5 Ways To Prepare For A
Wedding Venue Open Day

Open days are an ideal time to see your dream wedding venue decked out in décor, filled with people, live entertainment, and the opportunity to taste delicious sample food.

While you might have seen plenty of photographs or looked through the venue’s Instagram feed, nothing quite compares to seeing the ambiance of your dream wedding venue in person.

It also gives you the chance to see whether it’s the right fit for you. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, meet your wedding coordinators, and have a personal tour of the venue, grounds, and facilities.

1. Don’t be afraid to grab as many brochures as needed

During an open day, you’ll often be overloaded with information. There’s a lot to digest and no one is expecting you to have everything figured out.

This is why collecting brochures is a great way of recalling who you spoke to and how they could play an important part in your wedding planning process.

Most venues will either have welcome packs or brochures that cover all aspects of your wedding day including price lists, ceremony set-up, example wedding timings, and a list of recommended suppliers such as photographers, florists, and catering.

Grab as many as you need so that when your wedding planning begins you can save time trying to source potential suppliers.

2. Think about what questions you’d like to ask

Do you have a few niggling questions you’re wanting to ask? An open day is the best time to ask away.

Before you attend, we recommend writing a list of questions that are relevant to you. Everyone’s questions will differ so it’s important to ask the venue questions specific to your wedding goals.

For couples who are viewing the venue for the first time, a few example questions could be:

• Is there on-site accommodation where my guests can stay?
• Is there an option to have the ceremony outside?
• What time will the evening entertainment have to finish?

If you’re revisiting your booked venue you may want to take the opportunity to check sizes for decorations or to chat with the wedding coordinators about any logistics you’re unsure about.

3. Take the opportunity to have a guided tour

If you can book a guided tour – go for it!

It’s a great opportunity to be shown around the venue by a wedding coordinator away from the crowd and see everything the venue offers.

If you choose to visit a barn wedding venue like Huntsmill, you will be guided around the indoor and outdoor ceremony space, on-site accommodation, and the farm grounds where guests can relax, take photos, and enjoy lawn games.

4. Get to know recommended wedding suppliers

Most wedding venues will have a selection of recommended suppliers who attend open days.

If you’re not familiar with the venue’s preferred partners then it’s a chance to have a chat with them and get to know more about what they can offer you.

Wedding professionals will be able to help you envision what your entire wedding day will look and feel like; from table decorations to flower arrangements. Chatting with suppliers will provide a great source of inspiration and you should leave with lots of ideas.

5. Focus on attending with just you and your partner

Visiting a wedding venue is exciting; especially if you’re revisiting the venue you’ve already booked. While you may want to bring along all of your family to show off where your big day will be, you may experience a mix of different opinions.

We would recommend that only you and your partner attend if it’s your first visit to a venue. That way, you can choose a wedding venue that is truly based on your preferences as a couple.

What if you’ve already booked the venue? We’d suggest sticking to a maximum group of 4 to ensure no one gets lost and you’re not overwhelmed with what is and isn’t favored by your family or friends. You can’t please everyone, after all!

Join our next open evening in July

Make sure you save the date for our next open evening: 11th July, 5pm – 9pm. Join us and see what Huntsmill Farm has to offer over drinks, nibbles, and music.

We’ll have a great bunch of preferred suppliers with us and all of our accommodation will be available to view. We will also be running personal tours of our barn, cottages, and gardens.

Make sure you have everything planned using the links below:

• Book your place
• Reserve a personal tour of the venue
• Drop us an email if you require more info

The Huntsmill team looks forward to welcoming you!

Photo thanks to Daniel Atkinson.