A wedding is an integral part of people’s lives. It marks a significant change, one that’s hoped to last for a lifetime. However, as much of a milestone a wedding is, it’s still an event — an event that’s prone to failures and hassles. To make sure that difficulties don’t mar your wedding, here are a few points to remember.
Check the Venue Availability
Everyone has their dream wedding location. Some want to get wed in a quaint barn setup, a beachside wedding, or a garden ceremony. That’s all well and good, but don’t forget to make sure that the location is available. Popular places tend to be booked in advance, and securing the booking for your wedding can be a challenge. Make sure to reach out to the location well beyond your actual date to make sure there’s no problem.
What Are Their Packages, and What Are Included in Them?
Dedicated wedding locations often include packages with all the necessary items. Tables, chairs, light, even sound equipment usually come pre-packaged in most venues. However, it’s essential to make sure what comes with yours. Keep in mind that some venues might offer all the logistical side of the wedding except food. See if they provide catering in the venue or not. Or, if they do offer catering, find out if they’re willing to accept outside catering. In most cases, if they are, there’s a corkage fee included, which is something you would want to know. This is particularly necessary if you plan to bring in food from a different provider.
Is It Big Enough to Fit Your Guests?
You might have envisioned your dream wedding, but dreams are often different from reality. Factor in the size of the location and how much you’re going to invite. Weigh what’s more important: inviting all your guests or having the ceremony in the place that you’ve longed for. Don’t just believe the suggested PAX of venues; go there yourself to have an idea of whether it will be comfortably sized enough.
Do They Allow Alcohol?
Another important consideration is whether the location allows alcohol. Some venues might not have the permission to serve alcohol, and if they don’t, you might have to acquire your own permit. Other venues might serve alcohol but disallow personally brought alcohol.
Don’t Forget About Where Your Guests Can Stay
A critical thought to keep in mind is if your venue is in a relatively remote area is to check whether there are hotels or inns that your guests can stay at. While this is not much of a concern for urban areas, for picturesque locations that require traveling, it’s a major concern. It’s best to send the hotel locations to your guests to help them with their booking.
How Accessible Is the Venue?
Of course, accessibility is another option you need to keep in mind. Think of how your guests can travel to the venue. Is public transportation readily available? Or should you hire a shuttle service from a fixed location everyone can travel to? The venue’s accessibility is one of the make-or-break factors of your wedding, as it can be quite a mood killer when everyone finds it challenging to get there. If you insist on a distant location to take advantage of its scenery, consider using a shuttle service to help make it easier for you and your guests.
Think About Parking Space for You and Your Guests
If your wedding venue is in a location accessible by car, the concerns are a bit different. Making sure there’s adequate parking in the venue itself is crucial. If the parking space on the exact location isn’t enough, look at the other parking options. Are there any nearby spaces for parking? If there are, make sure to talk to the property owners to avoid having problems.
Avoid Going Over Budget
The nitty-gritty of organizing your wedding is budget. Having your dream wedding is great and all, but be realistic. Unless you’re working with a bottomless budget, it’s best to be practical in how you approach your wedding. Always keep track of the expenses and be strict with any other extras that you might incur.
Always Have a Plan B
Of course, you can’t exactly expect everything to always go according to plan. Having a Plan B in case of anything going wrong is the best decision you’ll be making. Your plan B can be as simple as having a backup food service if there’s something wrong with the food or an alternate location that accepts the immediate booking.
With these ideas, you can make well-informed decisions when choosing the place you want. It shouldn’t be a hindrance to what you plan for your special day.
