DIARY OF A WEDDING PLANNER - VENUE HUNTING

Jessica Hay

Apr 26, 2015

3 min read

Venue hunting has started! I have been so excited for this moment!

My Fiancé and I have put together a list of various venues that we are considering as our potential wedding venue as well as cost. We have a few different styled venues as well as different price ranges.

One thing we have discussed is what we want specifically from out wedding, what are the most important factors that we look for in the venue.

We know that we want modern and relatively unique, we want a space that we can dress up in decor and draping to really make it our own. We want our guests to be "wowed" when they walk through the door. This, for us is what we feel to be the main factor of our wedding. As a wedding planner it is also an opportunity for me to show off what I can do with my creativity, show people that I can create a different world for one evening.

One thing to keep in mind during your venue tours is to have a rough draft as to the layout and decoration you intend to have on the day, that way when you view the rooms that the ceremony and dinner will take place, you can understand where any floral arrangements can go, the shape of the aisle, and any other form of decoration or entertainment.

So our venues:

-First stop will be at the Rosewood Hotel

- Second: The Four Seasons

-Third: Grand Connaught Rooms

-Fourth: Syon Park

- And Fifth: Claridges

From a Planner perspective, what I look for are the following:

- First impressions: What type of entrance does it offer? Is it grand/rustic/quaint? Does it connect with you as a couple?

- Inside always take a look around the entire of the venue, does it have a variety of areas for bride and groom pictures? Family photos?

- The rooms, for the ceremony does it have the capacity for all your guests? Capacity for your dinner? And most importantly does it offer both dinner & dance?

- What are the colour schemes within the rooms that you will be using? This particular point is quite interesting as you can then work with the room colours to match your wedding theme. If they are totally opposite you can always consider draping if the venue allows. And of course you can always use brilliant production elements to create a look.

- How long is their licence? Can they have music past 11pm?

- Is there sufficient accommodation either at the venue or close by?

- Are there any extra costs you should be aware of? i.e security, extra hours, production costs?

- Can they offer Kosher/Halal catering if your family are religious?

After talking though our options several times over and visiting the venues a few times there was one that ticked all our boxes. The Rosewood Hotel in Holborn.

It is modern, unique and unbelievably beautiful! It offers everything that my fiancé and I are after. From romantic and unique photographic locations to modern and elegant banqueting rooms for dinner. Each point that I have mentioned above, the Rosewood ticks all boxes for us.

Kelly the head of romance has been taking such good care of us and being patient with all my questions and details I needed to make that final decision.

We will be getting married on the 1st October 2016!

Our next step is to look at bands, photographers and production.

Here is the venue we have chosen: