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Your wedding venue is the one thing that houses almost every element of your big day. It is an absolute fact that finding the perfect wedding venue is among the biggest parts of your wedding planning. This part requires a lot of brainstorming because you would want an event space that goes along with all other elements of your wedding. This wedding venue sets the tone for your whole wedding event, no matter what type of wedding you have in mind. The second you have your wedding venue settled, everything else falls into place like pieces in a puzzle and your wedding plans will revolve all around the venue and your theme will resonate with the atmosphere of the venue.

To help you in your search for a wedding venue that suits your vision, we have set up tips that will help you along the way.

Talk to a wedding planner

Planners are ‘wedding experts’ and they have worked on enough weddings to understand your language and interpret your vision. They are familiar with the essential parts of a wedding venue like the capacity, furniture, ambiance, capacity and more. The wedding planner knows all the tips and quirks that are needed to turn your vision into reality.

Choose a wedding location

Weddings can be held anywhere, whether it’s your hometown, your current resident city, or a different vacation destination that you’ve always wanted to visit. It’s important to know exactly where in the world you’re planning on having your wedding because that is where you will search for your wedding venue.

Start your search early

A wedding heartbreak would be finding out that the perfect venue you had in mind for your wedding is completely booked on your wedding day. Starting your search early would give you a better chance at securing the venue that suits your vision. If not, you might just have to settle with whatever venue is available or you might have to move your wedding date if you’re so hung up on a particular unavailable venue.

Decide on a budget estimate

We all know it is impossible to know the exact budget for your wedding events but it is very important to know an estimate that you will work around. Having an estimate in mind will help in narrowing down the long list of venues to a shorter list of venues that you can afford. When selecting a wedding venue, find out what’s included in the venue package. Does the venue come with tables and chairs? Decorations included or not? You need to know an estimate of how much you’ll be required to spend on the venue alone?

Find inspiration online

If you are confused about the type of wedding you would want to have, the internet should be your go-to place for a wide selection of wedding inspiration. There is an answer for every question you have online. Someone out there probably had the same vision and dreams as you, and might have already executed their vision. This will help you further understand what your dream wedding would look like and the ways you can turn it into reality. Some websites that can help you in your search include Pinterest, Instagram and Google.

Visit some potential venues

Sometimes, seeing something online or through a catalogue might not be the most convincing method of searching for a venue. Like the saying goes…’Seeing is believing’. You need to see some things for yourself in order to decide if it lives up to your expectations. You will also be able to see the venue personnel and ask all the questions you may have. Some venue coordinators might also decide to give you a tour so you can get a feel of the space.

Consider your guest list

Size certainly matters when it comes to choosing a wedding venue. Every wedding venue has the maximum number of guests it can occupy, so knowing the capacity of the venue can help you decide whether it’s the right place for you. The capacity is not always flexible as a lot of venues set a limit on the number of people it can hold. Knowing the exact number of your guests is essential when choosing a venue because you don’t want a venue that is too small or too big for your guests. One thing you’d want to avoid is having to cut people out of your list due to lack of space.

Determine your wedding theme

You need to know your wedding style and vibe before you begin your search for a wedding venue. The venue you plan on choosing must align with the vision you have in mind for your wedding. If you plan on having a rustic wedding, a ranch barn or a warehouse might be the best choice of venue for you. Similarly, a glamorous black tie wedding should be held in a fancy hotel or event space. It’s important to note the indoor and outdoor atmosphere of a venue and analyze how it fits with the aesthetic of your wedding theme. This is also where you decide whether your venue needs extra decoration or the venue is naturally pleasing.

Trust your gut

Sometimes we need to trust our gut to see if any of the wedding venues you visited gave you a warm fuzzy feeling that indicates ‘This is the one’. Do you feel comfortable trusting the venue personnel to handle your wedding for you? Which venue do you think of first when you envision your big day? The answer to those important questions will tell you exactly where you need to go.

Sign the contract

Now that you have decided on the venue that speaks more to you, ask for a contract and take your time reviewing every aspect of the contract. Make sure you ask a lot of questions so as to avoid unpleasant surprises prior to your wedding. Watch out for additional costs that were not discussed beforehand and ensure that there is a mutual understanding between yourself and the venue coordinators.

