If you are part of a same-sex couple and you have recently gotten engaged, first of all, congratulations! You are about to embark upon an exciting period of planning and looking forward to the most special day of your lives, and a lifetime together with the one you love.
With so much to plan, there is an awful lot to think about, but one of the most important things of all is the place where you are actually going to be tying the knot! The venue will set the tone for the whole day, and be the backdrop for photographs you will cherish for years to come, so it is important to get it just right.
Not only that but as a same-sex couple, you want to find a venue that does your big day justice. After all, same-sex weddings only became legal in the UK a few short years ago! Read on to find out our top tips for finding the perfect wedding venue for your same-sex wedding.
Think about your guest list
One of the first things you should think about when looking for your venue is how many people you want to have with you on the day. There’s little point looking at venues that won’t fit all of your guests, as you’ll only be heartbroken if you fall in love with one that isn’t suitable.
Spend time with your partner working on the list of people that you each can’t imagine not being there on your special day, and get a rough idea of the number of guests you’ll be inviting. This way you can narrow your search to venues that have the capacity you need!
If you aren’t sure where to start, this article from the Knot gives some great tips for making your guest list.
Work out your budget
Again, there isn’t really much use looking at and falling in love with venues that you aren’t going to be able to afford, so it’s important to work out your budget before you get too serious about the hunt.
If you need to keep those purse strings tight, this guide from MoneySavingExpert.com covers some genius ways you can still have an incredible day, but without going too overboard on the spending.
Vet your shortlist carefully
You want to find a wedding venue that is truly accepting of your partnership, so be sure to spend time assessing the venues on your shortlist both on the phone and in person. If at any point during the enquiry process you are made to feel uncomfortable in any way, then listen to your gut and continue your search elsewhere.
We spoke to Broadoaks Country House, who told us “in 2018 we shouldn’t even need to think about whether we will be discriminated against due to our sexual orientation, race, or gender, but unfortunately, it does still happen. Here at Broadoaks, we are proud to be gay-friendly, and we have hosted many absolutely beautiful same-sex weddings and civil partnerships here in the Lake District.”