Six Tips for Chosing a Wedding Venue

Congratulations on being engaged! This exciting time, can easily become overwhelming, if you do not plan properly. Now that you are looking for their most perfect place for you wedding ceremony and reception, there are a few details that need to be considered, in order to make the best decision. Brides and grooms often forget about these aspects of the event center they are considering until it’s too late, so keep these tips in mind while touring potential event centers.

1. Wedding Theme- Think about the overall picture you have in your head for your wedding. Does this venue reflect that idea? Do you want modern and edgy, or traditional and formal? Do you want a beach theme or a rustic feel? One of the most important parts of picking a wedding reception center or venue, is matching it to your theme. Decorations alone cannot hide the actual location itself. Do not make the mistake of getting the cheapest option and then over-decorating to try and cover the parts you don’t like, as you will spend more than anticipated, and not necessarily have the desired effect in the long-run.
2. GuestParking- Will your guests have to pay to park? Do they offer a valet service,
   and if so, do you want that option? In public places where guests will have to pay for parking, many brides consider factoring that cost into their budget and paying for all of their guests to park. Over estimate on how much parking your event will need- just to make sure there is space for everyone to be able to park and attend your wedding reception. Does your venue provide shuttle service to the area's hotels?
3. Maximum Amount of People- Tours  the various wedding reception venues with an estimation of your guest count in mind. Smaller places aren’t going to be able to accommodate a large amount of people, and you might end up paying more than you need to if you get a venue larger than necessary for your guests. Also, think about each phase of the wedding- is there enough room for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception? Is there a good backdrop area for posed pictures? If you select a space that is too large for your guest count, you might feel lost in the space, which takes away from the intimate feeling you might want to achieve. Select the venue that is perfect for your anticipated guest count.
4. Events per day- An important question to ask is how many events does this wedding venue take per day? No bride wants to feel like her wedding venue is like a wedding factory, serving multiple brides each day. Every bride deserves to feel as though she is the only girl in the world getting married on that day. If you do not consider asking how many weddings your chosen venue accommodates in one day, you might be unpleasantly surprised when you’re being rushed out after your ceremony for another event. Wedding reception centers who host more than one event a day may end up limiting your times and providing you with a worn out staff.
5. What’s Included- As you walk through a wedding reception venue on your tour, remember that everything that is being beautifully displayed may not necessarily be included in the price you are quoted. So make sure to be very clear about what all you are getting for the price you are paying. Just because a center typically sets up their space a certain way, does not mean that you cannot modify it to fit your wedding day vision. Let the staff know of your wishes, and discuss ways your venue can accommodate you. All event centers are going to want to bring out their best when they give you the walk through, but not necessarily providing that for every event.
6. Vendor Situation- Many wedding reception centers only have a few approved vendors that they allow in their facility. For example, all-inclusive venues provide you with linens, tables and chairs, in addition to china and glassware etc.  Some places simply offer the space, and you will need to get separate vendors to rent furniture and hire a caterer. By hiring a qualified wedding coordinator, you will receive reliable wedding vendor recommendations, along with vendor discount pricing, and you will also save on time, money, and stress when planning your wedding.

For award-winning wedding coordination;

Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning

775-786-1730

lianemccombs@gmail.com