A wedding venue is a place where you will hold your ceremony and reception. One of the most common mistakes couples make when planning their wedding is choosing not to choose a location for their reception. Many brides and grooms also make the mistake of picking an old-fashioned and outdated location that has little relevance to them or their love story.
It may seem like the most crucial decision you make when getting married, but few couples spend more than a few minutes thinking about choosing their wedding venue. The choice of where to marry is, in essence, the decision of where to host your reception. It almost always correlates directly with how much money you are willing or able to spend on your celebration and how formal or intimate an affair you are planning on having.
- Decide on a budget – what are the feasible options:
Some venues will charge you as per the number of guests you invite. Specific platforms will provide you with a package including furniture and services such as catering, decoration, entertainment, etc. The venue may also charge a fee for its facilities, such as a dance floor.
All these things add up very quickly, and you must be aware of your financial situation when choosing a venue. Most venues will tailor their packages depending on your budget, including flowers for the bride, hair and makeup for the bridesmaids, the amount of food served, and more. A relatively cheap reception may be more than what your budget will allow you to spend, but you should give it some thought before deciding where to get married.
- Check availability with your dates and timings:
Most venues are very particular about the days and times you can get married if you want your date to be reserved for you. Make sure you contact all potential venues on the dates you have in mind to see if they are available. It is also essential to check for availability on the dates that work for you, and some alternative times may be available.
- Check alignment with the wedding theme:
Make sure that your chosen venue works in tandem with your wedding theme. You may select a venue perfect for a casual backyard party, but you may want to choose something more upscale or urban, depending on your wedding theme.
Check the location of the venue concerning your reception location. Making sure everything will fit together smoothly is vital and can make or break your day. Be sure to get references from past couples who have used this particular venue before so you can compare them with yours. This can help you choose whether the wedding costs are reasonable for what you want and how distinctive they should be.
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- Go through the guestlist – How many, local or outstation:
This is yet another essential aspect to consider. You may want to ensure that your guests are all local or from outstation and that they will have a good time at your reception. Checking out the guest list is vital for finding the best possible hotel deal to accommodate your guests comfortably and ensure you do not overspend on food and beverages. You should create unique Indian Wedding Invitations for guests to invite them to the special day of your life.
- Check venue vicinity, distance from airport/railway station, transportation & accessibility:
Check the chosen venue’s vicinity to ensure it is accessible for all your guests, even if you are planning to go by car. If it is a bit remote and there are no accommodations in the vicinity, most of your guests will have to stay further away from where you are getting married. It is essential to keep in mind that you may want to hold the reception outdoors in case it rains.
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- Does it have ample parking space to accommodate all your guests:
This is the most important thing about your wedding venue. For the sake of convenience, you must make sure that there is ample parking space for all your guests to park their cars. You must also ensure that you have a dedicated parking space for yourself, your family, and your guests. You may want to look for areas right in front of the venue so you do not have to deal with parking problems. Most venues will provide valet services, and you shouldn’t be charged extra for parking.
- Check about the restrictions and limits by the local authorities:
Even if you plan on having an elegant wedding, knowing how much of the area you can utilize for your reception is essential. It is also necessary to know if there are any restrictions from the local authorities. You should make sure that you check this out with the venue beforehand so that you do not get into any trouble with the management or get arrested for trespassing.
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- Keep a backup plan for uncertainties:
This is extremely important; all you need to do is ensure any uncertainties do not blindside you. This can be, for instance, if the floors of the venue are not level. You must also ensure that the required licences are available and get permits from local authorities. The final nail in the coffin is your last payment, so make sure everything is lined up and there are no surprises. Otherwise, you may be left with much-unfinished work from your wedding.
Selecting a wedding venue that matches your needs is crucial. You should establish a budget and evaluate the facilities, time needed to set up, and cost of food and other services before making a choice. After you have settled on the budget for your wedding reception venue, you should find out how much room there is for all your guests. But do not forget to consider any extra guests you may have after calculating how much space there is at the reception hall. Some trends in weddings are big weddings while others are small weddings. It is essential to know what you want and what you need for your big and small celebration.
Chris contributes articles with advice for brides and grooms on vows, ceremonies, and wedding traditions. He draws on his experience as a wedding officiant to give perspective on crafting a meaningful ceremony. Outside of work, Chris volunteers coaching youth sports in the community.
