Searching for the perfect wedding venue for your special day is not the easiest task to check off your to-do list – trust me. But your search doesn’t need to be painful. Coming from a bride who planned her wedding in less than a month, you will find your perfect wedding venue, and you will have a successful, unforgettable wedding! That being said, don’t take your venue search too lightly. Wedding venues get booked up long in advance and can have a huge influence on your other wedding elements, such as the number of guests, budget, photos and catering.
Here are a few tips to help you choose the perfect place:
Tip #1: Decide how much you’re willing to spend
When it comes to wedding planning, your budget is the most crucial aspect of your wedding. And, if you think that planning a wedding budget is easy, you’re very mistaken. You can find a lot of information about budgeting online but, just remember, every couple’s budget is unique. The best way to go about this is to plan a step-by-step budget with your partner. Doing this will help you avoid the disappointment of falling in love with a venue you can’t afford.
Tip #2: Decide how many guests you want to invite
Are you planning a small intimate wedding or a big elaborate wedding? If you have a rough idea of how many guests you want to invite to your wedding, you can start looking at venues you like. Usually, wedding planners suggest choosing a bigger place rather than a smaller place as it’s way easier to add guests to a list than it is to remove them.
Tip #3: Choose an easy-to-get-to venue
When it comes to choosing a venue, you need to make sure that:
- There is enough parking for all your guests (preferably free)
- The venue is easy to get to
You don’t want your guests to arrive late because they can’t find the location or they can’t weave through the traffic fast enough.
Tip #4: Have the wedding ceremony and reception at the same venue
Consolidating your money and efforts into one location will save time and money; plus, guests, as well as vendors, photographers and videographers, won’t have to convoy from one place to the next.
Tip #5: Get a wedding package
Not only do wedding packages work out cheaper, they also save you time. Wedding packages should include a chapel (or place to hold a ceremony), decorations for the ceremony, reception venue, reception decor, drinks, food, tables, chairs, linen, crockery, waitrons, barmen, etc.
See amazing wedding packages in South Africa here.
Tip #6: Keep wedding photos in mind
Remember to choose a venue where there are great places to take photos. Your wedding photos are the most special ones you’ll ever take. So, having your wedding at a beautiful place will help your photographer take stellar photos of your special day.
Tip #7: Ask about restrictions
Some venues may have restrictions – before you book the venue, you need to make sure that you know all the venue’s rules and restrictions. Ask questions such as:
- How late can the wedding party carry on till?
- Is loud music allowed?
- Can you bring your own alcohol?
- Is there a corkage fee?
Tip #8: Most importantly, trust your gut
Choosing the perfect wedding venue can be, to say the least, extremely daunting. Even so, you’ll know whether or not you like a place as soon as you see it.
