invite to the day. At this point, numbers are more important than names. Try writing a guestlist for the ceremony and reception, you can even write two versions, one with essential guests and another with extended family members, plus ones, or anyone else you’re not sure about inviting. It could help you make a quicker decision when space is limited – which shouldn’t be a problem with us, especially at venues like the Oxford Belfry, with room for up to 500 guests.
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Look for a venue with a wedding planner
“The perfect venue can make or break a wedding day. But I love surprising guests with how much we can personalise a space to create a bespoke and special day.”
Your wedding day should be one of the happiest days of your life. One of the best ways to make sure it is, is to enlist the help of an expert. Wedding planners are there to take the stress out of all the decisions that affect your day, whether it’s the colour of chair covers, the flower arrangements you want to go for, or how long speeches should last.
When you book a wedding party with the QHotels Collection, our dedicated team can help run through every possible detail so you can concentrate on making memories with your loved ones. Our experienced coordinators know the ins and outs of our hotels so you can get answers to your queries and questions quickly.
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Make sure there’s somewhere for your guests to stay
Location, location, location. The old adage doesn’t just apply when buying your next home but when choosing your perfect wedding venue too. Ideally, you want somewhere that most of your guests can easily travel to. If you want your friends and family to really let their hair down, try to find a venue with accommodation included too.
When you book a wedding with the QHotels Collection, we can offer you a deal on group room bookings to make sure your loved ones have somewhere close by to rest their heads for the night. Forget the faff of nominated drivers and taxis and focus on making memories instead. At Oulton Hall Hotel in Leeds, for example, we have 152 bedrooms waiting to welcome your guests from near and far.
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Check what’s included
Tablecloths and cutlery, tables and chairs, setup and clean up. Some of the essential parts of the perfect wedding day are easy to overlook and that’s why it’s important to check what’s included. With the QHotels Collection, you have the freedom to use your own caterers, DJs and florists or call on our network of suppliers to bring your vision to life, the choice is yours.
If you want to make sure everything’s covered with minimal fuss, you could try buying one of our wedding packages. Everything from red carpet arrivals to three-course wedding breakfasts could be included to make sure your day runs smoothly.
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See the venue in person
Finally, if you get the chance, ask if you can visit a potential venue when they’re prepped and primed for somebody else’s big day. This can help you visualise how your wedding will look, get a feeling for how guests might gather in the space and the overall ambience of the venue.
Learn more about the unique wedding venues in the QHotels Collection.
3 questions to ask on a wedding venue walk around
How long will we have use of the space for?
If you really want to party the night away, it’s important to check if there are any time limits at your venue. Some venues might charge extra to use their space after a certain time, make sure you check this before signing on the dotted line.
Are there any backup plans for outdoor spaces in case of bad weather?
The Great British weather is famously unreliable. So you want to make sure there’s a suitable space available if the heavens decide to open.
What is the cancellation policy?
No one wants to think about cancelling their wedding day. Which means it’s easy to overlook what happens if you do. Make sure you ask about cancellation policies well in advance, so you know where you stand.
