After saying "Yes", often the first question that needs to be answered is, "Where?" Finding the right location for your dream wedding requires more resources, luck, skill and time than many couples realize. It's also a critically important component of your wedding planning. The right venue can turn an ordinary wedding into an unforgettable delight, while the wrong venue can make your wedding something that you and your guests would rather forget. This article will attempt to help you gain some general information that will help make the process of finding the perfect venue for your needs easier on everyone.
Choosing the perfect site for your dream wedding is a lot of fun, but it's also can be a lot of work. To maximize the fun aspects and minimize the work aspects, start the process with a brainstorming session. Consider your budget, your theme, your circumstances, your values, your interests, the feelings you want your wedding to evoke and your guest list.
Let the following list of general ideas help you get your list started:
Auditoriums - Can often be rented (I've performed movie themed weddings in theatres before. Very fun!)
Ball Rooms - Usually offering full-service packages
Beaches - May require a permit
Bed and Breakfasts
Campgrounds - Either at a campsite or in a hall rented on the grounds
Club Houses - Many apartment dwellers have access to these
Country Clubs - Most will offer full-service wedding packages
Conference Centers - Either rented or booked with a full-service package
Convention Centers - Either rented or booked with a full-service package
Gardens - Public gardens (think "botanical") or private gardens can be delightful venues
Gazebos - Public or private, may need a permit for public ones
Grounds - Historical sites, estates, resorts and hotels may allow ceremonies on the grounds, even without renting the venue itself
Halls - Typically for rent
Homes - Yours or someone else's
Hotels - May offer discounts on rooms for your guests as well
House of Worship - Local churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, ashrams, etc. While many of these venues are only available for the ceremony, some offer access to dining areas as well. You may need to be (or know) a member to use some of these
Mansions or Estates - Full service venues
Museums - Ask if your favorite museum has a "party room". Some museums have been known to help with certain themes
Parks - May need a permit
Patios, Terraces - Some restaurants have large outdoor spaces for rent or with a full-service package
Ranches - Typically rented, but may offer full-service
Resorts
Stadiums - May be rented when not in use
Yachts or Cruise Ships - full service venues
You can certainly come up with other ideas. Bowling alleys, hospital chapels, hot air balloons, etc. have all been perfect wedding venues for other couples in the past. Let your instincts guide you and start making a list of ideas the two of you like and want to pursue further.
Types of Venues
Some of your options include venues that specialize in hosting weddings. They will offer you packages that include everything you could possibly need (and typically more). Some of the options may offer nothing at all and you'll need to arrange for every last item to be delivered, set up, monitored, taken down and returned on your own. Think carefully about how much money and/or work you and your guests are willing to put into the arrangements before finalizing your list of options.
Wedding venues typically fall under one of the following categories:
Full Service Wedding Venues
These venues can take care of every last detail relating to both your ceremony, your reception and sometimes even your accommodations or travel needs as well. The only items you'll still need to acquire would be the clothing and possibly some other wedding accessories which may or may not include an officiant. Wedding experts will be able to provide you with detailed list of options and help you design your wedding arrangements in the style the venue typically provides.
Rented Wedding Venues
Many wonderful wedding sites are available to you on a rental basis. Some will provide you with the space only, leaving you to make all the other arrangements. Others may provide tables, chairs, linens, tableware, flatware, glassware and/or decorations as well. Some sites partner with caterers and/or other vendors and can help you select trusted florists, bakers, DJs, etc. from their contacts. It is uncommon (but not entirely unheard of) for venues of this type to offer you the services of a professional wedding planner (as a full service venue might), so you'll need to make sure nothing is forgotten.
Public Wedding Venues
Public parks, gardens, beaches, campgrounds, etc. For the right couple and the right wedding, these public sites are often ideal places to hold simple weddings. Most of them are free, but you'll need to make sure you ask if you need to reserve them for your chosen date or obtain a permit for use. Unless you choose to hire a professional wedding coordinator, you'll be on your own when it comes to planning and contracting with vendors, but you'll have more freedom to plan an unconventional and memorable event.
Private Wedding Venues
Not merely the so-called "living room" or backyard" weddings. Many apartment complexes, condominiums, mobile home parks and gated communities have club houses or community rooms available for their residents´ use. Again, you'll need to hire someone or do your own wedding planning, but family and friends are typically honored to help the newlyweds out with small wedding related tasks, so the costs of these weddings can be extremely low.