Congratulations. You have successfully obtained your dream venue and that is a huge milestone in your wedding plan timeline. Hopefully, our tips have been of huge help to you. Here at Clarence House, ensuring that you have the perfect wedding of your dream is a huge priority to us. We offer you a lot of options to choose from when it comes to selecting the perfect wedding venue in Sydney.

For most couples who are looking to get married, setting a date and selecting their wedding venue are some of the most exciting tasks that await them. These two actions will properly solidify all your hopes and dreams, and make the idea of your wedding day a firm reality. In addition to this, you have no idea how much fun awaits you when it comes to all the days you’ll spend touring potential wedding venues. This will be like taking romantic days out with your fiance that you’ll spend visiting beautiful locations and dining on complimentary finger foods while wedding staff pine over you. However, before all of this fun and excitement can start, you will need to think through a few things.

In this blog, we are going to list some of the most important things that both you and your spouse will need to consider and talk about before selecting a venue. While these particular conversations may not be all that exciting, they will allow you to set a strong foundation for your big day and to deal with potential issues that may come up before they actually become problems. As such, it’s important to at least think about these things early on. Trust me… your future self will thank you!

So let’s get started…

1. Budget for Wedding:

From the menu to the décor to the very cake itself, every single aspect of your wedding day will need to be paid for. This is especially significant when it comes to your wedding venue because for most couples, booking their venue is usually their largest expense. As such, it’s very important to consider how much money both you and your spouse have available for your wedding and set a realistic budget. This will help you narrow down potential venue options a whole lot faster by factoring in cost; in addition, it will also prevent you from overspending on your wedding, which usually winds most couples who do it up in debt.

2. Why Wedding Date is important: 

Next, you’ll want to give a little thought to your wedding date. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll need to book your wedding venue around 12 months in advance. Most of the popular and attractive venues you’ll be considering will be fully booked for any dates before that. As such, it’s important to give a little thought to your expected wedding date before securing a venue, just so that you’ll be able to make the booking at the right time.

3. General Location for Wedding Venues:

And last but not least, you’ll want to consider your wedding location. Think about whether you’d like your wedding to be a destination wedding, or whether you’d prefer a location that’s a bit closer to home. Making this decision early on will certainly help direct you to the right venue.

Looking for some stunning wedding venues in Sydney? If so, you should consider reaching out to our company. At Clarence House, we have some of the country’s most beautiful venues and would love to help you make your wedding dreams come true.

The wedding planning phase is usually brutal. From finding the right venue to choosing the menu, organising the seating chart, and coordinating with the caterer, it’s a non-stop circus until the day you finally get the chance to stand at the altar and say, “I do”. All of this work is essential if you’d like to make your wedding day as amazing as it can be.

However, this does not mean that once it’s done, you can relax and take a break. There are many more details that will need to be finalized, even after you’ve found your venue and concluded on all the other big things. In this blog, we are going to focus on the last part of the wedding preparation phase and talk about some of the key details that you’ll need to finalise with your venue before everything is said and done.

So let’s get started…

1. Complete a Detailed Itinerary

One of the most important details that you’ll need to finalize and submit to your venue is your itinerary. This will help your venue’s staff make sure that your wedding day goes seamlessly by timing things such as the serving of meals and the cutting of the cake to fit your itinerary.

2. Access Details

You’ll also want to make sure that you’ve spoken to your venue representatives and discussed the logistics associated with your suppliers. Find out where suppliers, such as your caterer and florist, will be able to enter on the morning of the wedding, and what time those access paths will be open. This will help you better coordinate with your suppliers, which is essential if you’d like to make sure your wedding goes off without a hitch.

3. Final Headcount

And finally, you’ll need to provide your venue with the final headcount. This detail is probably the most important one because it will impact everything, from the number of place settings that are set at your reception, to the number of seats that will be arranged for your ceremony. So once you’ve received the final RSVPs, it’s imperative that you make sure your venue gets access to these figures as well.

