Amongst a very long list of wedding planning duties is arguably one of the most important: choosing the right venue for you.
If you’re scratching your head, wondering how to choose the perfect wedding venue, there are a number of important considerations you might be sifting through. From capacity to availability, location to budget, there’s much to weigh up.
If you’re after a little bit of guidance, these are the five key questions we think you should be asking to find your dream wedding venue (and our answers, just in case Victoria Warehouse turns out to be yours!).
What is included in the venue hire?
One of the most important questions to ask when choosing a wedding venue – this one will help determine what exactly is involved in an event at your chosen venue, and what you might need to organise externally.
A blank canvas venue can give you the flexibility to bring in lots of your own decor, curating your perfect theme. At Victoria Warehouse, our industrial backdrop can bring a cool vibe to your big day, whilst still giving you the space to put your own twist on our interiors.
Included in our wedding packages are: tables and chairs with black or white linen, cutlery, crockery, and glassware, multicoloured pillar down lighting, a PA system and two wireless microphones, a cake stand, table and knife, a specialist wedding team, and venue security. That way, we save you the trouble of having to find your own essentials, and we make sure that they’re prepared and ready to use on the day.
Our recommended suppliers can then dress the rooms however you wish; we’ve delivered some amazing concepts over the years, from suspended drapes to teardrop lights hanging from pillars and ceilings.
Who’ll be working on my wedding?
More often than not, an on-site team will be on hand before, during and after to ensure everything runs smoothly. It’s important to build a relationship with the team looking after your wedding to make sure you know where to go with any problems both throughout the process and on the day.
Our Weddings and Special Events Coordinator, Eve, has worked at Victoria Warehouse since 2021, meaning she knows the venue inside out. She can talk you through all the ways our venue can be transformed to make your vision a reality, and will brief our operations team on executing everything perfectly.
We also work with a number of regular suppliers, many of whom will be there on your wedding day to support on preparation, set-up, and execution. For instance, Verdure Floral Design, decor and styling pros The Event Edit, and entertainment experts Exceed Events.
Is the venue licensed for civil ceremonies?
If you’re keen to hold both your ceremony and your reception in the same venue, you’ll need to make sure that your venue has a wedding license. If they don’t, you might consider having a legal marriage beforehand elsewhere, and then holding a celebrant-led ceremony on the day.
We are licensed to hold civil ceremonies in The Bays, The Archives, The Cellars and The Cotton Sheds; all of which allow you to create a romantic but intimate environment while saying your vows amongst friends and family.
Do you have an in-house catering team?
Some venues will work with trusted suppliers, others will have an in-house catering team, and some will do a little bit of both, so it’s worth establishing this when settling on your dream wedding venue.
Our in-house catering team are able to create a range of menus, with a variety of dishes and serving styles to choose from. Whether you’re after a canapé reception, three-course dinner or a less formal street food set-up (or all of the above), you have some of Manchester’s finest food and drink at your beck and call. If you’re unsure on which direction you’d like to go down, we offer complimentary menu tasting for all our couples, giving you the chance to explore before you decide.
What kind of price range do you offer?
It goes without saying that there are a whole host of venues out there, coming in at all sorts of prices.
Your best bet is flexibility, with a venue that offers adaptable packages depending on what you may or may not need.
At Victoria Warehouse, for example, pricing varies depending on the day of the week you’re getting married. Our new Evening Package meanwhile offers a different price point for a different kind of wedding experience – perfect for those looking for more of a party, or those who tied the knot abroad and want to celebrate at home – with the option to include add-ons such as extra guests or drinks upgrades.
If you’d like to ask any of these questions – or more – to our specialist wedding team, get in touch now to enquire about weddings at Victoria Warehouse.
