When you are making that all important decision about where 
to hold your wedding reception, the size of venue that you need will be a key factor. It sounds simple enough; surely the venue will tell you what their capacity is? Unfortunately wedding venue capacities are often fairly vague, just giving a maximum number or a range as wide as fifty to three hundred. Here are seven tips on making sure you have the right size venue for your wedding.
- Always draw up a provisional guest list for your wedding before you start looking at venues. You may change your mind on a couple of names, but you should be able to get an accurate figure to within twenty or so guests.
- Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to wedding venues so don’t be tempted to book something a lot larger than you need with the idea that you will have plenty of space. Having too few guests in a large venue will reduce the intimacy and atmosphere of your wedding, so look for a venue that can accommodate just a few more guests than you intend to invite.
- Decide how many different spaces you need within your reception venue. Are you determined to have separate areas for a champagne reception, a wedding breakfast, the dancing, and an evening chill out zone, or would you be willing to have one bar area and one dining area that can double up to cover all these roles?
- Consider the season of your wedding. In summer you will always have some guests that want to be outside, so you can get away with a smaller indoor space. If you are getting married in the winter on the other hand, you will need to make sure there is plenty of room for all your guests under cover.
- Don’t forget to include children if you are inviting them; they may be small but they still take up space. You may need a separate children’s table, and to make room for equipment such as high chairs and prams for young babies. You may even consider a separate room that can be used as a play room or crèche to keep children entertained.
- What is your vision of a perfect wedding and how does it fit with the size of your venue? If you plan a formal sophisticated wedding with large round tables and towering centrepieces, a large function room may be a good option. If you would prefer a cosy, noisy, family event on the other hand, a small intimate restaurant may be a better choice.
- Is the type of entertainment you have at your wedding important to you? If you have your heart set on a ten piece live band you will need to look for a large venue to accommodate them and the sound they produce. However, if you want a solo saxophonist, a smaller venue would be more appropriate.
Although you don’t want a venue so large your guests get lost in it, you should always make sure there is slightly more capacity than you need, to ensure your guests have a comfortable day. Your venue may tell you they can accommodate three hundred for a cocktail reception, but always double check that their facilities such as car parking and toilets are also adequate for this number of people.