Choosing the Venue

Where do you want to get married?   There are several options here, the bride's hometown, the groom's hometown, or somewhere entirely different - even abroad.  There are lots of options for getting married out of the UK - one of the most popular being a Carribean Wedding.  Weddings in Italy and Weddings in Spain are proving popular - but you will need to check local legalities to be sure you are able to have a civil ceremony.   There has never been more choice than today.   Keep your mind's open to the unusual - your theme may dictate the type of venue (eg - vintage glamour in a stately home).  Types of themes could include:

Black and White Wedding
1920's Vintage Glamour
Country Hoe Down, Barn Dance
Winter Wedding
Asian Weddings
Christmas Wedding
Romantic Wedding
Beach Wedding
Garden Wedding
............

So you have now decided on your theme and the type of venue it has to be (barn, hall, hotel, stately home and so on).  Next thing to consicer is the size of your venue, and whether it can accommodate all your guests - day and evening too.  You may have found a beautiful country barn but you must ensure that is can comfortably seat your guests and the staff can easily move around between tables to give a good service.  All venues give their capacity, of seated, buffet, and standing.  I would suggest that you do not fill your venue to its maximum capacity.  80% should make it comfortable for everyone.  If you are having entertainment you will need to consider a dance floor and space for your entertainers to set up.
 
So now you have the criteria for your shortlist:

Theme of Wedding
Type of Venue
Size of Venue

Make your shortlist based on these three criteria and make appointments to visit them.  Visiting on a weekend can sometimes be an advantage as they have already set up for a wedding take place, and this will really give you a feel for the venue.