You’ve just gotten engaged and you’re already dreaming about the perfect wedding. The first thing on your to-do list after choosing a wedding date should be to find the venue that suits you best. Venues can vary widely, from outdoor tent weddings, ballrooms, golf courses, event centres, barns, hotels, and the list goes on.
Your wedding day is a celebration of the love you and your partner share, but it’s also a very personal expression of who you are, which is why each wedding is completely unique.
One thing you can be certain of is that venues book up fast, so if you have a date in mind, call your venues of choice for a tour as soon as possible.
Choosing between the many available wedding venues can be a tough and stressful decision, but a few key considerations can help make the process a little easier.
The most important thing to look for when searching for a venue is whether it fits with your theme and you and your fiancé’s personalities. If you want a rustic country wedding, you can narrow your search to barns, timber-frame buildings, outdoor tents, or someone’s backyard. For a more classic theme, you’ll look to event centres, ballrooms, or high-end hotels. Whatever style or theme you choose, make sure it reflects both of you.
Another important thing to consider is the size of your wedding. Before starting your venue search, it’s a good idea to come up with a generalized guest count so that you can focus on venues that can comfortably accommodate your wedding reception. If you’re expecting a large wedding with 200-plus guests, you will be disappointed to find out the venue you love can only hold a maximum of 100. You should calculate a minimum of 21 square feet per guest for a comfortable setting. This includes space for cocktails, seating, dance floor, head table, late night stations, and a bar.
Some venues offer the bare minimum while others cater to everything you’ll need to help make your wedding planning go smoothly with the least amount of effort on your part. These can include in-house florists, décor and linens, preferred DJs, photographers, and catering. Every venue will offer a different kind of wedding package. It’s important to be realistic about the work and stress load you want to take on, so find a venue with a package that’s going to meet your needs accordingly. This is another key area on which couples must agree.
Pinterest has made it relatively easy for do-it-yourself brides to plan and create their wedding décor, but it can be labour-intensive, stressful, and quickly overwhelming. If your goal is to save money by enlisting relatives and friends to help you create your décor and hiring your own professionals, it’s important to keep in mind that venues that offer the entire package deal can oftentimes be less expensive in the end. A lot of due diligence is required to compare the costs of the many individual services that come with all-inclusive package deals.
Wherever your wedding plans take you, be sure to have fun, relax, and enjoy the moment.
