Choosing the perfect venue for your wedding is one of the first things that come to the mind of the bride. There are a number of things to consider when choosing a wedding venue that will not break the bank, but at the same time accommodate your expectations and vision for that special day.
It is important to ask questions as to whether there are any hidden costs that will bring up the price of your wedding venue, such as prices of drinks or extra fee for bringing in your own bottles of wine. Is the table linen, cutlery, crockery, place cards, flowers, center pieces and table decorations included in the overall price or charged separately? Will the costs go down if you provide your own? Establish if you will be supplied with a wedding knife and wedding stands and if this is the case, whether an extra cost is involved and if they are aesthetic enough to suit your tastes. You may need to consider bringing in your own decorated knife and wedding cake stands.
You must also do the math. A venue you may have seen could be magnificent, but you need to determine if it is sufficient to accommodate all your guests. How many guests are you expecting? Is the venue you are choosing sufficient to accommodate all the guests. Do not settle for a venue simply because you love it, disregarding its space confines, erroneously believing the manager’s promise to create more space. You may be faced with very cramped seating, with guests on top of each other and hardly any space to have the first dance. This must be forefront of your mind when planning venues. Also, determine the entertainment facilities that are available and if they can accommodate the entertainment you have lined up, i.e. a live band or dancers. Ensure that there is enough space for all these activities to be carried out. It is also important to consider whether the venue is accessible for your older and younger guests, i.e. tree top venues and venues that may not be easily accessible for the infirmed, elderly or the young. Your vision of the perfect venue must take into account all your family and friends who will be attending the function.
Another question is whether the venue you are considering will be able to accommodate you and your bridal party the night before the wedding and if not, whether it is an easy drive for you on your wedding day. This is important because you do not want to be stuck in traffic or be late, getting to an out of the way venue. A common custom of brides these days is to spend the night before the wedding ceremony at the venue, allowing them to do all the crimping and pampering on the wedding day without having to worry about arriving in time and still looking fresh.
The transport logistics is another thing that must be borne in mind. Is there enough parking for all your guests? If you arrive on the day of the ceremony, what is the distance to the venue from the parking bay? Be the wedding venue and road accessible to your guests and easy to find? These are some of the questions that you need answered in your checklist when you are searching for that perfect venue. Be sure to include a map with directions for your guests in the wedding invitation, as well as, if the wedding venue is also used concurrently for other activities, negotiate a parking bay for your guests.
Another important consideration is to find out if there are any restrictions that come with the wedding venue that can affect your plans on the wedding day. Some of the possible restrictions that could possibly apply may relate to whether young children are allowed at the venue and if there movement will have to be limited for their own safety; whether the entire venue is available for wedding photographs or whether it is limited to certain areas; whether the use of confetti and candles are allowed and if there any restrictions on the level of music or length of time spent at the venue? Familiarize yourself with any possible limitations to avoid any disappointments on that special day. It would be a good idea to speak with the functions coordinator at the venue and clear up any issues in this regard.
Most importantly, consider if the wedding venue is being conducive to wedding photography. What appears on the internet and brochures may not be the same when you physically visit the venue. Therefore, you should make a point to go and visit it before making a final decision. This is especially true with regard to tents and other fancy structures promised. They may appear bigger and more appealing than in the actual fact or when viewed the upfront.
Last but not least, remember that the devil is in the details. Make sure you leave no stone unturned. A small oversight can be a logistical nightmare. With these considerations in mind, you will be sure to book a wedding reception venue that will accommodate all your ideas and plans. Enjoy.
