Which Wedding Venue?
October 1st, 2008 by Karen WhiteWhatever part of the country you choose to have your wedding in, it will pay to be an intrepid consumer. In the city, country, or suburbs, you can employ numerous cost-saving strategies to shave back your venue budget. In the UK, you have to get married in a church, at the registry office or at certain registry-office approved locations. But the reception you can have anywhere – after all, it’s just a big party!
Hotels: Though the initial rental price may be less than elsewhere, extra charges at hotels can add up fast, making your total bill much higher than at almost every other type of venue. It’s important to ask from the outset about every single charge they could potentially bundle in… and then ask them what you’ve missed and make it a part of the contract that they have listed out every single type of charge that is likely to occur (in their experience). Don’t underestimate the creativity a venue can use in order to add chargeable services.
Join the club: If you are a member of a local club, you can investigate using their facilities. For example, there have been several wedding receptions at my local cricket club. But you may belong to other professional or social organizations, where being a member could mean a substantial discount on the usual venue hire rates.
Help from the government: Presumably, you pay taxes. Here’s your chance to reap the rewards. Call your local council and speak to the person in charge of the council Parks to find out if it has venues that can be rented out for big events. Every region has its own historic properties on well-maintained grounds. Best of all, public places run by city organizations have wallet-friendly prices.
Check the estate agent listings: That’s right. If there’s a local mansion that’s been on the market for months, call up the estate agent and find out if the seller might be willing to rent it out for a night and squeeze a little cash out of their 10,000-square-foot wallet-drainer. It’s not as unlikely as it might sound.
Outdoor weddings, from your backyard to the beach. It might seem romantic and low-key, but outdoor weddings have sizable surcharges associated with them – especially due to the unpredictability of the UK weather – a marquee rental is a must. Also factor in rental charges for absolutely everything else, from tables and chairs to silverware, linens and glasses.
You should use every available resource and contact you have. If you went to university, perhaps see if you can have your reception in the college grounds. Now is the time to call in all favours, because it can make a significant difference in the quality and the cost of your wedding.
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