Featured image by Lauren Rader on Unsplash

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Every year, I’m sent a list of the most instagrammable wedding venues in the UK, and I have to be honest about how this makes me feel. Choosing your wedding venue shouldn’t mean playing along to a social media popularity contest. So Blenheim Palace has most hashtags… it’s certainly not every couple’s cup of tea! While it’s nice to see the likes of stunning Tunnels Beaches and beautiful Askham Hall on the list, I take these rankings with a massive pinch of salt and a hearty dose of scepticism.

Last year I blogged about the exact same press release here, finishing by saying, “a count of instagram hashtags doesn’t make any venue ‘better’ than another. Some of the loveliest are tucked away in the countryside with no mobile signal. And if your guests are spending all day on instagram, will they be missing the best bits of your wedding?”

There’s more to wedding venues than palaces these days!

Many of the venues on the list from Aura Print are stately homes: the kinds of luxury locations which have been sought after wedding venues for decades. The research names Hampton Court Palace, for example: “From its rose-red Tudor brick, glorious stone archways, cobbled courtyards to sweeping gardens, the 500-year-old treasure has played host to lavish royal parties, being a top choice for kings and queens. Whether you dream of a grand and majestic wedding amid the golden hues of autumn or snow-covered grounds, this regal property on the banks of the Thames is sure to tick all your boxes as you transform into royalty for your wedding day!“

Hum. How many couples are actually looking to transform into royalty? And is all that grandeur pushing couples into maxing out their budgets on the most expensive venues? Another glance at the list has me wondering how many of these venues are tourist attractions (so most of their hashtags are non-wedding related) and how many are turning over multiple weddings every weekend and on weekdays as well. Some will be chalking up hashtags at light speed, because more people are visiting. Having 200k hashtags doesn’t necessarily mean a venue is best, most popular for weddings or even most instagrammable.

Your perfect wedding venue is out there – it’s ok if it’s not on the insta list

My list of favourite wedding venues would be very different. And I think that’s what I’m trying to say: that every couple is looking for something more personal these days. Perhaps regal architecture is your thing, and that’s wonderful. But perhaps you’re from a farming family and prefer a space that’s more down to earth and homely. It sure as hell doesn’t mean your wedding will be any less ‘instagrammable’ – if that’s what you want it to be!

Far more important than how many hashtags your wedding venue has, is how you feel when you visit.

• How warm is the welcome?
• How versatile is the space?
• How capable are the wedding coordinators?
• And how well does the decor suit you as a couple?
• Is there space to dance?
• Is the food amazing?
• Or can you bring in your favourite vintage pizza truck so your guests have happy tummies and more time to dance, instead of sitting through a formal banquet?!

Your instagram is unique – and that’s a wonderful thing

Intimate, eclectic and characterful wedding venues can be supremely instagrammable. I recently did some online research into Soho venues, and discovered some absolute gems. Then there are venues like old theatres run as charities, rural wedding barns with beautiful outlooks and wedding venues tucked away in the mountains. I adore the Lake District so give me Coniston Coppermines over Peckforton Castle ANY day!

No wedding has to be instagrammable…

Your memories won’t be of how your day looked. You’ll remember seeing each other the first time, you’ll remember the absolute joy of having all of your best people in the same place. Your guests will remember the food and the party.

You’ll have your wedding photos to remember everything by, and your venue will be a big part of the images in there. But just as important as the venue, is choosing the right wedding photographer: someone who’ll take images you love, in a style that resonates with you, and who’ll be a pleasure to be around on the day.

… but if you want yours to be, you can own that.

It’s not always about the architecture or the gardens in your venue. Most wedding venues – including some of the very best – wouldn’t feel very ‘instagrammable’ if you visited when a wedding wasn’t happening. But that’s the beauty of them: a blank canvas venue means you can add colour (or not), drape it with florals (or simply candle light), or create a vibe that’s alternative, modern, timeless or romantic – whichever of those suits who you are as a couple.

I’ve read the press release about the UK’s most instagrammable wedding venues – but I honestly don’t believe a word of it matters. The most important and the most beautiful wedding in the world, is going to be yours.