Photo Credit: Pinterest - 7 Centerpieces
As much as a lot of things at a wedding can be optional, such as the kind of meal you want, a venue cannot be. The reception is one of the exciting parts of a wedding.
When planning for a wedding, getting the right and perfect venue can leave you overwhelmed and frustrated. However, it is important to be focused on bringing your imagination to life by having the wedding of your dreams at the venue of your dreams.
Finding that venue is not an easy feat as there are numerous options to choose from; if you are faced with such conundrum, here are things to note before making a final selection on your venue:
- Research: You have to research the kind of venues that suit what you have in mind for your wedding. Find out the cost, the capacity, and the location etc. then round your choice list down to at least 3 choices.
- Finances: Can you afford the venue you have chosen? If yes then go for it. In the case where you can’t, you have to weigh other options and look for a venue that is affordable and similar to your first choice.
- Guestlist: You have to go back to your guest list when you want to pick a venue, it should have enough capacity to take your guests. If you’re working around a small number of guest, choose a venue suitable for them and vice versa.
- Wedding Date: The date is also very important as there are venues you have to book months ahead or even a year ahead. It’s advisable to find the perfect venue before choosing a date. If you’ve already chosen a date, work around the available venues for your date.
- Theme: Your theme is also a deciding factor. You can decide to have an outdoor reception or indoor etc. Pick a venue that will make your theme possible.
- Parking Spot: This is very important, you do not want your guest to scurry for where to park their vehicles, try your best to make provision for that.
- Location: This is key in your venue selection; you have to put your out of town guest into consideration by making sure the venue is not so far from possible accommodations. It also has to be easily accessible for guests that will drive for guests coming by public transportation. Do not have your reception so far from your wedding venue thereby stressing your guests by making them travel.
- Bathrooms: Your venue must have this in good working condition as you never can tell, your guest might need to ‘go’. Make sure there is enough because you do not want your guests’ queueing up to use the bathroom.
- The Operating Hours: Some venues have a closing time for them to prepare for another event so if you plan to have an all-night reception party then you should go for a venue that will accommodate that option.
- Contingency plan: Always have a back-up plan as anything can happen at any time. This means you should not have your eyes set on one venue. Have other options in case something comes up.