Finding the right venue to host your wedding is arguably the most stressful part of wedding planning. Not only can you not move forward with the rest of the wedding details until you secure your venue space, but it can be one of the most expensive purchases for the wedding. Plus, it’s not an optional detail like décor or cake because you need to have a place for your family and friends to gather. So, how do you choose the right wedding venue? We believe it’s important to consider five elements when venue hunting to make the right decision.
Budget
Draft a thought-out budget before making any decisions. Make sure you account for the venue, catering, big vendors (photographer, music, flowers, etc.) and any other details that are significant to you. Note the day, time and time of year you choose to have your wedding will significantly determine the pricing of the venue. For example, wedding receptions held in the evening are generally more expensive than receptions held in the morning or early afternoon. Weddings held on a Saturday are more expensive than a Friday or Sunday. Weddings held during “wedding” season (May-Oct) are costlier than in the “off” months (Nov – Apr). A lot of venues will run specials for the offseason, so you can potentially save a lot of money on your venue if you’re flexible with wedding dates and times.
What’s Included
Your budget will inevitably affect what venue you choose, but it’s important to look past how much renting the space will cost. Are tables, chairs, linens, napkins, flatware, etc. included in the rental price or do you need to rent those items on your own? Something to think about is if the venue includes rental items they are more often than not simple items (basic chairs, white linen, standard flatware, etc.), so you may either pay more money to rent items that fit your theme or scale back your vision and stick to the basics to stay within budget. If you are renting a space with in-house catering, it’s important to find out what tax and gratuity are and if they are already included in the cost per head. Make sure to get an accurate idea upfront of what fees are included and which ones need to be added, so you know exactly how much you’ll be spending with no surprises.
Extra Amenities
Going along with what’s included, it’s important to think about if you want your venue to have additional amenities. Every venue has different levels of what they offer from a blank canvas (where you provide everything) to full-service (where they provide everything from table, chairs and linens to in-house catering). Even if an amenity is something on a smaller scale like a bridal room for the bridesmaids and bride to get ready in or the venue has grounds that are beautiful enough for bridal party pictures to be taken at can make all the difference. Find out what additional amenities are included in any venues you’re looking into.
Decor
A venue that naturally matches your theme, color scheme and style can potentially save you a lot of money. You can save on floral design and decor, which is known to drive up wedding costs, if a venue space is beautiful on its own and has elements that compliment your style because you won’t have to add as much decor to it. Choosing a venue and design that represents you and your partner will save you money and stress and make you happier in the long run.
Guest Experience
If you have a lot of out of town guests, consider a venue that’s near or connected to a hotel. It’s also important to think about guest comfort inside the venue space. Ask the venue how many people it can comfortably fit. The maximum number will often be an uncomfortable experience for guests because the space will be crowded, so it’s important to find out what the maximum capacity is and try to avoid it.
Contact Preoccupied Bride if you’re considering hiring a wedding planner and need help finding a venue. We help couples plan their weddings, in a variety of capacities, based on how heavily they want us to be involved in their wedding planning.
Friday, June 15, 2018
