The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venue Open Days
A wedding venue open day is a relaxed, drop-in event where a venue invites several couples to explore the space at once – rather than a one-on-one private tour, it’s more like several viewings happening in the same room, on the same day.
This guide covers what to expect, who to bring, what to ask, and how to book one.
See the latest wedding fairs and open days across the UK here.
What is a wedding venue open day?
An open day is an event held by a wedding venue where several couples are invited to explore the space at the same time. The room is usually dressed for a wedding so you can picture what’s possible, with staff on hand for mini tours, questions, and introductions to the suppliers the venue regularly works with – florists, photographers, and cake makers among them.
Most venues run open days once or twice a year on set weekends. Some need booking in advance, particularly smaller or more popular venues, so it’s worth watching the venue’s social channels or website for dates – or checking their Bridebook profile directly.
Filtering by “Has upcoming events” in the Bridebook app is the fastest way to see which venues near you have an open day or wedding fair coming up.
You usually don’t need a specific time slot. Most open days run across a generous window – a full afternoon or evening – and you can arrive whenever suits you and explore at your own pace.
Some venues do ask you to pre-register by email, phone, or Eventbrite, sometimes with a headcount so they can plan for numbers, so it’s worth checking the venue’s booking process before you go.
Discover our guide to what to expect at a wedding fair here.
What to expect at an open day
Who hosts an open day?
Open days are usually run by the venue’s events manager or wedding coordinator, alongside serving staff, the hospitality team, and any preferred suppliers the venue regularly works with – often florists, photographers, and videographers.
It’s worth asking whether those suppliers come as part of a package or whether you’re free to book your own, since some venues restrict couples to a preferred list, while others offer a discount for booking supplier and venue together.
How long does an open day take?
There’s no set schedule, so it’s entirely up to you. Some couples get everything they need in ten minutes; others spend an hour taking in the atmosphere and talking things through with the team. Do check in advance whether the open day runs for a specific morning, afternoon, or evening, so you know the window you’re working with.
Who can you bring?
Whoever makes you feel most comfortable – your partner alone, close family, or your full wedding party. If you’re planning to bring a larger group, some venues ask you to confirm numbers beforehand so they can prepare enough food and drink for everyone.
What will you see?
Most venues dress their main spaces to show how they look set up for a wedding, often styling different rooms in different themes – traditional, colourful, minimalist – so you can see a range of possibilities in one visit.
Marta Díaz Anes, Senior Wedding and Events Coordinator at Morden Hall, describes what a typical open day looks like: “During an open day, we try to offer viewings to all of our couples. Depending on demand, we may ask the couples to enjoy the venue and a drink for a few minutes whilst one of the team members becomes available. The venue is beautifully set up and our recommended suppliers are around to give you ideas for your wedding at Morden Hall.”
What to do at an open day
Expect to walk through the ceremony space, the reception room, the grounds, and sometimes the accommodation, with venues often highlighting table settings, floral options, lighting, and entertainment ideas along the way.
Take photos, ask questions as they come up, and note down anything specific – noise restrictions, access times, what’s included in the hire fee. Even a broad question like “what does a typical wedding day here look like?” can tell you a lot about whether it’s the right fit.
If you don’t get through everything on the day, you can always come back.
Marta from Morden Hall adds: “It’s very popular for our couples to visit the venue during the open day, put their preferred date on hold, and come back for a private viewing; or come for a private viewing, put their preferred day on hold, and visit the venue for a second time during an open day with further questions or family before they make their decision.”
Venue and supplier availability, dates, and offerings are subject to change – always confirm details directly with the venue before booking or travelling.
What else might be on offer?
Venues often make the day feel worthwhile beyond the viewing itself – a glass of fizz, a few canapés, sometimes a small goodie bag.
Take the chance to chat properly with the team and any suppliers present, and ask the questions that matter to you, however small they seem.
Questions to ask at an open day
Open day questions tend to be broader than the specific, logistics-heavy questions you’d save for a private viewing. Worth asking:
- What’s your availability like for next year?
- Are there any limitations on ceremony times or days?
- Do you offer exclusive use?
- What’s the plan if the weather turns?
- Can we use our own suppliers and decorators, or our own caterers?
- Are there early bird discounts or seasonal offers available?
- Can we provisionally hold a date while we decide?
- What’s the payment schedule if we book?
- How far in advance should we book to avoid missing out?
- What do couples usually say about getting married here, and is there anything they’d have done differently?
- Are there extra fees to know about – corkage, cleanup, overtime?
- What support do you offer on the day itself?
- Can we come back for a private tour if we’re still deciding?
Save the more detailed questions – access times, exact space measurements, setup logistics – for a private viewing instead, where there’s more one-on-one time to go through them properly.
See more questions to ask your wedding venue here.
Open days across the UK
Open days run throughout the year in most regions, with particular search demand in Essex, Kent, Norfolk, and around Glasgow – though venues everywhere from converted barns to city hotels tend to hold at least one or two a year.
Since dates vary constantly by venue, filter by “Has upcoming events” in the Bridebook app to see what’s on near you, or check the social channels of venues already on your shortlist.
How to book an open day
Most open days don’t need booking, though some venues ask you to fill in a short form or register via email or Eventbrite.
Either way, it’s worth letting the venue know you’re planning to attend – a quick enquiry through the Bridebook app does the job, and you can keep the conversation going afterwards through Messages rather than juggling emails and calls.
It also means the venue can update you directly if timings change or a last-minute offer comes up.
Use Bridebook’s Favourites to keep a running list of venues you want to visit, log notes after each one, and track who you’ve been in touch with – useful once you’ve seen more than two or three and the details start to blur together.
FAQs
What is a wedding venue open day?
A wedding venue open day is a drop-in event where a venue invites multiple couples to explore the space at the same time, usually dressed and styled for a wedding, with staff and preferred suppliers on hand to answer questions.
Do I need to book a wedding venue open day?
Most don’t require booking, though some venues ask you to register in advance by email, phone, or Eventbrite, sometimes with a headcount so they can plan for numbers.
How long do wedding venue open days last?
Most run across a set window – a morning, afternoon, or evening – and you can arrive and leave whenever suits you within that time, rather than following a fixed schedule.
Can I bring anyone to a wedding venue open day?
Yes. Couples bring anyone from just a partner to a full wedding party – check with the venue in advance if you’re bringing a larger group, so they can prepare for numbers.
How do I find wedding venue open days near me?
Filter by “Has upcoming events” in the Bridebook app to see which venues near you have an open day or wedding fair coming up, or check the social channels of venues already on your shortlist.
Why Trust Bridebook
Bridebook is the world’s #1 wedding planning platform, used by over 2.8 million couples. Our content is informed by real data from the Bridebook UK Wedding Report, which draws on responses from thousands of couples planning their weddings each year. Where expert input is included, contributors are named and their credentials verified. We update our articles regularly to ensure prices, statistics, and advice reflect current market conditions.
Last reviewed: July 2026
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