Finding the right venue is not very easy. However, if you work with us, we’ll help you find the perfect place to serve as the backdrop to the most amazing day in your life. At Clarence House, we have a host of amazing venues that will be sure to take your breath away.

So what are you waiting for? Reach out to our company today!

Are you at the stage in your wedding preparations where your top list of wedding venues has been narrowed down? If so, you may now be wondering where to go from here. While thinning the herd may have been easy, comparing your top choices and making your final decision is bound to be a different story. As such, you’ll need to be well prepared before the wedding venue tours begin, and know exactly what you want if you’d like your venue visits to lead you to the right choice.

In this blog, we are going to provide you with our top 3 tips for wedding venue visits. They’ll be sure to help you balance the fun of having a good day out with your fiance, with the serious business of inspecting your prospective venues with a fine-tooth comb and narrowing down your choice.

So let’s get started…

1. Make Sure you’ve Booked an Appointment

While making a drop-in visit may initially feel like a good idea (because you’ll get to survey the venue without being blinded by the pomp and fanfare associated with scheduled visits), it rarely ever goes well. If you drop in, you may find that there won’t be anyone available to show you around. In addition, you also won’t get to learn all the important details that you would from a scheduled tour, which could result in you missing out on a potentially amazing wedding venue.

2. Don’t Overbook Visits

The worst thing you can do is to schedule a host of visits in one day and jump around from wedding venue to wedding venue. This will take all the fun out of your day out, and make your visits feel like more of a chore than a chance to view beautiful locations with the love of your life. In addition, you may also miss out on some of the most important details about a venue if you’re only spending an hour per visit. Instead, take the scenic route with your wedding venue visits; this will give you the time and experience you’ll need to truly absorb each location.

3. Visit at the Right time

And last, but not least, you should make sure that your visit has been scheduled for the right time. This will give you the chance to take in each venue in the right element. If you’re hoping to have your wedding on a leisurely weekend, don’t choose to visit a venue during the week. This is because you may find the place to be extremely crowded and busy on weekdays, which will influence your decision. However, the location would actually be a whole lot quieter on the weekends.

If you’re looking for superb venues to consider, you should reach out to our company. Here at Clarence House, we have some phenomenal wedding venues that will be sure to take your breath away.

A lot of couples that have gone through the process of planning a wedding have come to realize that the venue you have your heart set on might not be the one that you finally end up using for your wedding. Do you ask why this is so? Well, when it comes to wedding venues, size matters! Before you start looking at venues, you need to have a rough idea of how many guests you will have. This will narrow down your choices and make it easier for you to choose a wedding venue.

At Clarence House, we have been in the wedding business for a long time and have hosted weddings of all sizes. So, if you are looking for a world-class wedding venue in Sydney, give us a ring. Below are some top tips to help you decide what size wedding venue to book for your wedding.

1. Draw up a provisional guest list

Before you start looking at spaces, you need to have a guest list written down. This does not have to be set in stone but it will help you gauge how many guests you will have on the day. After you have a tentative estimate of the number of guests that you will have at the wedding, you can then look for a wedding venue that will suit your wedding size.

2. Bigger is not always better

Yes, we previously stated that size matters when it comes to wedding venues, but to clarify that statement, bigger is not always better. You need to get a wedding venue that is the perfect match for your wedding size. Having few guests at a wedding venue that is too big will make it lose its intimacy and change the atmosphere of the wedding. So, it is important that you get a wedding venue that is just right for your wedding size.

3. Consider everything that will be involved

Are you planning to have children at your wedding? Will your entertainment include a live band or any act that will need space to set up? How formal is your wedding setup going to be? Having answers to all of these questions will help you decide on the amount of space that you will need to have. When you finally start viewing wedding spaces, you will have a better idea of how big space you need for your wedding needs to be.

There is a reason why we are one of Sydney’s best wedding reception venues. Our team has a wealth of experience hosting weddings for many couples. Contact us today and you can be one step closer to having the wedding of your dreams.

Planning to have a small wedding? Read HERE

Looking for ways to reduce your wedding venue budget? Keep reading to find out what our top tricks and tips are.

