What are wedding venues?
March 4, 2020
Your wedding day is one of the biggest days of your life so it’s important that every last detail is everything you’ve always envisaged and more.
One of the most important aspects of any wedding day is your wedding venue.
What is a wedding venue?
It’s certainly not a case of one-size fits all when it comes to wedding venues. Couples decide to get married in all different types of venues and places, such as art galleries, beaches, gardens, hotels, castles and of course, breweries.
Many venues now offer wedding packages that create a canvas to build upon, providing beautiful spaces that are specifically set up for weddings but able to be tailored to a particular look and feel. Most wedding venues include distinct spaces for the actual ceremony and the celebrations after.
Unique wedding venue ideas
There are no rules when it comes to choosing a wedding venue. More people than ever before are choosing the push the boundaries and get married in a whole host of unique wedding venues.
From football stadiums, fairgrounds, art galleries and casinos, through to private yachts, restaurants, racetracks and cruise ships, nothing is off limits.
Adding a new and exciting dimension to such a special day, choosing a unique wedding venue will help make your memories even more precious, and seriously impress your guests too!
Indoor vs outdoor wedding venues
When choosing between an indoor and an outdoor wedding venue, there are pros and cons to consider on both sides. The right venue for you will depend on your requirements.
Here’s a look at the pros and cons of both:
Indoor wedding pros
No weather worries
One of the main advantages of getting married indoors is that you won’t have to worry about the heavens opening and the weather ruining your big day. After all, weather in the UK can be extremely unpredictable.
Control over the temperature
If you decide to get married indoors, you’ll also have full control over the temperature. You can ensure your guests are cool and comfortable during the summer months or nice and warm if you’re getting married during the winter.
More freedom to decorate the venue how you please
Whether you opt for elaborate wedding decorations or low-key décor, the vast majority of indoor wedding venues are able to cater for your décor needs. Some even offer a wedding planning service where a wedding planner will take care of everything for you.
Indoor wedding cons
Limited space
One issue that can affect indoor weddings is space. Not all venues have the capacity to fit all of your guests in comfortably. And you don’t want your guests to feel huddled together or unable to move around freely.
Photographs are limited
Depending on the type of indoor venue you opt for, you can be limited on the type of photos you are able to capture, especially in terms of group shots. So, if group images are going to be a big part of your day, it’s worth keeping this in mind when choosing your venue.
Outdoor wedding pros
The ultimate backdrop
Natural backdrops can provide stunning photographs. Whether you get married in a park, at a beach or even in the grounds of a castle, if the weather is on your side, your day is sure to turn out picture perfect.
More space
Weddings hosted outdoors tend to provide a lot more space than those indoors. So if you have a super-size guest list, this might be the best option for you!
Natural lighting
Natural sunlight can do wonders for the ambience of your wedding and, of course, natural lighting can also help your photographer capturing that perfect photo.
Outdoor wedding cons
Weather worries
The biggest concern of outdoor weddings is the weather putting a dampener on your big day. As it’s so difficult to predict, you should always be prepared for extreme weather conditions, whether that’s extreme heat or extreme thunderstorms!
Difficult terrain
Some outdoor wedding venues simply aren’t practical when it comes to accommodating the needs of all your guests. If there’s difficult terrain to manoeuvre or lots of steep hills, it’s important to consider the needs of your guests before your big day.
It’s also important to take into consideration the location of your wedding venue, capacity to hold your guests and the facilities the venue offers.
What are reception venues?
What is a wedding reception?
The party held after a wedding ceremony, a wedding reception is a key part of any wedding celebration.
As a space where guests can drink, dance, dine and mingle, a wedding reception venue plays a major role in the big day. And there are now more options than ever before when it comes to choosing the perfect reception venue.
What happens during a traditional wedding reception?
All weddings have a well-planned out running order designed to ensure that the day runs as smoothly as possible. The vast majority of traditional wedding receptions run to a similar schedule.
Midday- early afternoon
This is the time when most church wedding ceremonies take place. Depending on the type of service you opt for, a ceremony can last between 30 minutes to an hour.
2pm-4pm
During this period of time, the wedding party arrive at the reception venue ready to celebrate the happy couple tying the knot. The wedding party, including the best man and the maid of honour, tends to take charge of the wedding transportation.
4pm-5pm
Cocktails and meet and greet! This is when guests will enjoy drinks and mingle. Dinner is generally announced before long and all guests are welcomed into the main dining room.
5.30pm onwards
Dinner is served to the guests, speeches and toasts are made, the cake is cut and the bride and groom are asked to take to the dance floor for their first dance as a married couple.
Wedding reception traditions
There are lots of elements associated with a traditional wedding reception, including the father of the bride’s speech, the best man’s speech, the cutting of the wedding cake and, of course, the first dance.
However, traditions vary widely across faiths and cultures. There are many religious ceremonies that have their own traditions. For example, a number of laws and traditions form the basis of many Jewish wedding celebrations, including signing the Kerubah, taking vows under the Chuppah, fasting on the day of the wedding, and a celebratory dance known as the Hora.
What to consider when booking a wedding reception venue
When it comes to booking a wedding reception venue, there’s a lot to consider, from the venue’s location to its catering facilities, its capacity and any packages on offer.
First and foremost, you should always meet up with the venue’s events team, as they will play a core role in ensuring that your celebrations run without any hiccups. Don’t be afraid to ask to sample the menu too, request the venue’s rules and regulations when it comes to last orders and noise, and ask for a tour of all of the facilities.
This will allow you to gauge whether or not the venue is suitable for your wedding theme, guest list and bespoke requirements, even for small intimate wedding details.
Why choose The Brewery for your wedding venue?
In the heart of London, The Brewery is a wedding venue like no other. Our wedding licence includes every one of our unique rooms within the venue and allows us to host your wedding ceremony and reception on-site for between 40 and 1,000 guests. Making it perfect for either large events or even small intimate wedding receptions.
Our dedicated wedding planner is on hand to guide you through the entire process, taking care of everything from the budget to the dietary requirements, meaning you can relax and enjoy the build up to your big day. And from the moment you get in touch, your allocated wedding planner will become your single point of contact.
Each room includes everything you need to create the wedding you envisage – from LED lighting, PA systems and Wi-Fi.
If you are unable to view our venue in person or would like to have a look around before travelling from afar to see it, then take a look at our venue virtual tour and explore all the rooms we have to offer at The Brewery. We have a stunning range of spaces to host wedding ceremonies, services and receptions for between 40 and 1,000 guests.
To find out more about having your wedding at The Brewery, get in touch. We’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you have.
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