How To Find A Venue Online

Venues!

We love to loathe looking for one don't we?

So far, it has been an absolute nightmare to find something that is close enough to Plymouth, within budget, but also perfect for the big day itself!

I am definitely struggling with this one!

However, I have been considering a new venue, which we will be visiting over the next few weeks, just outside of Plymouth.

There are quite a few things to consider when checking out venues online. The main acceptance criteria for me are as follows-

• The Website - I like a well laid out website. It sounds obvious, but so many venues have rubbish sites with very little information on wedding packages and deals. 
• Google Images - I always 'Google' any venue to see if there are any other images of the venue for other occasions if possible. This gives me a more realistic idea of what the venue has to offer overall. Many venues also hold conferences and fares, giving me a better idea of the type of space I could be working with, and what can be done to improve the venue for my ideals. 
• Reviews - Check out others blogs and wedding venue comparison sites ( yes such things do exist! ) Other people are more than happy to review venues based on their personal experiences, but remember, for every ten people that have a good experience and write about it, there are twenty people who had a terrible time and wrote about it! You need to weigh up the pros and cons before contacting the venue for information, it is unfair to waste someone's time if you are not really interested. 
• Contact Details - It may sound silly, but I prefer to email venue events managers, or complete contact forms, as I work odd shifts and do not want to spend my little time off calling and chasing up venues that I may or may not want to view. This allows me a certain amount of freedom, as if I do not want to proceed with a venue, it is much easier to say in an email, than over the phone. It also means that I can reply at my own leisure, and consider what I would like to say without talking rubbish. 

After deciding which venues you would like to consider, the next step is to contact the venue and establish some communication. I find that emails are easiest, as I refuse to deal with rude or ignorant people. If the tone of the email is not welcoming, I am not interested. This may make me sound rather ignorant myself, but I am trusting this person to handle the biggest day of my life, and also the most stressful. 

The biggest excitement for me is the follow up from the venue. Hearing my phone 'ping' with an email, or seeing that package land on the doormat is what it's all about. 

If the follow up is in the form of email, I would expect it to be sent within twenty four business hours. After all, these people will be making a lot of money from me, and I expect to be treated as priority, even if I am not. Checklist for email correspondence -

• Addressing you by name - I love to be addressed by my name, not just 'Dear Sir/Madam...', it shows that the person I am communicating with is friendly, and has taken notice of my comments during my contact with them. 
• A brief history - I generally expect a brief bit of history about the venue, after all they are trying to secure a sale! If I am enquiring about a 15th century castle, I expect to know who owns the castle, when it was built, and about the very best areas to view.
• Information relating to my enquiry - If I have requested information about the honeymoon suite, I expect the full low down on the room, and any offers or deals they can offer me.
• Ways to contact the correct person - Every big venue will have some kind of events manager, or wedding coordinator, and this is the person you should hear from. Therefore, you will need a way to get hold of them, should you wish to view the venue or make any other appointments. 
• Online brochure - Finally, I expect either a link to an online brochure, or an attachment. Simply a list of prices is not good enough for me, as to me, the more effort that has been put into it, the more seriously enquiries are being taken. 

If any of the above is not included in the email, chances are I will not take it any further, as to me, it would seem that the venue is not very interested in my custom if they cannot include simple, essential information and points. 

If the venue decides to contact you via postal methods, here is the checklist for such -

• The wedding brochure - Obviously, the brochure is essential! But I am also fussy on how this is presented. I expect a well laid out brochure, including information on menus, package deals, rooms for before and after, wedding ceremony rooms and reception rooms. I like the brochure to be printed on high quality paper, with images of the venue. After looking at so many places online, it is lovely to be able to go to your hard copy and ooh and ahh all over again! The better quality, the more seriously they take their venue to be as a wedding must have. 
• Short letter of acknowledgement - I expect a short letter to accompany the brochure, addressed to me by name, with any specific information requested, and any information on offers available, along with a little background history of the venue.
• As above - As above, I expect contact information, and a brief history ect.

Now, every venue is different in how they like to approach the follow up to contacting you. Most will just leave you alone. but this can be a fatal decision. Personally, I have a brain like a sieve, and often forget to email or call back, so a little nudge is always appreciated. A simple email will do, just to remind me that they are eagerly awaiting my reply and offering help and advice for my big day. So far, only one out of over thirty venues has bothered with a follow up, and this even includes venues that we have visited ( the venue to follow up has not been visited yet )

Now, this list may seem quite extensive, but there are pros and cons of checking places out online. 

Pros - 

• Anonymity - Viewing online allows you to hop across, have a gander and go again with no guilt if it's just not for you.
• Basic price outline - Most venue will list a basic price outline, allowing you to consider your budget without being tied into anything, or making you feel that you have to visit in person.
• It's fun! - It's fun to sit down with your partner, or whoever is helping you to plan and look at all the options in your PJs with a bottle of wine!

Cons -

• Impersonal - It can feel very corporate and cold looking online, especially if your heart is not in it! 
• Follow up - The venue might not respond, they may not even receive your enquiry! If you do not hear from them within a week, either forget about it, or chase it! There may be an innocent mistake to blame.
• The website - The website may not do justice to the venue as it may be poorly constructed or laid out. Take time to consider whether this is a corporate venue and whether they have the means to create a fantastic site, if you think you may like it, take a further look around, maybe drive by and see how you feel. 

At the end of it all, this is your big day and only you know what feels right for you. I am a firm believer in following your heart on any wedding related issues, as hopefully, you will only be doing it the once!

Good luck people, and keep strong. This can be an exhausting part of the process, but it will be worth it if you can find something that is perfect for you!