Looking for an affordable wedding venue?
Unless you are one of the lucky few for whom money is no object, we understand that all weddings have a budget. Some budgets are very healthy whereas others are a bit tighter. But what is an affordable wedding venue?
The latest Bridebook Wedding Report says that the average budget for a wedding is just over £19,000 with the venue costs taking nearly half of that. In fact, the average money spent on the venue alone has gone up over £1000 in the last year.
“Affordable Wedding Venue” is one of the most common search phrases on Google but what does affordable mean?
The short answer is that it’s impossible to say because it means a different thing to everyone. Affordable does not mean cheap. So when we talk to people about the costs of hiring one of our venues, we ask them to look at the bigger picture and think about what is really important to them.
What is Important to you?
If you are a foodie then you are going to want to focus on the wedding breakfast and catering for your wedding. Do the venues that you are looking for allow you to bring in your own catering or have exactly what you want and when you want it? It might be worth paying slightly more for a venue which gives you more choice than just chicken or beef!
If you are a fan of live music and having your guests rocking out all evening is the most important thing for you then you don’t want a venue with a tiny dance floor or early curfew.
Saving Money with No Corkage Charge
Other things to consider when looking at affordable wedding venues are where you might be able to save money. For example, we do not charge corkage for any daytime drinks. This means you can get your favourite fizz, wines or non-alcoholic options from a supermarket or wholesaler. Bring them to us during the set-up and we can chill them and serve them for you on the day. So for example:
| Drink | Amount | Venue | No Corkage |
| Welcome drink | One glass of prosecco per person 100 guests 6 glasses per bottle = 17 bottles | £30 per bottle = £510 | £7 per bottle = £119 |
| Wine on the Table | Half a bottle per person 100 guests = 50 bottles | £25 per bottle = £1300 | £10 per bottle = £500 |
| Fizz for Toasts | One glass of prosecco per person 100 guests 6 glasses per bottle = 17 bottles | £30 per bottle = £510 | £7 per bottle = £119 |
| TOTAL | £2320 | £738 |
The above is an estimate and your tastes and numbers may vary but a saving of over £1500 is not to be sniffed at, no matter how big your budget!
It is also important to think about your experience and your guests. Particularly as an outdoor wedding venue, there is an element of DIY. This flexibility and relaxed atmosphere are a big draw for venues like ours. However, rather than giving you the keys to the field and leaving you to it, we make sure you are supported throughout the planning, set-up and on the day itself. And this is one of the costs included in our packages that some people do not initially appreciate.
Wedding Coordinators – Worth their weight in gold?
We have done this once or twice before so we can make sure that you have covered off the little things that might be taken for a granted at a traditional wedding venue – and when you are in the middle of a field, getting your hands on any items you have forgotten is not always the easiest thing to do. We can be involved as much or as little as you’d like. We are not wedding planners but we can provide suggestions and company recommendations for any area you might need. But we do make sure that we understand what you have planned and how you want your day to be to make sure that your vision is delivered.
Where is everything going?
We also make sure that we are onsite from the moment your chosen structure supplier arrives so that everything is set-up where and how you have planned it. Our structure companies have often worked at places where the toilet supplier, for example, arrives and no one knows where they are going. Despite their best guess, they never put it where the couple had originally planned. And there are plenty of other things to be doing the day before your wedding than standing in a field directing deliveries!
What if something goes wrong?
Even the most organised of people cannot be in two places at once. And you deserve to relax and be part of the party. So what happens if something goes wrong on the day? Is your best man a whizz at generator engineering? Is your dad a plumber who can sort out the toilets if something happens to them? Do you know is going to make sure that the candles are lit, the drinks are chilled and that the caterer knows when to bring the food out? Have you thought about who is going to leave the meal or speeches to welcome the band or DJ and make sure they know where to set up and have everything they need?
Wedding Coordinators are something that are often taken for granted at a traditional wedding venue. Furthermore, we believe that they really come into their own at outdoor wedding venues – where even turning on a tap is not a straight forward task if things have not been set up properly. This is why it is a cost that is not easy to strip out of our venue costs. Because actually it’s the cost of a stress-free, relaxed wedding and the cost of peace of mind.
So when it comes to an affordable wedding venue, think about what you want your day to be like. There are always savings to be made in areas that are not as crucial to you. But it is definitely worth spending a little more to get the important things exactly right.