Lifestyle

How to Find Your Perfect Wedding Venue

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Finding the perfect wedding venue is not an easy task. Whether you are looking for an elegant ballroom, a cozy restaurant, or a quiet sandy beach, the options are endless. However, when you pick your wedding venue, it is essential to know what feels authentic to both of you. With so many Pinterest weddings, it is easy to forget that space and decoration must represent you! Also, timing is everything. You should plan to book your wedding reception site at least nine months to a year before your date. That means you should probably start researching and visiting two months before that. So, with all that in mind, here are a few tips to help you choose your perfect wedding venue. 

Think carefully about your vision. 

It might seem obvious, but you should choose a venue that aligns with your vision. It is quite understandable to have an abundance of ideas flying around like crazy in your head. But if you want to start planning your dream day (sooner rather than later), you have to define your wedding vision. If you’re going to have a modern wedding, you can check art galleries, well-designed restaurant spaces, or warehouses. On the other hand, if you and your partner enjoy good food and love to entertaining family and friends, a wedding incorporating more natural elements might be the right fit for you. In this sense, outdoor venues such as parks, backyards, and ranches are ideal. Some couples like to have a unique wedding, in which case a destination wedding is a perfect choice. Can you imagine yourself, for example, getting married at the Rose Hall on mystical Jamaica?  Gathering your family and friends in an extraordinary location for your special day is super appealing!

Choosing a venue that fits your vision will make your day even more extraordinary than it already is. Do not hesitate to invest energy in defining your vision. Talk to your partner about your absolute essentials for the day. Go together when scouting a wedding venue. Choose one or perhaps even more than one location that allies perfectly with your wedding vision. After all, it is always good to have a plan B. 

Define your budget. 

Choosing the wedding venue is more than just how much renting space will cost. Before you decide on the space, you have to bear in mind that sites with in-house catering (like hotels) will also charge a price-per-plate.  Also, decorations and floral designs will add up to the cost. That is the number one reason why you have to know how much your total budget is. For more straightforward calculation, break down your overall budget by category. Prioritize more money for vendors that are a higher priority for you. If you select your venue first and then realize it’s more than you have planned, it will be challenging to stay within your budget when you still have a dozen other people to hire. 

Know your guest list. 

Knowing how many guests you are expecting to invite goes hand in hand with your budget since some costs are very dependent on the number of people you are inviting. Your guest list should be defined before you go looking at venues.  If you know who is coming will help save you from headaches and heartaches down the road. Imagine you choose a place that is too small for all your guest list, and more people RSVP ‘yes’ than you can fit in the site. You will find yourself in a tough situation. Do not underestimate the number of people your parents will want to add. To be better safe than sorry, talk to your partner and family early to know what is the exact number of people you are going to invite. 

Reconsider what is included. 

Some couples are looking at full-service venues, and some prefer sites where you can bring in your vendors and decor. Regardless of what fits your planning, be sure to price everything out. For example, in a full- service venue, tables, chairs, and linens are included in the cost, and in a place where you need to rent your own, it is wise to get an estimate from a rental company. The same goes for catering. And if you choose a venue that has in-house catering with a food and beverage, be sure to include the tax and gratuity in your calculations. Some sites offer wedding packages where the decorations are included in the price. Others may provide you with free of charge wedding planners that will coordinate every detail for you, all customized to your style and budget. Whatever you choose, be sure to check all these details when you scout for a wedding venue and reconsider them in the frames of your planned budget. 

Keep photographic opportunities in mind. 

You are going to cherish the pictures you take on this special day for the rest of your life. Though with the right decorations, all wedding venues can look amazing, we have to be fair and say that some are much more photogenic than others. Keep this in mind when you’re narrowing down the list of potential venues if you don’t want to spend too much money on decorations.

Breath in and enjoy. 

You are at the beginning of your wedding planning journey. And it is good to remind yourself that sometimes things don’t go as smoothly as you plan. I mean, we ended up having our wedding at a very different venue than any of us first imagined. However, don’t forget the real purpose of this day – to celebrate the love between you and your partner! So, do not stress too much if you have to go with plan B. It might just end up being even better than your plan A in the end.

 

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