Home Field Advantage
Selecting the Venue
When you are planning a wedding (or reception, rehearsal dinner even honeymoon) the very first thing you want to do is pick your home field. Meaning, you have to decide where you want to have this soiree. Why? Well even though you just proposed you should know that venues book up very quickly, from six months to a year in advance; and the most popular spots book up even earlier (yes sometimes even 2 years in advance).
And here you thought Masters Tickets were hard to score! Dude, these brides are serious!!
In essence decide what type of wedding you want to have early. Will your wedding take place in a more traditional setting (i.e. church or synagogue) or are you seeking a less conventional and more unique location ideal for a civil ceremony. If you plan to marry in a house of worship, you will want to tentatively reserve a few dates prior to making your final decision to be sure the venue is available when you confirm your reception location.
Ceremony
If you decide that you're more the civil ceremony kind of couple, then there are truly endless possibilities here both indoor and outdoor. These days couples are doing it in various places (getting married that is). Some non-traditional location ideas can range from a beach or marina, yacht, art gallery, winery, or even a historic mansion. Though be sure to keep inclement weather conditions in mind when choosing any outdoor locations.
Regardless of the venue you choose there are several questions you will need answered before you proceed, secure and book:
1. How many guests will the venue accommodate?
2. What is the fee for renting the venue and is there a security deposit?
3. Are there insurance requirements?
4. Will there be other weddings or events on the same day?
5. Will it be possible for the bride and groom to use the venue for a rehearsal the day or evening before the wedding?
6. Will there be day-of staff support on hand?
7. What is the parking availability?
8. Are there any restrictions regarding decorating, picture taking etc. that you need to know about?
9. Who is responsible for clean-up?
10. Is there a refund and/or cancellation policy?
Having your questions answered upfront and making certain your vendor contracts state exactly what was agreed upon should help alleviate any future loss of cash and services.
Reception
Many of the same rules apply when booking your ceremony location as well as when booking your reception site. But there are a few new little gems to consider.
Keep in mind the distance between the ceremony and the reception. The most convenient choice is to hold everything at one location but it's certainly not the only option by far. Your guests will appreciate the convenience of attending both events at one location. But if the reception will be held in a separate location from the ceremony there can be more flexibility to arrange something fun and distinctive to best reflect your personality as a couple. **Just remember to provide your guests with options on how to get from point A (ceremony) to point B (reception).
Lastly, to be success here the two of you should agree on practical matters such as your budget, (cash bar or open bar), number of guests to invite and also on aspects regarding the atmosphere you desire (kids no kids). Most of all when confirming your venue, remember booking early can save lots of headache and may save you both some hard cash in the end!
