Choosing a Venue

Is definitely go back to both places with your fiancé but also look at another option or two you may find somewhere else has everything you want

We felt the same about our venues on paper (having been to 2 out of 3 before) and thought we would really struggle to decide, but visiting them as our potential wedding venue we noticed different things we liked or didn't like and the choice was really easy in the end. Definitely visit and then see what you think, the decision for us needed up being almost instant once we had seen all three of them and I'm usually the logical one too weighing up the pros and cons and making a spreadsheet about it 🤣

I'd just wait till you have visited them x

I would visit them both and if one of them doesn't scream yes at you, check a couple more. You might not know what you are missing until you see it 😊

My fiancé and I went to view a venue which looked fab on paper, I had my doubts when he liked it. I encouraged him to check out another which was a bit further away and we both came out beaming, thats how we knew 😊
Remember it's your special day and it only happens once, don't settle on second best, listen to your heart ❤️

View both because it may look good on a website but when you visit it might be different

We had the same thing. We equally liked 2 different venues. 1 had an all-in package and 1 just included the room and food. The first was very atmospheric and wouldn't need any room decorations but the second was a blank canvas. In the end we visited them both 3 times, to see them at the time of year we would be going for and to see them in both sun and rain. That made the decision for us as the venue that was a blank canvas had more space if it rained, but the atmospheric one would be the most fabulous in sunshine. Considering we were planning an October wedding, we knew we couldn't count on sunshine. In the end, it poured on our wedding day and so we are glad we went with the one with more inside space!

We had a similar situation and writing a pros and cons list really helped 😊

We visited about 6 venues in total, the one we went with was the one that I'd seen (and adored) a couple of years before we were engaged lol. The others, while pretty, didn't feel right. By getting quotes, picking the right out of season (by a miniscule) date, i whittled it down to more than a 3rd of the price we were originally quoted! Everything else has fallen neatly into place (for us) after that. :D

You’ll know it once you arrive, like your dress, it’s all in the feeling you get

Visit them both, and any more you find. You'll know which one is right for you. I knew our venue the second I saw a photo of it online, the same way I knew which was my dress and our new home. You'll just know which is your dream venue.

We got told to visit 3 or 4 and ended up seeing about 8 because there were always reasons not to go for them. Too expensive, too far out, too big, too small, too spread out etc. There's nothing wrong with seeing loads or hardly any. But I'd definitely go and see them in person, maybe even a couple of times

How are you ? You need to view, and see how you both feel when visit the venues, also it’s important that you get on well with the staff, and also think about the venues Unique Selling Points, what sort of unique and valued experience can they provide you ?

We really struggled because we loved two venues with pros and cons of both, but it’s true once you visit you ‘just know’. Wait and see what you think after the visits!

View both and see how you feel, but also maybe find some alternatives, we had a list of venues to visit in order of which we thought were most practical and we originally preferred, and I was unsure when visiting them, the venue that was last on our list as soon as we walked in it was pretty much a done deal. You need to look around and try not to think of practicalities too too much but listen to the feeling you get when entering.

Have one for the ceremony and the other for the reception! since they have opposite treats surely one must lead more to the ceremony and one must be better for the party....

We've been to see 4 in the last few weeks and have another lined up. What may look good in photos on line can look completely different in person. It is true, you get a different feel about each one you visit.
I take a long list of questions i've compiled from info online, to queries i have about each individual venue. I ask for info & price lists before we go so i can roughly work out the cost.
The first venue i liked the most from the photos, but we both agreed we only liked it, not loved it. The second set the bar extremely high. The third was disappointing and the fourth is on a par with the second.
You've got to be critical - we can't (or are not willing) to compromise on certain things, access for a couple of people with restricted mobility being one of them. Make a list of everything that you are not willing to compromise on and a list of frivolous things (like fireworks) or things that can be compromised on. Score each venue on all of these things when you go round.
If you do get to the point where it's between two venues, visit them again. Be more critical, find out what weather contingency plans they have, properly go through each part of your wedding day & how it would be for everyone etc...
In the end it will be up to which venue feels most right for you both, which ticks the most boxes and which suits your budget and style you want for your big day.

If you have done pros and cons, looked and venues, compared packages and still can't decide flip a coin. Sounds stupid but if you flip it and you are disappointed by the result you definitely had a preference but prehaps didn't realise it x