Choosing a venue for your wedding ceremony and reception will be one of the most important decisions you’ll make throughout the planning process. Your venue should reflect and compliment the formality of your ceremony. Do you envision something classy and traditional? Then maybe look for an elegant ballroom at a high end hotel.
Photo by Binary Flips
Or do you prefer something more laidback and unique? Then shoot for an outdoor reception, maybe lakeside or on a farm.
photo by La Dolce Vita
Before you begin your search; be sure you have figured out a few basic things:
1) How many guests you’re inviting.
2) Do you want to have your ceremony and reception in two different locations or both at the same location?
3) What is your budget?
Knowing your budget is important because often times the venue you choose for your reception will dictate your food and beverage requirements - this should be approximately 35-50% of your budget depending on what is included (venue rental fee, cake, linen, chairs etc.). Some venues have an in-house caterer they require you to use, some have a list of preferred caterers and others allow you to choose any caterer you want. Be aware of extra fees; it's not uncommon for caterers to tack on a service charge, taxes, and sometimes a cake cutting fee, corkage fee and so forth.
You should also ask yourself how much work you’re willing to do. You may have your heart set on a quaint home wedding, but who is going to rake the leaves, haul in the tables and chairs, ensure there is proper lighting, parking, and- oh yeah- a backup plan in case of rain? If you don’t want to worry about all of those little details, look into hotels, restaurants and country clubs where everything is included.
The best advice I can give is to please be sure to ask questions and don’t assume anything is included. You don’t want any surprises after you’re locked into a contract. For a complete list of questions please click to Download Questions to Ask When Booking Your Wedding Venue.
Wise advice about what questions to ask yourself when selecting a venue!
Posted by: Lissa (The Wedding Bistro at Bellenza) | January 19, 2012 at 10:19 AM