When you start planning your wedding, your first instinct is often to start looking for a venue. The problem is, there are so many options: reception hall, estate, château, town, country, with caterer, without caterer... it's enough to discourage you before you've even started! If this is your case, you'll be interested in what follows. In this article, Winnie Mariage presents the 9 essential elements to consider when choosing a wedding venue. Thanks to these 9 criteria, you'll know exactly how to apply your filters in search engines, what information to look for on venue websites, and what questions to ask the owners. In short, these few lines are likely to save you precious time, so we advise you to read them carefully!
The main criterion is obviously the budget. How much do you want to spend on your wedding venue? Venue rental is generally the biggest item of expenditure, usually around 15% of the total budget. Bear in mind that this figure can vary greatly from one wedding to another, depending on the location, the number of guests and the price of other services.
At this stage, it's best to think in terms of a range, since on the one hand, you're not immune to falling in love, and on the other, you generally don't yet know the price of other services (catering, decoration, photographer, make-up, etc.).
The number of guests is another essential element to keep in mind. Here too, you'll need to reason by approximation, as at this stage you don't yet know the exact number of participants.
Some venues will provide you with two types of information: seating capacity and standing capacity. The former corresponds to the number of guests invited to the dinner, the latter to the number invited to the vin d'honneur only, at the beginning of the evening.
It's best to target a department, or at least a region. If you don't, you'll end up with a multitude of options to review, which would be far too time-consuming. Budget range, number of guests and geographical area are the 3 basic criteria that will enable you to launch a search on most specialized sites, such as Winnie Mariage.
Couples generally choose a geographic area relatively close to their guests' homes. Some prefer a symbolic location: the place where they met, the region where one of the bride and groom grew up or spent most of their vacations... The desire to organize a wedding around a particular theme can also play a role! For example, a wine-growing region like Bordeaux or Burgundy would be perfect for a wine-themed wedding.
There are a wide variety of wedding venues. The main ones are :
Some couples are desperate to get married in a château, while others dream of a seaside restaurant... Still others have no particular desire. If this is your case, no problem! The following more pragmatic criteria will help you make your selection.
Are you planning a secular ceremony? Would you like to organize an early evening vin d'honneur? Wedding estates offer a wide choice of spaces, which you can use for the different highlights of the day.
At Winnie Mariage, we list the most beautiful wedding estates in France. Take a look at our selection!
Depending on the season, but also on the geographical area you choose, you'll want to opt for indoor or outdoor spaces, or a mix of the two. In summer, accommodating 200 guests in a closed reception hall can quickly turn into a nightmare. Conversely, if you're celebrating your union somewhere on the Atlantic coast, regardless of the season, you're exposing yourself to the risk of rain. In this case, even in summer, remember to provide covered spaces!
Some venues will force you to choose a caterer, or a selection of caterers, which has both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages? The restaurant manager will be your sole point of contact. Apart from choosing the menu, you won't have to worry about a thing. What's more, it's a guarantee of quality, since the caterer has been recommended by the venue you've chosen. Last but not least, the caterer is used to working on site, so there's less chance of a mishap.
The downside? Prices will be fixed, and above all, you won't be able to choose a particular type of cuisine. This is a shame for mixed couples in particular, who won't be able to make the most of the culinary traditions of their country of origin.
If you can offer your guests the option of sleeping on site, that's a real plus! They won't have to hit the road at night. Especially as celebrating a happy event often involves drinking (at least in French culture)!
If you opt for a hotel, the question is settled! You'll have a wide choice of rooms directly on site. Some estates also offer shared or private accommodation. Find out how many people they can accommodate, and ask about room options when you book.
If you can't find a place to sleep on site, you'll need to explore nearby accommodation options (hotel, B&B, etc.), or find out about cab and public transport options.
Some wedding estates are so large that they can accommodate several weddings at once. Even if the events are generally clearly separated, it may happen that certain areas are shared (parking lots, entrance hall, etc.).
This information is not always highlighted on the venue's website, so be sure to ask the owner! If you're looking for an intimate setting, you may be disappointed.
Finally, don't forget to check your check-in time. You may need to set up chairs for the secular ceremony, prepare some of the entertainment, or welcome the DJ and give him time to set up. A fortiori, themed weddings may require several hours of preparation, for decoration, furniture layout, etc.
What's more, some guests who have travelled a long way may arrive early, if traffic is slower than expected, or if they wish to rest before starting the evening. In this case, discuss the matter directly with the managers.
To sum up, to choose the right wedding venue, start by defining a budget range, an estimated number of guests, and a target geographical area. Then ask yourself if there's a particular type of venue that appeals to you (estate, château, houseboat, etc.). If not, concrete criteria such as the space available, the number of beds on site, or the possibility of choosing your own caterer, can help you shortlist a few options. Finally, contact the venue owners directly to discuss arrival times, and to confirm that the estates are fully privatizable. If you follow these 9 criteria, you should find the gem you're looking for!
