Going to the Chapel....aka: Venue Shopping!

So, we have a ring, we have a budget and from here we go to…venue shopping!  Booking the wedding venue is a huge undertaking.  So many questions to ask, different aspects to consider and the foundation on which the whole wedding is built upon. Some photographers will not even consider talking with you till the venue is booked! Don’t let that throw you off track.  There are many wedding venue options available to brides these days.

Jen Brazeal Photography

When dreaming about your wedding, what details were important to you?  Country romantic? Vintage elegance?  Or maybe something a bit more contemporary?   When looking at venues, make sure you have a firm guest count in mind.  There is nothing worse than paying for a space that can only accommodate 200 guests and your guest count is topping out at 275.  If guests feel cramped and uncomfortable, they may not stay long enough to enjoy the celebration that you have planned over the last several months, leaving you with an incredible amount of leftover wedding cake!

Sarah Best Photography

Make sure to compare the amenities that each venue provides within their rental contract to make those budget dollars work in your favor. 

• Which venues provide the tables and chairs?   This will save you a ton of money if you are not having to pay delivery fees and those dreaded late night pick up fees.

•  Are you responsible for setting up the chairs and tables that the venue provides?
• Do you have to put them away at the end of the night?
• Does the venue have staff that can do this for you?
• Is there a fee for that service or is it included in the price of the venue rental?  These will be important questions when estimating the budget amount for the manual labor.
• Are you allowed to supply your own alcohol?
• How many hours may you be on premise?
  

  
• Do you need to hire security?
• Will there be an on-site venue manager?
• Does the venue have a janitorial staff on duty during your event in case there should be venue  emergencies?
• Who takes the trash out to the dumpster? 

These are all questions that should be addressed well before the wedding day to make sure there no unnecessary complications or misunderstandings.  Make sure you understand all of the rules and regulations before you sign your name to the rental contract.

What better backdrop is there other than an outdoor ceremony?  Beautiful trees, luscious grass and sunshine on your smiling face?  But what happens when that sunshine turns cloudy?

• Is there an indoor space available if the outdoor ceremony site is unavailable due to inclement weather?

  

  Tent wedding, Events By Brandy

• Is there an additional fee for the use of the indoor space?
• Does the venue allow tents on the property? When touring potential wedding venues, check the weather for the last three years and see if your day falls inside the “rainy season”.  
  
• Where does the sun set? 
• What time of day provides the most shade?  This will alleviate your guests from sitting in the direct sun during those hot summer months.  
• If you should need to move your ceremony inside due to inclement weather, you may need to flip your ceremony site to the reception area.
• Does the venue have staff on hand to help with a flip wedding transition? 

Flip Wedding, Events By Brandy

 When window shopping different venues, you will want to ask if the venue has a preferred vendor list. Venue owners and managers see on a weekly basis which vendors do incredible work and which ones...well, not so much.  There are 156 days out of the year (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday) that weddings usually take place on.  Trust the venue to establish a preferred vendor list to guide you towards companies that take care of their clients and provide top notch service. 

A successful venue will not make recommendations for a company that performs poorly week after week.  This list will also be very helpful when looking for bar staffing, caterer, florists, photographers and rental companies.  Usually the vendors that are on the list have worked at the venue on several occasions and have been deemed to be the best of the best.

And now we will leave you with this:  hire a coordinator.  You had to see that one coming!  Honestly, though, coordinators work many different venues and know what questions to ask and when.  They will think of things that will be extremely important to ensure that your day goes as smoothly as possible and are the experts on how to throw a wonderful party.  Your future venue will have several suggestions as to which coordinator does a fabulous job and is extremely helpful making the bride’s day memorable, not a mess.  If several venues recommend the same coordinator’s name, you can be sure that their work is genuine and true!   Happy venue hunting!!