I recently went on a coffee date with a good friend of mine, and we started reminiscing about her wedding day. Out of curiosity I asked her how she decided on a venue for her special day. Her answers led me to write this blog & share some valuable advice on choosing a wedding venue.
Choosing a wedding venue is one of the most important decisions you will have to make when planning your wedding. Everyone wants their wedding to be unforgettable, for the right reasons…
Finding the perfect venue does not have to be difficult. There are a variety of different venue styles to choose from, from a rustic barn, an elegant ballroom, or a picturesque stretch of beach. So, we did the research for you and found a few valuable pointers on choosing a wedding venue.
Points to consider when choosing a wedding venue
The venue you decide on will be based on your budget, theme, wedding date, location, and capacity (will they be able to accommodate all your guests). Keep in mind that the venue will be the backdrop for your wedding photographs.
The majority of wedding venues have the same kind of package deals, but lower-cost packages might not provide full service. Think catering, bar and waiting staff. Consider the fact that you might have to make use of outside vendors or that a full-service package will cost more.
It is a clever idea to draw up a list of everything you require from the venue. Take this list with you when viewing venues and take notes to compare later. To save you time, make a shortlist of the venues you are considering and arrange a set date to view them.
Keep the following in mind:
Let us jump straight to the key point: budget! You have to keep your total budget, for the whole wedding, into consideration. Take your time to work out an overall budget and then categorize it according to your various service providers.
Typically, wedding venue packages ranges from a room only rental rate to all-inclusive packages. These packages may include catering, chairs, linens, lighting, tables, décor, and flowers to name a few. Your budget needs to make provision for any hidden costs, or surcharges related to corkage fees for example.
Next up is your “theme”: Are you planning an outdoorsy Bo-Ho styled wedding, leaning more towards a rustic barn, a romantic, traditional wedding at a venue with an elegant ballroom, or an intimate affair on a picturesque stretch of beach? Keep this in mind while shortlisting wedding venues.
Have a look on their websites at the gallery photos of actual weddings held at said venue. You do not want your dream crushed because the venue does not have the option to host your ceremony outdoors! Of course, you have already decided on the overall concept and imagined what your wedding photos will look like, against your chosen theme.
Capacity, location, and accommodation is your next point: this is important to remember when considering a venue. You might have to reconsider your guestlist to achieve your “goal” of finding the perfect wedding venue.
You furthermore need to consider your guests too. Is your chosen venue well located and can it in fact accommodate all guests, that will be spending the night? If you are planning an intimate wedding it might not be a problem, but a smaller venue will not be able to accommodate all 150 of your guests!
Once you have a shortlist of venues that caught your eye, availability needs to be high on your priority list. Many of the popular venues are booked 2 to 3 years in advance. Confirm your interest by putting down a deposit.
Lastly, but still quite important, read the reviews regarding the venue and even consider speaking to professional planners. Online reviews can give you a better idea of what to expect, but do not rely on that solely. Professional wedding planners have more experience with what to look for in choosing the perfect venue, and they might have planned a few weddings at some of the venues on your shortlist.
These are just a few points you need to consider in choosing your perfect wedding venue. Remember to relax, go with your heart, and enjoy the options available. We hope this blog post gave you some insight into what you need to consider in choosing a wedding venue.
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