| There are many different interpretations on the | | | | facilities. If the wedding is in the summer, it can be a |
| ceremony of marriage, but whether you are | | | | good idea to pick a restaurant/pub with a pretty |
| considering a civil or religious ceremony, one of the | | | | garden, or one that backs out onto a river or |
| most important decisions you will have to make is | | | | waterfront. |
| where exactly you get married. If you are having a | | | | · Parks/public gardens - city parks and |
| religious ceremony, you may be restricted to a | | | | gardens make great locations to hold outdoor |
| particular church or chapel, and also a particular day. | | | | receptions, but you must check first with the local |
| This may be because other religious observations will | | | | authority before you plan anything. You may be |
| mean that some churches and chapels will only carry | | | | restricted on marquees or other freestanding |
| out weddings on specific days like Saturdays, and not | | | | structures, and some parks and inner city gardens also |
| at all during key festivals or feast days. Civil | | | | have limitations on alcohol consumption and |
| ceremonies are normally more flexible and can be | | | | accessibility and parking issues. |
| carried out throughout the week, at any appropriate | | | | · Theaters - If you are interested in the theater, |
| licensed venue. This will mean you could get married in | | | | it would be worthwhile enquiring whether you could |
| the same place you are having your reception, which | | | | hold your reception in your local theater bar/restaurant, |
| can make things a lot easier for both and your guests. | | | | or perhaps they might have a grand floor lobby or |
| When you are choosing a location for your wedding | | | | another spacious area that could be turned into a |
| the first step must be setting yourself a budget. Some | | | | temporary function room. Some theatres may also |
| locations provide packages for the whole wedding | | | | have invested in a wedding license, and you could |
| event, from the ceremony through to the catering and | | | | even get married on the stage with all your guest |
| room hire. In some cases this can be cheaper, and | | | | seated comfortably in the audience. |
| certainly easier than trying to organise and hire all the | | | | · Local Collages/Universities/Schools - Many |
| separate elements yourself. If you are on a small | | | | local education establishments also have special areas |
| budget you may want to think about having the | | | | for functions, either halls or fine garden spaces, which |
| ceremony at the registrar's office, (it is more | | | | can be hired out for weddings. Some even have |
| expensive to get them to come out to another | | | | chapels as well, in which the ceremony can be |
| licensed venue), and then hold your reception | | | | performed. |
| somewhere else. Some cheaper alternatives for | | | | · Unique - if you are a good organiser you |
| wedding receptions include: | | | | could pretty much have your wedding reception |
| · Restaurants/Pubs - If you have a favourite | | | | anywhere, from theme parks to breweries! You need |
| restaurant or local pub, then you could enquire whether | | | | to be good at negotiating, and also very organised so |
| they have a private room you could hire, or even | | | | that you can bring together all the elements of the |
| whether they would be willing to rent out the whole | | | | reception together, such as seating, catering and |
| establishment for a private party. Check that they will | | | | decorations. Carefully planning is the key to making an |
| be able to cater for all of your guests, and negotiate a | | | | unusual location successful, and never forget your |
| suitable menu that both you and the kitchen/waiting | | | | guest's comfort, and always make sure there are |
| staff feel will suit the style of the restaurant and its | | | | adequate bathroom and seating facilities available. |