5 ways to save on your venue

1) Go for a mid-week date
Marrying on a Thursday is a great way to make a long weekend of your wedding, and prices for venue hire drop hugely if you don't mind avoiding the most popular Saturday dates.

2) Try an autumn or winter wedding
Lots of grand country houses lend themselves to an opulent autumn or winter theme, and prices can be considerably lower if you're prepared to say 'I do' outside of the peak spring and summer months.

3) Do you need exclusive use?
Yes, having your whole venue to yourselves is wonderful, but expect to pay a premium for it. Find out if there's even the capacity for your venue to host another wedding on the same day as yours – if not, it's probably only going to be some hotel guests around the venue.

4) Opt for an unusual venue
Tourist attractions, museums and libraries are often available for venue hire, and can cost a lot less than a country house or castle as weddings aren't their chief source of income.

5) Think about timings
If you've set your heart on somewhere that you simply can't afford, find out if you're able to rent it for a shorter period of time. You might be able to hire it for your ceremony, or have it for an early evening reception before moving guests on to an 'after party' at another nearby restaurant or bar.