1. Consider wedding in the off-peak season

Everybody knows that the cost of any wedding venue varies during the year. Summer and spring months are more in demand as compared to winter and autumn dates and as a result, you pay a premium for getting married in summer. Also, a lot of couples choose to get married in summer because this is when most venues will be looking their best. This also comes at a premium. If you do not mind a winter wedding or are looking for a way to get a top-dollar venue at a fraction of the usual cost price, consider having your wedding in winter or other off-peak dates.

2. Choose a date that is not too far off

Many couples choose to book their weddings well in advance so that they can have ample time to do their wedding preps. Dates that are close to the current one are usually cheaper because not many couples can deal with the stress that comes with planning a whole wedding in 6 weeks. If, however, you are up to the challenge and are willing to go the extra mile to make your wedding perfect on a short timeline and with major savings to boot, consider looking around to see if your top wedding venue choices have any dates in the near future available.

3. Avoid a Saturday wedding

For many people, Saturday is synonymous with weddings and for that reason, wedding venues charge more for weddings that are held on Saturdays. If you are not too attached to the idea of having a Saturday wedding, consider having one during the week or on a Sunday and you may get a hefty discount. The best part of choosing a weekday to have your wedding is that you get the same venue, the same staff, the same quality service at a fraction of the price.

Here are a few more ideas for you:

1. Have your ceremony and reception in the same location. This can cut your wedding venue costs by almost half.
2. Choose a venue that has accommodation for your wedding guests.
3. Get your negotiation hat on and ask for a discount

If you are looking for a world-class venue at a reasonable price, call Clarence House. Our team has a wealth of experience hosting weddings for many couples. Contact us today and you can be one step closer to having the wedding of your dreams.

The to-do list of planning a wedding can seem unending. It is also hard to know what to get done first and what you need to leave for later. While a lot of things on the list can be done at just about any time during the wedding planning process, there are a few that need to get done first so that everything else can fall into place. Setting a wedding budget, drafting a rough guest list, and booking a wedding venue will fall into that category.

Finding a venue that ticks all your boxes is not easy and at Clarence House, we are here to make that step easier for you. To that end, we have compiled a list of some of our top answers to questions that couples ask when they are deciding on the perfect wedding venue and the perfect timing for getting that done.

1. Is it ever too soon to start looking at wedding venues?

The simple answer is no. It is never too soon. You need to start looking around for wedding venues as soon as you get engaged, if not before the engagement. This is because the wedding venue business can be cutthroat and good wedding venues are booked years in advance. So, to give yourself a better chance of getting the perfect wedding venue, start looking for one as early as possible.

2. When should the final booking be made?

In general, the final booking must be settled 9-12 months before your wedding date. This is helpful in two ways. Firstly, you will be more likely to get the venue if you book it a year in advance, and secondly, having a booking done early will give you ample time to get everything else done on time. For very popular wedding venues, you may need to give yourself a better chance so booking the venue 18 months in advance is advised.

3. Can you get a venue last minute?

Yes, you can. But relying on getting a venue booked last minute means that you will probably have to make do with whatever is offered to you. This may mean that your wedding date will be shifted last minute, and you may need to alter your guest list to suit the wedding venue. Realistically, most people will not be fortunate enough to get an opening at the wedding venue that they really want if they wait until the last minute to book it.

At Clarence House, we have been in the wedding business for a long time and have hosted weddings of all sizes. So, if you are looking for a world-class wedding venue in Sydney, give us a ring. Our team has a wealth of experience hosting weddings for many couples. Contact us today and you can be one step closer to having the wedding of your dreams.

Everything has to start somewhere. And for most weddings, the very first decision that a couple will have to make is to choose a venue. However, this decision is rarely as easy as choosing a random church within your local area, that is if you are hoping to make preparations for the wedding of your dreams. In addition, there are also quite a few factors that you’ll need to think about when determining which venue would be perfect for your big day.

