Are you at the stage of planning your wedding and reception and wondering what to look for when choosing a wedding venue? If you are visiting wedding venues and want to be prepared with the questions you want to ask, take a look at our article. It contains essential questions that every bride and groom should ask when choosing a wedding venue. 

The vast choice of wedding venues can be dizzying. How do you choose a wedding venue that will make your guests feel comfortable and have fun at the table, during the meal and on the dance floor? Here are some tips on what to look for when choosing a wedding venue, what details to look out for and how to match the decorations to the venue.

Hall for a wedding - 7 proven tips

Hiring a wedding hall is one of the most important aspects of organising a reception. As the newlyweds, you need to remember that the decor, atmosphere and size of the room will have a definite impact on how the guests feel and enjoy the wedding. Here are 7 features you should pay particular attention to:

• Location - this is the primary issue that should influence your choice of venue. Distance from the registry office or church should be key, as this not only affects the comfort of the bride and groom and invited guests, but can also raise other issues relating to the hiring of transport for those arriving, and therefore costs. Equally important is the setting - usually wedding venues are located on the outskirts of the city, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature. Check if the venue you are interested in has a garden for guests to stroll around or a terrace where they can get some fresh air.
• Size and facilities - the size of the venue is another important consideration. Both in the case of a reception for a large number of guests and if you are having a dinner with loved ones instead of a typical wedding. A room that is too small will create discomfort - not only during the party, but also during the meal, while a room that is too large, especially if the party will be attended by a dozen people, will make the place feel uncomfortable, which is certainly not what you want to happen at a wedding reception.
• Menu - when hiring a hall for a wedding, you can usually also take advantage of the catering options offered by the venue. It's worth finding out in advance how many of the guests are vegetarians or vegans, how many dishes are included in the basic menu and whether there is an option to organise a country or sweet table, for example. Equally important is the question of the 'bill', i.e. the cost to the newlyweds. Wedding venues usually offer discounts on meals for children under the age of 10-12, and often the bride and groom do not have to pay any additional costs if the wedding is attended by children under the age of 4.
• Hall style - are you planning an industrial style ceremony and reception? Or do you want your day to be elegant in every way? The style of the wedding venue is key. If you want everything to work together, pay attention to the layout of the reception area. Equally important is the layout of the room - not every location is suitable for round tables, for example, which are recommended for parties in a glamorous climate.
• Service - remember that guests should feel looked after during the wedding reception. Therefore, it is a good idea to make arrangements with the catering staff in advance.
• Additional facilities - this includes parking, the possibility of renting accommodation and even the issue of air conditioning, which is essential for a reception held in the summer. Equally important is the decoration of the hall - both in terms of whether the wedding venue offers a specific decoration and whether the staff will help with the decoration.
• The terms of the contract - i.e. what exactly is covered by the hire of the hall. If you are providing your own alcohol, find out how much corkage - the charge for bringing in your own alcohol - will be. Find out what is the responsibility of the bride and groom and what is the responsibility of the wedding hall staff and make this clear in the contract.

Hall for the wedding - what to ask?

To avoid any misunderstandings and to make sure everything goes according to plan, ask about additional issues. Below are some of the things you should ask before signing the contract with the wedding hall:

Whether the venue has more than one room and if there is another wedding taking place on the day of your reception.

How big is the dance floor, does the venue have a checkroom, what is the location and what are the services and costs of the photographer, videographer and wedding band?

Is it possible to taste the wedding menu in advance, or can you take the leftovers home after the reception?

Does the wedding venue only have one type of table or are chair covers included in the price?

How many people will be served by one waiter, until what time is waiter service compulsory and, for foreign guests, do the staff speak foreign languages?

Is there a smoking area and is the venue suitable for people with disabilities and families with young children?

How much is the deposit and how is the payment for the hall distributed, what is the deadline for confirming the final number of guests and what is the issue of additional costs related to possible extension of the party.

Hall for the wedding - adjust the decorations accordingly 

Once you have chosen the hall, it's time to choose the right decorations that will bring a unique atmosphere, emphasizing the theme of the wedding. What decorations should you not forget about?

Vignettes - that is the basic decoration of wedding tables. If you are planning a Scandinavian, rustic or boho style wedding, bet on wooden vignettes with engraved guest names and decorations, such as floral patterns. If you're dreaming of a glamorous party, mirrored vignettes in gold or silver will work great

guest placement board - this is especially important for a large wedding, when chaos is not difficult, especially at the beginning of the party. The board placed right at the entrance to the hall will allow guests to easily find the place prepared for them. Like the vignettes, the blackboard should harmonize with the theme of the ceremony

envelope box - an indispensable item if you want to ensure the safety of gifts and comfort of guests, who often, when making wishes, do not know to whom to give a gift. A lockable envelope box will also provide peace of mind for witnesses, on whose side the issue of storing envelopes with wishes usually lies

thanking the witnesses and parents - it is worth appreciating the effort and effort that the witnesses and parents have put into the preparations. In this case, it is worth moving away from classic flowers and gift baskets in favor of more sentimental gifts, such as glazed wooden frames with jigsaw puzzles on which the content of the thanks is written. An equally good solution will be personalized boxes - boxes in which you can put the content of thanks, a photo of the newlyweds and a small gift such as jewelry or gift vouchers

gifts for guests - invited people will certainly be pleased that their presence was appreciated by the bride and groom. Typically, those who come to the wedding will receive beverages and sweets. A good addition, which will also have sentimental value, are magnets with a thank you for coming. Similar to thank-you notes for witnesses or parents, this form of gift can be decorated with personalized text and the date of the ceremony and a photo of the newlyweds.

We hope that the guide we have prepared will dispel any doubts you may have about how to choose a wedding hall and help you find your dream reception venue.