Before you go ahead and visit all your wedding venue options you should go over and list some questions that would help you plan out your day and streamline your big event.

Is my date available?
​You have your perfect date in mind, it has a good ring to it (RING TO IT - INSERT PUN HERE), only to find out that the venue has no more bookings available for the next 6 months.  Personally I wouldn't set my heart on a specific date until I've spoken to the wedding venue I have in mind.  Pick out a month that you would prefer to avoid the disappointment of your specific date being booked.

​How many people does the venue cater for comfortably? 
Yes they can fit in 150 people but is it a comfortable fit or are you going to have Aunty Agatha's big hair blocking out the cutting of the cake;  or an uncomfortable eating experience because Grandfather John has flying elbows.  Maybe you going for a smaller wedding and the venue is so big it sounds like a vacant building.  You don't want your vows echoing back at you.

​Would you need to do your own setting up or does the venue do it for you?
​You may think "ah this isn't so bad I'll get my mom to help me on the day and we can go throw on some table cloths and arrange some vases, how difficult can it be." Maybe you don't want to hear it or you could be nervous of extra costs, but no bride wants to be running around on the last minute attending to all those extra little details when a lot of venues do offer their services already...  Honestly it's worth it.

Does the venue include a chapel?
​Some brides want to have their traditional wedding at a church, others prefer having everything at one venue.  

​Is their corkage fee?  
​Speeches?  Popping your champagne?  Most venues charge a small fee for serving each bottle which is brought onto their premises.

​Does the venue have any décor to hire?
​Instead of going to numerous other décor hire places there are some wedding venues who have décor already available to hire, maybe not the hanging chandelier that you had in mind but vases, candles, tablecloths... yes.

​If the ceremony/reception is outdoor, is there a back in case of bad weather?
​Mother Nature, she is unpredictable and she does not care if your hair spray isn't holding your curls that your hair salon spent 2 hours on, not only for this reason but numerous others that I'm sure you can play out in your head already.

​Do they offer a room to stay over on the wedding night?
​Once your wedding celebration is over, do you know where you will be staying over?  

​How much deposit is payable to book the venue and when does the balance have to be paid? 
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If you don't, can't or won't write up questions to ask your venue you can always wake up at 2.00am and message your venue, I'm sure they won't mind.  You are, after all, the only bride getting married.

Happy planning! 
​Yours truly,
​Kerry 

So you have got yourself a shiny new ring on your finger. The newly engaged excitement has been replaced with questions of planning and a whole lot of details. Not to mention each person that you see is asking about wedding planning and providing their advice and opinion that you can either take in or leave out.

I always believe personally that once you have an idea of a date your next step would definitely be to find your venue. Once your venue is booked you know that you have a final date to work towards and booking other wedding vendors becomes easier.

​Whether you would want an indoor or outdoor wedding is entirely up to the couple planning their wedding. Making a list of pros and cons can also make decision making a lot easier.

Maybe you would want a beach ceremony or a garden ceremony with a more laid back reception. Weather will obviously be a major deciding factor when it comes to these decisions.

Opting for a traditional church ceremony and then having your reception at a great venue that is best suited to your wedding style?

​No matter which option you go for East London has some great venue options!

Happy Planning!
Yours truly
​Kerry