Hi everyone just wondering about your opinion on outside space at the wedding venue. Is it a priority for you/your choice of venue?
H2B and I are looking into options for our reception venue and we have found a wonderful place that is very reasonable, but they have no private outdoor space. The front of the venue is on a cobbled, dead-end road right on the river front (it's a riverside town) so there is space outside to mill around on arrival, also just 10 yards away (in full view of venue) is a very attractive public paved area, also on the riverbank. There's plenty of green spaces just minutes away for OH and me to sneak away to with our photographer and we are toying with the idea of providing a riverboat cruise for guests while the venue needs time for the room switchover too.
I guess the problem I'm having is OH and I were planning for another venue (fell through as they were 'available' for our Saturday - but only after 3pm, even to set up and things!) which had a lovely amount of outdoor space and thought it would be nice for people to be able to wander around in and this venue is quite different. The Riverside town is beautiful and means a lot to us as I was living there when we met, and the venue space for meal etc is lovely - I just wonder if people will feel a bit hemmed in?
What do you think about the importance of private outdoor space at the venue? Is it a must or would people not really miss it? OH says most of the time we'll be inside for meal/speeches etc but I'm having some commitment issues as it doesn't seem *quite* perfect...I should probably mention our budget doesn't quite stretch to the costlier private venues ;D
Thanks in advance for your opinions ladies xxx
CommentAuthorFayeJ67
I have to say it was quite important to us to have indoor and outdoor space
CommentAuthorWundatigga
I suppose it depends on your numbers - we're only having 30 guests so it was not a factor in our choosing, and we we're looking at much smaller venues before we decided on where we are (yes we have the space but the venue is probably a lot bigger than we really need, but it was the one I liked the most). I know people will be okay to go outside the front if they wanted to stretch their legs a bit between the important stuff.
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I proposed: 23rd December 2015
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CommentAuthorMrsToniKB
I think it's important to have both indoor and outdoor space, I also agree with wundatigga that it also depends on how many guests you are having.... We're having exclusive because We want to have only the people who are invited to the day and evening, and not strangers walking around, but wundatigga is right that if people wanted to go outside they still could you would still have the inside for your guests to enjoy... I like your idea of the riverboat though xx
finally became Mrs B 22nd June 2017!!
CommentAuthorInDreamland
It was important to us to have exclusive use of the venue and outside grounds. Keeping our reception as private as possible and we were prepared to pay the extra for it, especially as our venue had such beautiful manicured grounds which were perfect for those priceless precious wedding photos. No strangers lurking in the background being nosey etc ........ it all helped make the day feel more special x
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
Some outdoor space is important to me, but it doesn't necessarily have to be private. Your new plan sounds lovely.
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
I don't think it occurred to us as being important. We just fell in love with the building, the grounds, small as they were were just an added extra,
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorFlossie
It was important to us but more so for the photographs than providing our guests some outdoor space to mill about... it's not as if this venue has no outside space at all, I think it will just boil down to whether the privacy issue bothers you or not. For me it was really important to have exclusivity and it just so happened that we got lots of outside space with that xx
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorEmily17
We are having photographs at the church so it wasn't too important to us. If photos were at the venue then it would be a consideration
Met in 2009
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CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
I think if we had not fallen in love with the building then we would have considered outdoor space, but it was the interior we loved so much.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorElinor Claire
We didn't have much outdoor space at either venue. The church had a small garden, but in the end it was a bit windy to have photos out there. Drinks and cake were served in the church, and people just came out for the confetti photo. At the reception there wasn't anything outdoors really, just the area in front of the hotel where cars drop off, but we had a foyer for private use where drinks could be served before the wedding breakfast, and which had a bar in it, so we could mill around there when we weren't in the main reception room. I didn't feel that we were missing anything by not going outdoors.
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It was the day that I became Mrs. Dixon.
CommentAuthorLeanneR0186
There is another wedding on at our venue but we are in completely separate suites, I am not really bothered about private outdoor space, however I must mention we are getting married in Dec so can't imagine many people actually going outside that much. I love the boat idea. I think it all sounds fab xx
The Richardson's 31/12/16
CommentAuthorKirstyR386
We all hope for good weather on our wedding day but the reality of the British weather is that we might not get it. If you are less concerned about outdoor space and are happy for people to use the front of the venue if they want to stretch their legs then go for it. It might also be worth checking with the venue that they and their neighbours are happy for you to use that space because if it is a sunny day and you suddenly have 70 people outside it might be unfair on other surrounding properties. X
CommentAuthorMrsThomson2B
It wasn't a huge priority for us more the space indoor that nobody would feel excluded. Our venue however does have a lovely outdoor space which if the weather holds out hope to hold the ceremony outside. Now that we have it I don't want to give it up. our room also has door that open right on to the outdoor space so hoping that we can open some of those also and then the music will flow between the room and outdoors as the height of summer might mean that it gets very hot. In all honesty though on the day the only thing that will really matter is that both me, ross and the humanist turn up as anyone can be a witness and really we only need us to get married the rest is just frills and family politics x
CommentAuthorFutureMrsW
Thanks very much for all of your responses, they have been very helpful.
After mulling it over H2B and I decided that, as much as we like the potential and a lot of aspects about the venue, not having outdoor space is really a bit of a deal breaker for us. Have decided to have a look around a bit more and have already found a few exciting options. Surprising what you can find when you dig a bit deeper :) Hopefully we'll find the right one soon x
CommentAuthorJennK
We had an outside courtyard area which wasn't private to us, but nobody else in the hotel used it during the day and nobody would know it wasn't "our" space. Later in the evening when we were doing some couple sunset photos there was a couple and a small kid who were sitting out there, but actually it was really nice as the kid kept saying I looked like a princess and was twirling around :)
Our perfect day - 08.08.15
CommentAuthorKatieH
We definitely wanted outdoor space. Our venue has a lovely terrace and garden area overlooking the valley. Will be great for photographs and for our guests.
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CommentAuthorMrsToniKB
Glad you decided on what you would really want FMW, wish you the best of luck finding the perfect venue :) xx
