5 Simple tips on searching for your dream wedding venue

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 and 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, or 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 accommodation.

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 in 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 do get in contact with Melissa.



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From the moment we arrived at Pauntley we totally fell in love with it. It is so unique and like nothing else we had looked at. Melissa is so lovely and was really helpful throughout our planning - it always felt so personal. She goes above and beyond to make sure everything runs smoothly. It was also great to have Holly's help, particularly on the day for any last-minute jobs that needed sorting before or during the afternoon.

 We arrived on the Thursday night with our parents and had the main house from Friday lunchtime for the weekend. This worked really well for us as it meant we had lots of time to decorate the marquee and sort the final details before the big day so the build up was stress free and meant we could enjoy it! We honestly had the most amazing weekend and everyone said how magical Pauntley was. The house and its surroundings are simply beautiful and it is the perfect setting for a wedding.

 A huge thank you to Melissa and her family for welcoming us into their home and sharing their little slice of heaven - it will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and we can't wait to visit again. 

- Hannah & Jamie