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Planning a DIY event? Here’s a List of My Top 8 Venue Need-To-Knows:

Perhaps you’re looking to plan your wedding or your work’s annual Christmas ‘do’, whatever the event – big or small, this blog guides you through some of the ‘need-to-know’ questions essential for booking your venue.

  1. What is included in the venue hire cost? Are there toilets onsite already? Does it have a kitchen space for caterers?
  2. How many does the venue hold, seated and standing? This is important to consider when having guests sat for a formal dinner or standing with a BBQ or casual canapes.
  3. When do you have access to the venue? Is it the day before? The whole weekend?
  4. Is it accessible? If there are stairs inside, is there a lift? What about a ramp?
  5. Are there recommended suppliers? If so, is it mandatory to use them?
  6. What items are and are not allowed? For example, fireworks, candles, sparklers etc.
  7. Is there corkage to pay for any alcohol you bring onto the premises? This can sometimes be overlooked but it’s important to consider when looking to keep costs down.
  8. What happens to rubbish such as glass bottle disposal? Are there recycling bins on-site and available for you to use or do you have to dispose of glass bottles yourself?

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What couples say...
"Lorna was incredible on our wedding day. She managed everything impeccably and would recommend her to anyone planning a wedding. She was the single best thing we spent money on in the whole wedding process."
LYDIA & LEWIS
What couples say...
"Lorna was absolutely brilliant and very professional throughout our wedding process. We had initially tried to do a lot of things ourselves but couldn't seem to picture the whole day coming together. We luckily found Lorna through google and she took over and pulled everything together for us, communicating with all of our suppliers and really helped the day run smoothly. No ask we had was too big/small or too much and every detail was thought of. We would both like to thank Lorna for all her time and effort throughout along with her enthusiasm, which shone through! We would definitely recommend Lorna to anyone in the future!!!"
DANI & CHRIS
What couples say...
"Lorna was incredible and our wedding would not have been anywhere near as good without her helping us along the way! From the moment she came onboard, 6 weeks before the event, she made us feel in control and confident about everything we had planned. We had many moving parts on the day and Lorna tirelessly worked in the background seamlessly plugging gaps that we had not thought about and directing a multitude of suppliers allowing Jess and I to thoroughly enjoy our day knowing it was in good hands. We originally thought we could save some money by not having a planner/coordinator but I would highly, highly recommend using Lorna to give you the peace of mind that your day will be awesome with her on your side!"
JESS & STEVE
What couples say...
"Put simply, this wedding wouldn't have been possible without Lorna. Like a pro, she mastered the art of managing our emotions, 10+ suppliers, 60+ guests across 4+ locations, a pandemic and a hugely unrealistic list of hopes and dreams for our big day to execute across boundaries. The outcome was a magical day, and the pictures/videos/messages from everyone attending confirmed it. We remain forever grateful to her for taking us on as clients and recommend that you look no further in your search for the right 'planner'. You need a 'manager/visionary' even if others tell you it's possible to do it without, and Lorna is the best of the best."
What suppliers say...
"It was a pleasure to work with Lorna at a recent wedding. She was completely organised, friendly and made sure that everything ran smoothly all day. It makes all the difference having a professional wedding coordinator, something that many couples overlook. Speaking as a wedding supplier myself, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Lorna to ensure your big day goes to plan! She was on it!"
Chris Saich
What couples say...
"Lorna was the wedding co-ordinator at our wedding a couple of weeks ago and we can't praise her enough. She was worth her weight in gold to us on the day and helping us set up. Our day would have been completely different without Lorna's help. Every time I looked for her to sort something she was either already on it or knew what was required before I had to say anything. We can't praise Lorna enough, she is great!"
SAM CLARKE
What couples say...
"Lorna was our on the day coordinator and we couldn’t be more grateful!! She was so friendly and was as excited for the day as we were. She clearly loves what she does and is incredibly professional, she really knows her field. Lorna helped us with the things we did know, the things we weren’t sure about and the things we didn’t know at all. She was there in the weeks before hand and spoke with all suppliers and then took full control on the day in the best way and we didn’t have to think of a thing! Honestly couldn’t speak of her highly enough. Thank you Lorna!!"
ALI & JORDAN
What couples say...
"Lorna was recommended to us 6 months prior to our wedding. At our initial meeting, Lorna immediately understood our vision for the day. At each meeting, Lorna provided inspirational ideas and took action to ensure that we kept on schedule. Lorna was also conscious of cost and mindful of our budget. Many of her ideas and suggestions made some of the special touches look more expensive than they were. On our wedding day, Lorna’s effort and attention to detail made a special difference to many aspects of the occasion. Lorna has the most incredible and admirable “can do....not a problem!!” attitude which gave us the confidence that our plans would be realised on the day. Lorna is a highly motivated, creative and professional individual whom we would not hesitate to recommend to anyone planning an event."
TREVOR RAWANA
What couples say...
"Lorna was an invaluable addition to our wedding day! From the moment we first spoke, I knew Lorna was exactly what we were looking for in an on the day coordinator. She has heaps of enthusiasm and is clearly very passionate about her job. She took a genuine interest in our vision for the wedding and shared our excitement about making our dreams a reality. Six weeks before the big day, Lorna contacted all of our suppliers and took a huge amount of pressure off our plates. She is incredibly organised and helped so much with the final logistics of of the day. On the day itself, Lorna ensured the whole day ran smoothly. From spreading my veil before walking down the aisle to assisting the catering team, no job was too big or small for her. I am so pleased we found Lorna and we would recommend her to anyone! Thank you Lorna!"
