If you’ve ever been back and forth about having your wedding ceremony and reception at the same venue, then wonder no longer! Sarah from Nudo Events has 5 reasons why saying yes to keeping it all in the one spot could really be the way to go in “When 2 Become 1: Having Your Ceremony & Reception At One Venue.”

When it comes to choosing your dream wedding venue, you may find yourself umming and ahhing about what will make one space stand out against the rest, and what features are most important to you. There are so many elements to consider, and many couples even find themselves pondering whether their ideal wedding includes one venue or two – I mean, garden ceremonies are all the rage right now!

Don’t worry though, we’re here to help you – we’ve put together the top 5 reasons why you should have your ceremony and reception at the same venue. Trust us, you’ll be sold by the time you’re finished reading! Shall we get started?

Header Image & This Image: The Button Factory by Ashleigh Haase

Avoid Travel Delays

One of our biggest pet peeves is being stuck in traffic and we think we’re in the majority with that one. The last thing your guests want is to be sitting in the car, bumper to bumper, all dolled up rushing to make it from the ceremony to the reception in time – and that applies to the wedding party too! While it’s normal of course to be fashionably late, it’s safe to say we’d love to eliminate the stress that comes with traffic, car issues, parking mayhem, and other delays between festivities. There can be so much anxiety associated with getting from one venue to another, particularly if they’re on separate sides of the city, and even just the thought of this is enough to deter some guests from partaking in the celebration! How can we avoid this, you ask? Opt to have your ceremony and reception at the same location, allowing guests to arrive at the venue and stay there all night long – from tears being shed at the ceremony, mingling at cocktail hour, right through to tearing the dance floor up at the reception. You’ll also save money on additional transportation, giving you more moolah to spend on more important things – hello photo booth!!

Transition To Cocktail Hour 

That brings us to our next point! Cocktail hour becomes a breeeeeze with your guests flowing effortlessly into the next space, allowing them to grab a glass of bubbly and mingle with others while you (the beautiful newlyweds) sneak off for sunset pics, a quick snack, or a quiet minute together.

Some couples even opt to spend this special time with their loved ones snapping photos and getting the party started in the cocktail space – perks of no travel, hey? All of this allows for a better guest experience – no questions around “where do we go?” or “what’s happening now?” It also eliminates that pesky traffic we mentioned above, as well as removing the chance of any latecomers or tardy guests for the reception.

The Button Factory in Cheltenham is one of our favourite venues for this. With 3 spaces under the same roof, guests are transitioned straight from the unique Garden Room (it’s indoor, so perfect all year round), surrounded by luscious greenery as the couple says “I do”, straight into the gallery for cocktails and canapes. Then, guests are treated to a WOW moment as they ascend up the stairway to heaven (as we like to call it), into a modern, natural light-filled Loft, ready to party the night away. It’s a big yes from us!

Image: The Button Factory by Art of Grace Photography

Fall In Love With One Space & One Vision

Let’s be real, we all love a styled venue, and choosing beautiful blooms, dreamy candles, and lush linen table runners has got to be one of the best parts of the wedding planning process. So if you needed another reason to fall in love with the idea of just one venue for your big day, let us remind you that one venue equals one cohesive design. Sometimes it’s hard to bring your Pinterest dreams to life in two different spaces, especially if one is modern and the other is rustic for example, so opting for a single venue means you’re transitioning between two spaces that will complement each other perfectly. Another advantage? Those lush ceremony florals that surrounded you as you said ‘I do’ can easily be repurposed.  Style your reception space with a fun and unique Insta-worthy photo backdrop that will give your guests heart eyes, or even behind your sweetheart table, giving them new life with just the help of a friendly team member or pal!

Image: The Button Factory by Art of Grace Photography

Less Stress – One Planner & One Venue For Vendors

If you’re looking to simplify your wedding day, then one venue is the way to go. Firstly, one space equals one set of vendors and one venue manager throughout your wedding journey. Many couples find liaising with multiple vendors and coordinators can become quite time-consuming and confusing, and often minor details are missed, causing stress levels to go through the roof. By choosing to get hitched and celebrate at the same venue, you’re cutting the planning in half and streamlining to just one contact.  Another plus is it means you won’t have to worry about paying delivery, setting up, and packing down charges for two locations – celebrate those small wins!

Mother Nature Has No Power!

As much as we love an outdoor wedding (and trust us, we do!), it’s risky business planning a fully outdoor ceremony. While we can hope that summer or spring will bring sunny and dry conditions, there’s sadly no guarantee, and the last thing you need on your wedding day is torrential downpour throwing a spanner in the works.

By holding your ceremony and reception at the same location, you’re providing yourself a big, cosy backup plan to keep your guests dry and happy if Mother Nature does decide to wreak havoc. In this case, you’ll have an epic backup space indoors. No muddy stilettos or frizzy hair here! Remember though, a little rain or drizzle does make for some epic photos so it’s not all bad, meaning you have the opportunity to step outside if you want to take advantage of that unique photo moment.

Image: The Button Factory by Art of Grace Photography

While having your ceremony and reception at the same venue is bound to aid convenience, and possibly even lead to a more stress-free day, nothing is more important than doing what you want to do and we cannot stress that enough! Go explore a variety of venues and choose the one that speaks to what is most important to you, including the overall vibe, features, and elements you’ve always dreamed of, and we’re sure that it’ll be a celebration for the ages! Good luck lovers!

About Nudo Events: We’re a dynamic team of planners and designers (and shoulders to lean on), effortlessly guiding you through your wedding journey step by step. Taking the time to understand your vision and what matters most, whilst also taking care of the million small (and sometimes tedious) details that you don’t have the time for. And when the day comes, we bring it all together to create the kind of experience your guests will rave about for years.