5 Simple tips on searching for your dream wedding venue
Written by Melissa
Congratulations on your engagement - how exciting for you! There is so much to consider when searching for the perfect wedding venue. Here are our 5 top tips to help you find the right venue for the wedding of your dreams.
1. Choose A Style of Venue
Sit down with your fiancée enjoy a glass of bubbles and think about the style and vibe of the wedding you would like to create. Perhaps you are dreaming of a city chic hotel or maybe a country house retreat for the weekend? Make a list of characteristics that mean a lot to you both, such as rustic, chic, intimate or grand.
The ballroom at Pauntley has a wonderfully elegant and sophisticated feel, however, you can also create a rustic and more relaxed supper out in our 'Flower room'.
Photography by David Liebst
2. Decide on the Location
Whether you want to be near to home, somewhere that has a significant connection for you and your loved ones or a location that will be easily accessed by family and friends. Also, consider whether you would like onsite accommodation at the venue.
Pauntley Court offers you and your guests two nights in our 10 gorgeously sumptuous and individually designed bedrooms on site but also there are many places nearby for extra guests. You can ask Melissa for her list of local accommodations.
Photography by Gyan Gurung
3. Your Budget
Decide how many guests you would like to have and why. For example, don't always think the larger the better as small weddings can be just as impactful and can often be more intimate and personal. Take into account that some venues offer seasonal price variations and always remember to ask your venue what additional costs there are to their venue hire price.
A September intimate wedding last year, of just 19 guests, enjoying the gardens and our tentickle stretch tent.
Photography by David Liebst
4. Church Wedding or Civil Ceremony?
The Church of England allows you to get married in most churches around the country as long as you are able to attend 6 services before your wedding day. Here at Pauntley, we are next door to the most beautiful Norman Church, St John the Evangelist, and Kat our Priest in Residence, welcomes couples from all around the country, to get married here.
Photography by Red Maple Photography
Alternatively, many couples choose to have a civil ceremony indoors or outdoors. Keep in mind that venues require a license to perform civil ceremonies onsite.
Photography by David Liebst
5. Book a Tour and Prepare Questions
Once you've narrowed down your search to 2 or 3 venues, you will be able to find out a lot about the venue on social media (such as Instagram and Pinterest). Then book a tour and make sure you go armed with a list of questions! Here are some suggestions of useful things to ask; what is included in the venue hire price? What time can we party up to? Do you charge corkage? What is your maximum capacity? Do we have to use your recommended suppliers? Is there good local accommodation? How much is the deposit to confirm our booking?
At Pauntley Court, I am taking couples on 'virtual' tours right now, while the restrictions are in place and I am finding this works really well. I will take you all around the main house and into the bridal wing and the Dovecote and finally through the gorgeous gardens and back to the panelled room where you can ask me any questions you may have. I can't offer you a cup of coffee but I can show you the enormous roaring fire in the panelled room on Zoom!
If you are looking for exclusive hire of a country house with lots of character and charm and bedrooms for up to 24 of your close family to stay onsite with you for the whole weekend - Pauntley Court might just be the venue for you!
To arrange a virtual tour of Pauntley Court, please get in contact with Melissa.
Looking for something a bit smaller? We also do intimate weddings! Have a read of our blog on how to find your perfect intimate wedding venue.
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I cannot praise Melissa, her team and Pauntley Court (PC) enough.
We were looking for venues for a whole year before we came across Pauntley Court and my gosh it was so unique.
From the very first video call with Melissa, PC just stood out. For one it is the most unique and magical place we've visited but also how wonderful Melissa was. On the initial call we were so taken with how bubbly Melissa was but also how nothing seemed too much trouble. This definitely continued throughout the entire wedding planning and on the weekend itself. Melissa would make herself available for any question we had (measuring the stretch tent, finding us an outdoor tap) - nothing seemed to phase her and she was open to anything - exactly what we were looking for in a wedding venue.
Now onto PC itself - I don't really think words can do it justice. The venue is simply stunning, every corner you turn there is something else to grab at your heart and pull you to the venue.
We also adored how you had use of the venue from 12pm on the Friday until 4pm on the Sunday. It meant we could have a rehearsal on the Friday, steam all the clothing, unpack and join our wedding party for drinks and a BBQ in the lavender garden on the Friday night. While Sunday enabled us to have a leisurely start while also reliving all the memories from the last night over breakfast with our friends.
Particular loves go to:
- the grounds - mentioned in reviews time and time again but they are just gorgeous
- the ability to have your legal ceremony in multiple locations and for a non-legal wedding you have access to the whole site
- Rebecca - the best co-ordinator ever - having access to Rebecca for the day (and calls leading up to the day) really helped with the last minute panics / helped the day run smoothly
- Rachel - the most wonderful housekeeper - keeping the food flowing on the Friday and for breakfasts. She ran a very tight ship and it enabled us to just relax knowing everything was handled.
- the beautiful ballroom - this was such a fantastic place to get ready with my bridesmaids but also hold an unforgettable ceilidh
- the cupid club - a new addition but great to keep the party going
- the lake house - makes a wonderful first look location or photo setting and with the water is such a calming space
I could honestly keep singing PC's praises and hope I can visit again in some form!
Image by Red Maple Photography