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Are you planning on getting married in the next year or so? Then it’s time to start looking for that dream wedding venue. A fun (and daunting) step to take, it needs to be somewhere that you and your partner love and can’t wait to get married in.
However, there are certain considerations that you need to keep in mind throughout the process, including:
The Location of The Venue
Where do you see yourselves getting married? Do you want to get married on a tropical beach, in a beautiful and historic building (such as the landmark wedding venue), in a church or in a different location? This should be the first thing that you think about when it comes to planning your wedding.
Of course, everyone’s tastes are different – and all weddings are different. So where you and your partner want to get married could differ hugely to that of other couples that you know. But that’s what makes it so magical; it’s YOUR day, so choose a wedding venue that suits you both down to a tee.
Spend some time looking at various venues in your community if you want to get married in your local area, or researching online for wedding venues further away if you want a destination wedding.
The Price (and Your Budget)
One of the most vital steps you should take when looking at wedding venues is deciding on your budget. You don’t want to find your dream venue to discover that it’s way above what you’re wanting to spend. Consider how much you can realistically fork out on the wedding venue and if it aligns with your overall wedding plans.
To do this effectively, after creating a budget, compare and contrast various venues in your chosen area. You can then narrow them down to the ones that are the best price for what you get included.
The Availability – Can You Book the Venue for When You Want It?
After comparing the various venues and lowering the list down to a few options, it’s time to email them and ask if they are available on the date that you want. It’s important to keep in mind that many venues will book at least 12 months in advance, so you must do this early to avoid any disappointment.
This is particularly important if you want to get married in a venue that’s very popular – as the demand will reflect this. If you’re flexible, of course, then this isn’t as much of a concern. But if you have a dream date in mind, do this sooner rather than later.
The Capacity of The Venue
Another key consideration is the number of people that you want at your wedding. If you’ve created a guest list, use this information to enquire about different venues.
Many venues differ in their capacities, and you want to ensure that they can accommodate every guest on your list. The moment that you know this information you can start to either cut some people off the list (a harsh thing that many people do) or simply look for another venue that can cater for all of your ideal guests.
When looking at the space that venues have to offer, make sure that there isn’t only enough room for your guests at the ceremony, but also at the wedding breakfast and the reception guests in the evening.
The Amenities That Come With The Venue
Do you know what’s included with the rental of your wedding venue? You need to know this from the start. Ask them if the chairs, tablecloths, food, etc. are including. If anything essential is not included, you’ll then have to factor this into your budget and start to research locally for them.
Luckily, many wedding venues offer packages that list all of the amenities that you get included. Very rarely is it only the venue itself which is included in the price. Aimed at giving you the best bang for your buck, you then won’t have to source the amenities from elsewhere!
The Theme or Style You Want
Do you know what type of wedding that you want? Is it going to be informal or formal? Is there a theme that you want to convey? These are all questions that you must keep at the front of your mind when searching for your perfect wedding venue.
By identifying the key elements that you want to incorporate, you’ll be able to narrow down your list of potential wedding venues – as some might not be able to accommodate certain things.
Discuss with a wedding coordinator at each venue whether particular elements will be allowed and the overall theme you’re hoping to have. They can then advise you as to whether this is possible or not before you invest in the venue and get your hopes up.
If you’re unsure about what theme you want at your wedding, you can spend some time with your partner looking at various inspiration-sites such as Pinterest.
From there, you can start to consider what flowers you’re going to have, the color of your bridesmaid dresses, what centerpieces you will have, etc. A key part of your wedding, it’s something that you will want to decide on early as it will shape many of your decisions.
Final Thoughts
Above are the top 6 things that you should consider when choosing a wedding venue. Something that may take you a while to decide on, everyone who’s getting married will find this tricky, but will locate their perfect venue in the end!
Even if you’ve had a dream venue in your mind for some time, chances of it being available exactly when you want it might be slim depending on its demand. So make sure that you have a backup and that you’ve considered all of the above in the wedding planning process. Then, you can start to think about other elements of your wedding, such as your dress, flowers, bridesmaid dresses etc!
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