Contributed Post: 8 Stress-Free Tips for Picking a Wedding Venue
Plan
You’ll need to sit down with your other half and decided how many people you intend to invite. If you’re planning a big or an intimate wedding is the first step. Write a list of all the names of who you’d like to share your day with. It might be more than you expected!
Budget
Sit down and figure how much you are willing to spend. Having a firm idea of how much you are happy to dedicate to the venue is important. Failure to set this budget before you start could end up in committing to more than you anticipated. Overspending may mean when you come to choosing a dress or flowers, you may have to pull back.
Research
Look at local wedding photographers shots of venues and see what you like. You can see how other couples have decorated the venue. Researching also a good time to see what style of photographer you like, too. Two birds, one stone!
Save the date
If you haven’t already, pick a date and check availability. You might find that during warmer month it’s busy. Sometimes venues can book up years in advance, especially if you to get married on a weekend. If you are flexible with your dates, you might be able to find an opening. If you have vendors you know you want to work with, check their availability, too.
Style
You don’t have to go out and start decorating the place now. But it’s worth bearing in mind what type of themes you like. Are you drawn to the rustic look? Perhaps you like the luxurious look such as Somerset wedding venue, Clevedon Hall. Whatever style you choose, find a place to reflect this. It’ll make decorating much easier when you get to it.
Take photos
When you’re viewing venues, take some cheeky snaps. Photographs are good to look back on and reflect. You’ll also be able to start imaging how you can add your unique twist, too. If you’re struggling to make a decision, then you can even show your friends and family.
Details
Read the small print. Is it exclusive? Will you have time to clear up afterward? Know exactly how long you’ll have the venue and if it includes any restrictions. You’ll notice, some places don’t allow caterers. Or they’ll only allow you to use their marquees. These limitations mean you might end up spending more than you anticipated.
Hold fire!
Don’t book the first venue you see. Getting ahead of yourself can be easy. Take a step back and sleep on your decision. The chances are, your venue isn’t going to go anywhere overnight. It’s easy to follow your heart but think with your head. Discuss with friends and family, and they’ll be able to help you make the decision. You might also think of questions to ask the events manager when you go home and have some time to contemplate.
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Enjoy! The journey has just begun.