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Welcome to 2013 and a whole new year of
weddings – especially with same sex marriage on
its way, at long last!
Now that you have made the decision to spend the
rest of your life with the person you adore, what comes
next? Well you need to choose the perfect venue – but
where to start?
Firstly, think outside the box. It doesn’t have to be
somewhere you grew up; what about somewhere
special to the two of you? How about where you had
your first kiss, or first said ‘I love you’ – assuming that
isn’t a bus shelter of course! What about an unusual
venue to surprise your guests? Museums and zoos are
excellent talking-point venues.
If you read the last issue, you’ll have seen plenty of
inspirational venues in Scotland – my personal
favourite being Fort William by the Loch. There are
some wonderful places that hold civil partnerships and
your photos will be breathtaking.
*****
The first question to ask your venue is whether they have
a licence to hold a civil partnership – never just assume
they do, as a lot don’t. The next thing is whether they do
their own catering, or will allow you to bring your own
caterers. Many venues are not insured for food to be
brought in fromoff site, so it’s always best to check.
Don’t be talked into buying packages that you are
not interested in, by over-eager staff. This is your day, so
do it your way, and don’t get sidelined by their ideas. Go
away and think about it before you sign anything and
always read the small print with regard to cancellation
fees. It’s also worth checking the time you wish to have
your partnership if you’re having it on site, as law states
that you cannot be married after sunset – a little known
fact if you were planning a candlelit ceremony.
Another important factor is whether the venue is
holding more than one wedding or partnership on the
same day. Will you be able to hear the party going on
from the other wedding while you take your vows? I
heard of one couple who decided to get married late in
the afternoon and just as they were taking their vows,
the reception in another part of the hotel hit high
volume and they were interrupted by Abba at full pelt –
‘if you change your mind, I’m the first in line…’ Luckily
the guests saw the funny side, even if the couple didn’t!
Will the venue package include decorating and chair
covers? If not then you need to factor this into your
budget. Always check with the venue whether they
allow confetti, rice or petals to be thrown –and most
definitely check about fireworks! If you’re planning on
partying late into the night, ask what time you can
finish. Many have a midnight cut off point, but might
extend their licence if you pay extra.
If you’re thinking of having your reception in a
marquee, check your proposed site and bear in mind
the time of year. Wellies are not always appealing to
guests in their finest Dior and Gucci.
*****
The best tip I can give is to try and visit your venue at
the same time of year (if time allows) so you can see
how it will look. Also, ask if you can visit when they
have set up for a wedding to see how they decorate a
room. Check the parking facilities and ask how many
members of staff will be allocated to you on the day.
One person per hundred will mean extremely cold food.
And remember to take photos of each venue you
visit so that you can remember them when going off to
make a decision. This will be your biggest spend, so it’s
important to get it absolutely right!
Donna is available for consultations and bookings. If
you have any questions about suppliers or any aspect of
planning your wedding, you can contact her via
donnaweddingplanner@gmail.com or post questions on
The PinkWeddings Magazine Facebook page.
pink weddings magazine 47
The wedding planner
Right time,
right place
This issue our wedding planner,
Donna Hannan
, gives
you her expert tips on choosing the right venue