In this blog, we are going to walk you through how to shortlist wedding venue options. The very first thing that you’ll need to do is to have a frank conversation with your spouse and use this opportunity to narrow down your options. Such a conversation is an effective option that will help both you and your partner come up with a shortlist fast. Below, we are going to walk you through these considerations and show you how they can help you narrow down you’re shortlisted potential venues.

1. Talk about Preferences

Some people are born loving the beach or the park. Whereas others will tell you that they’ve dreamt of big Grande halls and beautiful churches since they were two years old. As such, the very first thing that you’ll need to determine is what exactly both you and your partner’s preferences are. Talking about your preferences could help you narrow down on a particular type of venue (e.g. garden venue, or church) that you’d both love to get married in. In addition, cutting out all the wedding venue types that you wouldn’t be caught dead in could also help.

2. Talk about Your Budget

Another important factor that you’ll need to consider is your wedding budget. The money that you have available to rent out your wedding venue will directly affect your options. For this reason, it’s important to have this conversation at the very beginning, so that you don’t wind up considering venue options that are outside of your price range.

3. Consider Location and Size

Next, you’ll want to consider your venue’s desired location and the size of the guest list. Do you want your venue to be a destination wedding, or do you want it to be hosted within your local area? Are you planning on inviting all your friends and family (200 people+), or will your guest list be smaller and a lot more intimate. These are all things that you need to think about when narrowing down venue options.

The decisions that you make above will help you narrow down your shortlist, which will go a long way in directing you to the optimum venue.

If you have more questions that need answering, reach out to us today. At Clarence House, we love helping couples all over Sydney turn their weddings into truly magical events.

Whilst planning a wedding can sweep you up in all the pomp and fan fair, there are quite a few decisions that will show you just how much work is required as well. Yes, weddings are magical events where the atmosphere is full of joy and love. However, they are also incredibly complicated and stressful to plan. They’ll require you to remain organized and to make all the right decisions if you’d like your big day to go off without a hitch.

In this blog, we are going to walk you through one of these important decisions and help you ensure that you make the right choice during the wedding planning process. This decision is your wedding venue size. Unlike a few other choices that are simply there for the fluff, and can ultimately be defined as non-consequential (such as the printing on your napkins), your choice of venue size will affect everything that will happen on your big day. For this reason, it is very important to make sure that by the time you settle on your ideal venue, you’ve gotten this decision right.

Below, we are going to outline a few of the key things that you should think about when determining what exactly the optimum wedding venue size is for you.

1. Your Budget

One of the main things that you’ll need to consider when contemplating venue sizes is your budget. It goes without saying that smaller venues are often cheaper. In addition, the more heads you have at your wedding, the more money you’ll need to spend on meals for each guest. For these reasons, you’ll find that once you define your budget and put aside money for your venue, you’ll be able to more clearly estimate the optimum venue size for you.

2. Your Preferred Venue Type

Next, you’ll want to consider your preferences and think about where you’d actually like to get married. Different venue types (due to their unique characteristics) automatically come with size limitations. For this reason, you’ll see that if your preferred venue is a beachfront location, hosting 200+ may not actually be possible. In this example, a grand hall or church venue would be way more likely to match those numbers.

3. Your Guest List

And finally, you’ll need to consider your guest list. This is arguably the most significant element that will determine your venue size. If you’re planning on inviting lots of people, you’ll need a larger venue that will be able to accommodate all of those people. However, if your guest list is smaller, a larger venue would simply be a waste of space. So, in that case, you’d be able to opt for a smaller venue.

Here at Clarence House, we’d love to help you find the right wedding venue for you. Reach out to us if you have any more questions, and we’ll be the helping hand that you’ll need to guide you closer toward your dream wedding.

Many people think that choosing a venue is the hard part and that once you and your spouse have battled over this decision and finally landed on a reasonable compromise, it will then be smooth sailing from there. But this is hardly ever the case. Even once you’ve booked a date and made a verbal agreement with your venue’s owner, the deal won’t be secured by a simple handshake. You’ll be required to sign a binding legal contract.

