Barn, Country House or Marquee? Finding Your Perfect Shropshire Wedding Venue

One of the first things to nail down when you start planning your wedding is the overall aesthetic.

It’s all well and good choosing your colour scheme, buying your dress and saving approximately 400 Pinterest boards worth of inspiration, but if you haven’t decided on the type of venue you’re looking for, fitting everything else around it can become a whole lot harder.

Your venue is going to influence so much of your wedding from the layout and styling to your catering, accommodation and even the timings of the day.

So, before you get too carried away with the little details, here are a few things to think about, along with some local recommendations to help you find the right venue for you.

Where To Start?

1. Keep Your Options Open

If you’re unsure on the type of wedding you want, I’d honestly recommend going to look around a variety of venues. You might surprise yourself.

You might be absolutely dead set against a barn wedding, and that's okay, but there are some places that have hidden corners or even spaces which have yet to be designed by a different eye.

Some beautiful Georgian manors have the stunning backdrop and romantic feel you’re looking for, but when it comes to practically seating 100 guests, you might find that the only option is one of their converted barns or a marquee on the lawn.

And equally, you might walk into a venue you had completely ruled out and suddenly realise, oh... I actually love this.

You don’t need to look around 25 different venues and overwhelm yourself with choice. I’d recommend viewing around 3–5 venues in person to start working out what you love about each one and, just as importantly, what you don’t.

You’ll quickly start to notice patterns in what you’re drawn to.

2. Guest Numbers

Before you fall completely in love with a venue, you need to have a rough idea of how many guests you’re planning to invite.

You don’t necessarily need your final guest list, nobody expects you to have Auntie Susan’s plus one situation figured out at this point but having a rough number will help you massively when narrowing down your options.

Some venues simply won’t be big enough for your guest numbers.

Others might look absolutely perfect online, but once you’re standing inside the space with 60 guests, it could suddenly feel much too large.

Think about how you want the room to feel as well as whether everyone technically fits.

Do you want a cosy, intimate celebration where everyone feels close together? Or are you planning a big party with plenty of space for a dance floor?

Your guest numbers can make a huge difference to this.

3. What Type Of Venue Are You Looking For?

This is something I’d definitely ask about during your venue visits: what is actually included?

Some venues are all inclusive, meaning they may have an in house catering team, staff the bar and provide things such as tables, chairs and crockery. Some are exclusive, meaning it’s just you and your guests there on the day. Others, particularly hotels may still be open to the public.

There are also other venues that are what’s known as dry hire.

With a dry hire venue, you’re essentially paying for the space and then bringing everything else in yourself. That can mean sourcing your own caterers, bar, staffing, furniture and sometimes even things like toilets and power.

Dry hire venues can be absolutely perfect for the couple who wants lots of flexibility and enjoys being involved in the creative side of planning.

But make sure you understand exactly what you’re taking on.

That beautiful empty barn might look like a blank canvas on Pinterest, but that blank canvas also needs a catering team, a bar, staff, furniture, lighting and everything else that turns it into a functioning wedding venue.

Make sure you’re happy with the level of planning and sourcing involved before you commit.

4. What About Accommodation?

Some venues come with accommodation. Some don’t. And the amount of accommodation can vary massively.

If having everyone together on site is important to you, make sure you ask exactly how many people can stay there and what the accommodation actually includes.

I'd also ask whether you can stay the night before.

This is one of those little details that can make a surprisingly big difference.

Some venues don't allow you access to the bridal or preparation suite until the morning of the wedding, which can mean your hair and makeup team may need to charge an additional fee if moving from one location to the next.

Also check whether the accommodation is included within the venue hire or priced separately, and whether your guests are expected to book and pay for their own rooms.

If on site accommodation is a priority for you, make sure you actually view it as part of your venue visit. You’re not just booking somewhere to get married, you’re potentially booking somewhere for you and your favourite people to spend an entire weekend together.

And honestly, that can be one of the best parts.

5. What About A Marquee?

Or, if you’d rather avoid a traditional venue altogether, a marquee wedding could be the perfect alternative.

If you have access to land, whether that's your own garden, a family property or somewhere you’ve fallen in love with, getting married at home or in a private setting can feel incredibly personal.

However, a marquee wedding is a completely different ball game.

You’re essentially building your venue from the ground up, so be prepared for a very different planning process.

You’ll need to think about everything from the marquee itself and flooring to power, toilets, catering, furniture, lighting, water, waste and, of course, the actual styling of the space.

It gives you an incredible amount of freedom, but that freedom also comes with a lot more logistics.

If you're considering a marquee wedding, have a read of my blog on why you need a wedding coordinator at your marquee wedding.

But Most Importantly...

The most important thing to remember is that you need to feel like the venue is right for you.

Can you picture yourself getting married to your best friend there?

Can you imagine your favourite people filling the room?

Are you happy to compromise on certain aspects because you absolutely love everything else?

And, perhaps my favourite question, would you want to come back here on your anniversary?

Your venue doesn't have to tick every single box.

There will probably be something you compromise on, whether that's the accommodation, the ceremony space, the distance from home or the fact that you have to use their caterers.

But if you walk around and can already picture your wedding day happening there, that's when I'd start paying attention.

And if you're looking for a wedding venue in Shropshire, there are some seriously beautiful options to choose from.