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There are many factors that will dictate whether you choose a small wedding venue or a large one – location, budget, facilities: all of these have to fit the plan that you have in mind for your day.  If you have an average number of guests and have the option of keeping it small or ‘going large’, what should you consider to help you decide?

A small wedding venue, by its diminutive definition, might offer a reduction in your overall costs, but will it offer what you ultimately need on the day? If there is a range of choice within your budget, then the primary factor you should consider is your guests.  Small could be ideal for creating an intimate feel but this needs to be considered against your actual guest list: too many children and ‘intimate’ could quickly become confining and noisy, whereas adults who were not previously acquainted with each other could well benefit from an intimate setting that enables everyone to get to know each other.

Also, think about how the seating would actually work for your numbers in a smaller venue – will you be stuck at the top table and unable to circulate; will there be enough room for movement between tables both for catering and safety reasons?  Conversely, too large and your guests spread out too far so you may not get to spend the time you would like with them.

If the venue is having a double purpose for the day, for example accommodating both ceremony then reception, or sit-down reception and evening party, what happens in the transient times between the two – is there room to actually be with your guests comfortably whilst necessary changes occur or will it be a case of hanging about outside whilst the room is re-organised?  It sounds improbable, but it is worth checking with any prospective venue otherwise you could find yourselves in the car park in the rain for twenty minutes!

Lastly, consider your entertainment.  A small wedding venue would lend itself beautifully to a string quartet or small band, but if you are yearning for a large band, disco or sound system, you should consider the space needed to absorb and ventilate this kind of entertainment, otherwise you could find some of your guests (particularly those of the older generation) bidding a hasty retreat to avoid the volume and heat that comes with such activity.

It is your day, but given that you will want to share it with those that you love and really want to include, try to balance what you would like with what they will need – particularly if your wedding is going to be an all-day event.  They will remember your day for years to come for much more positive reasons if you do!