Big or small - what is the right size wedding venue for you?

Large wedding venue

A larger venue means more capacity to invite all those important people dear to you for your special day. A large wedding is typically one that has over 150 guests, with numbers rising to the several hundred and even thousands for grander celebrations.

With the need for such a large space, you may find your choices somewhat limited due to the high space requirement. A bigger size also comes with a bigger budget, so it’s important to conduct some initial research beforehand if you are looking to have a large wedding so that your budget can cover the cost of renting out a wedding venue of the required size.

Medium wedding venue

According to wedding planner website Hitched, the average number of guests for a UK wedding sits between 82-103, which the majority of medium wedding venues are built to facilitate. Both our own Science Room and Library for example have a maximum capacity of 120, meaning plenty of room to hold your reception and celebrate the special day.

Even with fewer numbers when compared to a large wedding, you’ll still need to consider all the mouths you’ll need to feed. When it comes to catering, it’s important to see whether you’ll need to hire outside catering or if the wedding venue offers its own.

Looking at the price of either is a good starting point, but you’ll also want to consider aspects such as the setup and staff. In-house catering typically will include everything you’ll need, including cutlery, linens and napkins, with the added benefit of the staff knowing the venue inside and out.

Small wedding venue

For more intimate affairs (and fewer mouths to feed!) you may opt for a smaller wedding and therefore a small wedding venue.

Small weddings typically have between 20 and 60 guests – the perfect number to enjoy a wedding reception in our atmospheric Fish Room or contemporary Council Room.

Even with smaller numbers, you’ll want to ensure you have the necessary tech to help enhance the overall experience. Large displays such as our pull-down screen in the Library allow you and loved ones to share and display special memories, while our state-of-the-art microphones in the Science Room ensure the perfect setup for a speech or two.

Micro weddings

What’s smaller than small? Covid-19 saw a stark rise in what is known as micro weddings – weddings that are shorter and have fewer than 20 guests. A ceremony and reception are still included, although there typically won’t be a big event afterwards.

Cost is a big reason a micro wedding could be a good option for some, with micro weddings being far less expensive than a standard wedding. However, space and your wedding venue of choice become even more important here.

Having a space too large can take away from the intimacy of your wedding, while having one too small can still make things difficult for guests to move around and enjoy themselves, even with the fewer numbers. As such, striking the balance is key to ensure you have a venue that provides an intimate yet enjoyable experience for all in attendance.

At the Royal Society of Chemistry at Burlington House, we pride ourselves on creating a truly memorable occasion for you and your guests. Click here for more information on our wedding offerings, or get in touch with a member of our experienced team.