Venue contracts can be quite a complicated part of the overall wedding planning process, that is if you don’t simply throw the contract at your personal lawyer and get them to do all the dirty work. The contract that you sign could have serious implications and ramifications for your life if voided. As such, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve read through the fine print, and that all the provisions and additional details (such as your choice of caterer or your ability to invite children to your wedding) are not impeded by the contract that your venue has required you to sign.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything that you’ll need to know when it comes to venue contracts, and how you can jump this particular hurdle within your wedding preparations and land safely and securely on the other side.

What will the contract typically require?

Before you’ve even received your venue’s specific contract and reviewed it, there are quite a few things that are commonly seen in these types of legal agreements. These are things that you can expect to see in your venue contract, and that you should be prepared for before the time to sign the contract arrives. They include:

• Both you and your spouse’s full names, as well as the date that you’d like to rent the venue for.
• Your total payment for the venue, as well as the initial deposit (and in some cases, your deposit due date, if your venue hasn’t required you to pay the deposit before the contracts can be signed).
• A scheduled payment plan for all outstanding amounts after the deposit.
• Venue cancellation and refund policies
• Specified venue rules (e.g. no animals, guest parking specification, etc.)
• Insurance and liability details

What to sort out with your venue before signing the contract

Since the contract that you sign will be a legally binding agreement, it’s important that you square away any other wayward details with your venue’s owner (or their representatives) before signing on the dotted line. It won’t be possible to make defined choices about every single wedding aspect before signing the venue contract. However, if you negotiate some wiggle room for your planning period into the contract, this won’t be a problem for you. These include details such as your autonomy with your itinerary, the time frame when you’ll get access to the reception rooms, the specific limitations that your venue will impose on you… and so much more. Fitting these details into your contract beforehand will certainly be worthwhile. Trust us… your future self will thank you!

If you’re looking for some great venues in Sydney that will the perfect locations to set the stage for your dream wedding, reach out to us. Here at Clarence House, we’d love nothing more than to help you turn your big day into a wedding for the ages.

Picture this… gentle ripples of foamy water lapping up on the edges of a tranquil beach as the sun’s dwindling reflection lingers on the tip of the horizon. Bright vibrant rays of golden dust and orange red tinted clouds circle the sky above, as the gentle melody of the sea sets the backdrop to that magical moment. You stand on the foot of a beauty floral archway, your focus lost in the gaze of your fiance’s magical eyes, as the moment to share your vows and declare your endless loves comes closer and closer…

Or you may find yourself standing in a beautiful green oasis littered with gorgeous trees and a wide collection of flowers eliminating all of the colours of the rainbow. The sweet fragrant allure of each flowers will fill the atmosphere, bathing you in a romantic bubble of lavender and honey suckle, as your spouse stands opposing you in the center of that natural wonderland. Both of these magical experiences hinge on one very important wedding decision: the venue!

Overall, the wedding venue that you choose will have a huge effect on your wedding experience. As such, it is very important to invest in selecting the perfect venue. However, with there being so many beautiful venue types, selecting just one can sometimes be very hard. Be that as it may, here at Clarence House, we’d like to help make this decision a little bit easier for you. Below, we’ll walk you through our top two wedding venue types, and help you learn which one is right for you.

1. An Oasis on the edge of the sea

There is simply something magical about a meeting of the sky and sea. As such, choosing a wedding venue type that is based on the edge of the sea can create an enchanting ceremony experience. This could be a beach front wedding at sun set (like the first description above), or a Balinese oasis on a platform that floats further into the sea.

2. Natural Garden Wonderland

Choosing to host your wedding in a beautiful botanical garden is another great option that may initially seem daring, but that has great potential for reward. There is nothing more beautiful and peaceful than nature’s beauty. As such, selecting a garden venue would be a great way to maximize in this beauty for your wedding ceremony.

In addition, garden’s tend to require very little décor, since they will be littered with bright flowers and plants that are decorative in themselves. As such, this venue option could actually free up funds within your budget, which can give you more capital to splurge on a better menu, or on buying your dream wedding dress.

Here at Clarence House, we enjoy helping our clients plan their dream weddings. As such, if you have any more questions on how to choose your dream venue, or any other wedding details, Contact us today!