Wedding season is around the corner! If you’ve found that special someone you’d like to spend the rest of your life with, you’re probably gearing up with the planning stages of your big day. Today, nearly 90% of planning is done online. But where to start?
Some items you will have to check off your planning list include:
- Invitations
- Furniture rentals
- Catering
- Entertainment
- Venue
Of this list, probably the most exciting part about planning a wedding is deciding on a venue. But with so many options out there, how do you narrow down the perfect spot for you to celebrate marrying the love of your life alongside family and friends?
According to Keyah Grande, there are several important things to consider when deciding on your wedding venue, including:
- Wedding date
- Seasonal weather
- Guest list size
- Budget
- Personal preference and more!
Luckily, we’re here to help. By the end of this blog, you’ll be well on your way to securing the perfect wedding venue, making the day one you will never forget. You also gain some wedding planning tips along the way. Let’s get started!
1. Talk to a Wedding Planner
When deciding on something as important as your wedding venue, it’s always good to get advice from an expert. Consult a wedding planner as they are probably more familiar with the types of venues you are looking at and understand your needs and wants. They will be able to point you in the right direction if you aren’t sure which way to go in your venue search.
Are you seeking an indoor venue or an outdoor venue? Do you have a large party or small group? Such factors will influence your search and knowing the answers to these questions will help guide you throughout your wedding venue journey. You’ll want to look for a venue that suits your specific needs.
A wedding planner will be able to help you find a place that helps your vision come true. They are well-versed in the space, layout, and items you’ll need to transform the venue into what you want it to be for your special day. If there’s a way to achieve this vision creatively using the industry secrets and trades, your planner will know and be able to help you out.
2. Consider Your Budget
The cost of a wedding can stack up fairly quickly. Aside from renting out the entire venue, you also need to consider catering, decorations, equipment, entertainment, furniture, and more. Although you may be tempted to go for the most grandiose, expensive wedding venue, it’s important to set a budget and stick to it so that the costs don’t go out of hand.
But how do you manage and control costs?
Our advice is to break down your budget and allocate a certain amount of funds for certain aspects of your wedding. For example, prioritize some funds that will be used for vendors and set a limit for catering. You should do this before you put money towards a venue. Why? A venue is oftentimes the most expensive part of a wedding, and you need to make sure you will have enough funds left to accommodate the rest of the costs.
3. Accommodate Your Guest List Size
How big is your guest list? Considering the fact that you are celebrating with both your close friends and family and that of your beloved, the number can stack up pretty quickly. Are you looking to have a destination wedding, how will you be accommodating your guests? You may want to pick a venue that is near a hotel or airport so that they can get to and from easily. In addition, you should consider your guests’ level of comfort within the venue. Oftentimes, the maximum capacity of a venue does not necessarily mean you should reach that max. This could lead to guests feeling stuffed into a room or cramped into a space with barely any wiggle room.
Be sure to check local availability and size when scoping out venues. Find a venue that ticks all your boxes if possible. Of course, you may have to make some concessions, but if you find the right spot, there won’t be many. For example, if you live in the London area, dry hire London offers beautiful spaces without any additional features. This leaves you free to source the catering, furniture, and entertainment that you really want.
4. Make Sure It Aligns With Your Vision
Before deciding on a venue, it’s important you look at several options and conduct tours in person to get the look and feel. Sometimes, a person will take one step inside and know that this is the venue for them. Other times, you may find yourself torn between two gorgeous venues. The factor you should always go back to is this: when you closed your eyes and pictured your wedding day, what did it look like? Were you at the steps of a church or with your toes in the sand at the beach?
Your venue should align with your vision, no matter what.
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