should i book my venue based on budget or based on how much i love it?

Your wedding day is very special and something you will remember for the rest of your life - but you also dont want to be paying it off for the rest of your life! It's about finding a balance between the two.

Before you start to look at venues do a bit of a brainstorm to work out: what is your overall wedding budget and have you got a realistic idea on how much the other areas will cost, jot down a realistic guest list so that you can work out what your overall total will look like, and then write down the things that are most important to you - both for the venue features but also the day overall - for some couples it is all about the food, for others it is the music or the flowers etc.

Put the money in the budget into the things that are the most important to you and you can always have some DIY projects etc e.g. place cards, bonbonniere etc that can end up saving you a decent chunk of money that you can instead put towards your budget for the key items. 

Also dont be afraid to have a chat to the venue about the price or package inclusions. We always tailor our packages to what the couples are actually after and little tweaks can adjust your price and potentially get it to the per person price you need! 

Good luck!

Dear Bride + Groom,

Congratulations on the engagement... Let the fun begin!

This day is one of the biggest days of your life so yes it's important to have that dream wedding but it's also important that you're not over committed and the day becomes stressful because you feel like you'll be paying for it for the rest of your life!

Here's a practical approach....Before you start looking at venues, make a list of the non negotiable features that you are looking for in a venue and an estimate of the per person spend you would be happy to pay.  When you visit each venue mark off those essential features, whether it fits your price range and a star rating of how much you loved it.   

When you are in the decision making process weigh it all up.  Have I got everything I want in a venue?  Is the pricing OK?  and just how much do I love it?  Remember, you can always negotiate with venues whether it's on the price point or the inclusions.  Our team tailor make wedding packages to suit budgets, needs and wants so if you have fallen in love with a venue and the price point is a little higher than you are comfortable with, it's definitely worth chatting to the venue and seeing what can be done to get closer to the budget. 

Be sure to let us know if we can help you in creating your perfect celebration!  Good luck with the big day.

Karyn, Manor on High

Your budget as you can always spend in other ways to make it look right 

Dear Bride & Groom,

My honest answer would be a bit of both. You certainly need to love where you are getting married. After all it is the start of your new lives together, but budget would still need to play a part. Otherwise you will get stressed over saving for an expensive wedding. If you find a place that fits your budget, (even if its a liitle over) and you can see your vision of the wedding at that venue, than most definately you can make it work. Finding a happy medium is always the best way to go.

Good Luck, I wish you well in finding the right place, as there are so many beautiful venues out there. Please let me know if you would like me to send you our functions package, we have had many happy couples say "I DO" at our venue and love it :)

Warms Regards

Stacey Stevens

Assistant Secretary Manager.