Finding Local Venues
Once you've decided on the type of wedding venue you're looking for, it's time to do some research. Some typical ways to find that elusive, perfect venue include:
Asking family, friends and colleagues for recommendations. Have they been to weddings in places that sound like what you're looking for? What did they find memorable about various venues?
Attend bridal shows.
Search the yellow pages under: Weddings, Halls, or another appropriate heading.
Check the internet for local wedding venues and go to any web sites you find.
Call promising facilities and request a brochure specific to weddings.
Bookmark the web sites that look promising. Place the brochures in a folder until you are ready to choose a few favorites.
Unless there is one and only one location that will satisfy you both, narrow your list down to your top 4 or 5 desired venues and prioritize them.
Selecting Your Perfect Venue
Now it's time to shop! Call each of the venues you're interested in and ask if you can set up appointments to tour the facilities. When you're setting appointments be aware of the feelings each call evokes in you.
It is never too soon to take notes!
Consider:
When calling (or emailing), were you greeted warmly?
Were your questions answered thoroughly?
Were you able to obtain the information you needed?
Were you given clear directions to the venue, if you needed them?
Were the people you spoke with helpful? (or overly helpful and pushy?)
Did you get the name of the person you'll be meeting with?
Did you feel welcomed and comfortable or did you hang up feeling more anxious than you did before dialing?
Schedule your visits when both the bride and groom will be able to attend.
Bring your folder of ideas, a note pad and at least one pen. Write down any important information, impressions or questions that come up during the interview.
You should expect to leave each interview with the following:
A business card for each person you may be working with within the facility.
A brochure clearly explaining what the venue offers, the fees involved and any exclusions, rules, regulations and options.
References. Contact information so that you can talk to real people, not merely a list of testimonials.
Phone number and email address (if applicable) for your main contact person.
A basic understanding of the layout of the facility and a sense of how comfortable it will be for you and your guests.
All information available on special packages or other wedding deals.
Good Questions to Ask
(A partial list to get you started)
Because only the best will do, don't worry about being "picky". Don't rush the process. Ask all of the questions you have and don't accept partial, vague or non answers.
Questions to ask Full Service Venue Providers:
When are the facilities available for my wedding?
How long have you been providing wedding services? (This question is for the person and the facility)
How many weddings have you arranged?
Do you offer any guarantees?
Do you have an in-house wedding coordinator?
Do you offer a bridal package?
What are your rates for the different packages and what are the options available?
Can you recommend wedding vendors and service providers your customers had a good experience with?
Do you offer any discounts?
What additional fees might be charged?
Do you provide an insured and bonded baby sitting service?
How much will we need to put down the deposit?
When is the deposit due?
What is the latest possible date for making changes to my services?
Will you provide us with a written contract?
Does the contract include a 3 day cancellation clause?
Questions to ask Rental Venue Providers:
When are the facilities available for my wedding?
How long have you been providing wedding services? (This question is for the person and the facility)
How many wedding clients have you served?
Do you offer any guarantees?
Do you have an in-house wedding coordinator?
Can you recommend wedding vendors and service providers your customers had a good experience with?
Do you offer any discounts?
What additional expenses may be charged?
How much will we need to put down the deposit?
When is the deposit due?
What is the latest time frame for making changes?
Will you provide us with a written contract?
Does the contract include a 3 day cancellation clause?
Questions to ask Stewards of Public Venues:
Are there bathrooms on the premises?
Are there waste receptacles on the premises?
Are there electric outlets on the premises?
What are the hours available for a wedding?
Is there parking close by?
Will you provide us with a written contract?
Does the contract include a 3 day cancellation clause?
Signing the Contract
Once you have made your final selection, you will need to contact your representative at the venue and request a reservation. Return to the facility to review and sign your contract there.
The contract should include a detailed listing of all of your responsibilities and all of the responsibilities, warranties and guarantees offered by the facility. If it does not, ask that another contract be drawn up that does.
Buyer beware! Read your contract very carefully before placing a deposit or signing. Be certain that you understand it fully and agree with all of the terms. If you have questions, concerns, or are uncertain, have them clarified and/or corrected before signing anything.
If something should go disastrously wrong with the contract signing remember, in most parts of the US you have 3 days to examine the contract and cancel without penalties.
Good Luck!!
Note: This article is copyrighted and was reprinted with permission of the author. It may not be reproduced without similar permission.