Steph & Max
What suppliers say...
"Lorna is passionate & professional. A pleasure to work with & would highly recommend 💞"
HAYLEY SAGE
What couples say...
I cannot explain how amazing Lorna is. She made my day a dream; I felt like she knew everything I wanted and nothing was too much for her. Incredible!
HANNAH & JAMES
What couples say...
"We knew from our first conversation Lorna was the only wedding planner we wanted. Little did we know how incredible she would actually be. In the lead up she was organised, efficient and extremely friendly, making us feel at ease and calmly handling all our suppliers. She dealt with all our last minute asks and changes, and suggested helpful ideas to make the day run smoother showing her expertise and depth of knowledge. On the day, she was the first person at the venue and took all the stress away from the wedding party. She expertly handled a few last minute emergencies so that we barely noticed. Throughout the day she kept all the suppliers to time, and helped countless guests with questions and asks, helping us to relax and enjoy. Lorna, you are a true superhuman and dose of joy that all couples need both in build up to and on the day itself. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts xx"
LYDIA & LEWIS
What couples say...
"Lorna was wonderful from start to finish; she listened carefully to our vision for the day and guided us gently throughout the process on how to best to execute the wedding we dreamed of. She was helpful in her willingness to locate and place bookings, articulate in her ideas and willing to offer alternatives where she saw fit, and perhaps most importantly for us, Lorna upheld a contagious optimism throughout the whole experience. Not even unforeseen circumstances in the week leading up to the wedding deterred Lorna, and she somehow managed to keep our spirits up in what was otherwise a particularly testing time. Indeed, in what can be a stressful period in the lead up to any wedding, having someone like Lorna who we could rely on and with whom we could sound out our ideas and plans as they evolved over the course of the year, was the best decision we made for our wedding and we will be forever grateful."
What families say...
Hannah and myself could not have coped without your help and dedication. You helped make the day so smoothly and stress free for us. I will have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone who needs a planner! Wishing you every success in your job.
Mother of the bride
What suppliers say...
"Lorna assisted us recently with event management as an on the day event manager. She ran the front of house side of a large wedding with ease and was great to have her on board. The bride and groom were thoroughly happy. She covered setting up the day before, full day management and clearing at end of night. Can’t wait to work together again!"
STOUR VALLEY CATERING
What suppliers say...
"Lorna came on board as an assistant to support us with a clients wedding last weekend. Her hard work, quick thinking and initiative was invaluable on the two days she was with us. She is a great assistant and an asset to any wedding or event planner."
VC Event Curation
What suppliers say...
"As a wedding planner myself, I sometimes require the support of other wedding planners in the area. I like to call on Lorna as I know her service is great and she is able to take direction easily and confidently without me having to worry about what is going on when I'm not able to be there with her. I will definitely use Lorna again! Thank you Lorna!"
Amae Events
What suppliers say...
"Lorna is experienced, thoughtful and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble. She is knowledgeable in her field and this supports her unflappable demeanor (which is always useful on a wedding day)! She is fantastic with people, always receiving glowing feedback from couples and the suppliers that she has to work with. She is great at adapting to varying requirements and has worked with me in many different types of venues. Lorna has managed weddings in my absence as well as assisted me many times. I'm always disappointed on the occasions that she is not available to work on one of my weddings! If you need extra support then your brand, your couple and the wedding itself is in safe hands with Lorna!"
Lucy Meehan Events
What suppliers say...
"Lorna is superb and an asset to anyone in the wedding industry. I have worked with Lorna over the last few months where she has supported me with various admin tasks and content creation for socials, and really helped getting me through a busy few months. Most recently Lorna joined my onsite team for a client's wedding and was brilliant. I do not know where I would be without Lorna - she has handled some last minute issues for me, she dealt with various challenges at our recent wedding with ease and with a cool head. I am almost reluctant to write this review as I'd love to have Lorna work full time for me! She is a true right hand woman and I would not have got through the last few months without her help and support."
Senel Besim Event Design
What suppliers say...
"Lorna assisted a wedding here at Butley Priory, and she was an absolute pleasure to work with, bright and breezy and very helpful. Cant wait to have her support us again. Highly recommended."
Butley Priory
What suppliers say...
"Lorna is an absolute super star! Not only has she assisted me on weddings, she has also managed them on behalf of Louisa May Weddings. Lorna is super friendly, reliable, approachable and very organised. She is an asset to my business and I appreciate her continued support. Thank you Lorna for being you and for being so fantastic."
Louisa May Weddings
What suppliers say...
"I have experienced Lorna at work on a wedding day at which I was the photographer. Lorna co-ordinated the day perfectly and was always to hand if I needed her. She was professional and friendly towards the couple and their guests, as well as the other wedding suppliers. I would highly recommend her for your wedding or event."
Mae Photography
What suppliers say...
"I worked with Lorna on a wedding last year. She was great - professional, easy to work with and friendly"
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