Choosing your wedding venue is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your wedding. It will influence the atmosphere of the day, how your celebrations flow, your photographs and, of course, a significant part of your wedding budget.
With so many different types of wedding venues to choose from, it can be difficult to know what really matters when you first start looking.
Whether you’re considering a historic country house, a barn, a hotel or a modern purpose-designed wedding venue, here are five things we think are particularly important to consider before you book.
1. Does the Venue Have the Right Atmosphere and Character?
Before you think about flowers, table plans or colour schemes, think about how you want your wedding to feel.
Do you want relaxed and informal? Elegant and traditional? Romantic and intimate? Grand and glamorous?
Your venue will provide the backdrop for the entire day, so its atmosphere should feel right for you.
A historic country house will naturally create a very different atmosphere from a modern hotel or purpose-designed wedding venue. Original architecture, mature gardens and rooms with a sense of history can give a wedding a warmth and character that is difficult to recreate.
At Ramster Hall, parts of the house date back to 1604. The three historic halls, central courtyard and surrounding gardens provide a setting with genuine character and a sense of history, meaning much of the atmosphere comes from the venue itself.
2. Think About How Your Wedding Day Will Flow
When you visit a wedding venue, don’t just consider whether you like the individual rooms. Try to imagine how your entire day will unfold.
Where will your ceremony take place? Where will guests have drinks afterwards? Where will you have your photographs? Does the reception room work well for dinner and dancing? Are the different spaces close enough together to make the day feel relaxed and connected?
A venue with several distinctive spaces can make the wedding feel like a journey, with each part of the day having its own atmosphere.
At Ramster, the three adjoining halls and courtyard allow the day to flow naturally. The Great Drawing Room provides an elegant setting for ceremonies, the courtyard is ideal for reception drinks, while the The Long Hall provides space for dinner and dancing. We also have extensive gardens for wedding photography.
Thinking about the flow of the day when you visit can help you picture how your own wedding might feel.
3. Consider Your Guests’ Experience
Your wedding day is about you, but it is also an opportunity to bring together the people who matter most to you.
Think about what their experience will be from the moment they arrive. Is the venue comfortable and welcoming? Are there places for guests to mingle and relax? Does the day feel like it will flow naturally rather than requiring everyone to move between lots of different locations?
It is also worth considering whether the venue feels personal and private.
At Ramster, couples have exclusive use of the historic halls and courtyard, so the celebration belongs entirely to them and their guests. From the ceremony through to the evening dancing, everyone remains together within the same beautiful setting. The circular layout of the halls, around the courtyard, ensures a seamless connection between the wedding party, if some guests are in different areas.
4. Look Carefully at the Photography Opportunities
Your wedding photographs will be some of the most treasured reminders of your day, so consider what your venue offers your photographer.
Look for variety. Are there beautiful interiors as well as outdoor spaces? Are there interesting architectural details, mature trees, gardens and different settings that will give your photographs a sense of place?
It is also worth considering what happens if the weather isn’t perfect. A venue with characterful interiors as well as beautiful outdoor spaces means your photographer can create wonderful images whatever the weather.
At Ramster, historic architecture, characterful interiors, mature woodland and gardens provide a wide variety of settings for photography throughout the day and in every season.
5. Understand What You’re Getting for Your Money
Wedding venue prices can be surprisingly difficult to compare because every venue structures its pricing differently.
When you receive a quote, look beyond the headline hire fee and ask exactly what is included.
Consider:
- Is the venue exclusively yours?
- How long do you have access for?
- What spaces are included?
- Are tables and chairs provided?
- What are the catering arrangements?
- Can you choose your own suppliers?
- Are there corkage charges?
- Are there additional staffing or cleaning fees?
At Ramster, couples have exclusive use of the historic halls and courtyard, and there is no corkage fee. We also offer flexibility around catering and suppliers, allowing couples to create a wedding that feels personal to them rather than selecting from a completely fixed package.
Finding the Right Wedding Venue for You
There is no single type of wedding venue that is right for everyone. The most important thing is finding somewhere that fits the atmosphere you want, works for your guests and gives you the freedom to create the kind of celebration you have imagined.
If you’re looking for a country house wedding venue in Surrey, a historic wedding venue with character, or somewhere that offers exclusive use and flexibility, we’d love to welcome you to Ramster Hall.
Ramster has been in our family for over 100 years and we love opening it for a limited number of weddings each year.
Get in touch if you’d like to discuss your wedding plans and to see whether Ramster feels like the right place for your wedding day.
If you’d like to get a feel for the halls, from a real life wedding earlier this year, scroll down. Photographed by the brilliant photographer, Costa Weddings.
