Even though pretty much everything about a wedding is up to the couple being married, some alternatives to traditional elements include having the bride wear a suit rather than a dress, omitting the flowers, and choosing not to have a wedding cake, one thing is mandatory, though: a location. After all, you must provide a location for the guests to congregate and enjoy the festivities.
Finding the right location, though, might be challenging. There are so many options to select from, whether you're searching for a magnificent barn, an elegant ballroom, a charming bistro, or a quiet stretch of coastline. So we contacted a few wedding planners to offer their best recommendations for selecting your dream site.
Whether you settle on a beach for a more relaxed ceremony or a grand ballroom for a more formal celebration, the venue you choose will have a significant impact on the overall atmosphere of the event. There are a lot of factors to consider and questions to answer when deciding where to hold a wedding, so the process of making these decisions can be stressful.
Will your wedding be big or small? Outdoors or indoors? Chic or country? You and your future spouse will have a much easier time selecting the perfect wedding venue if you have already decided on the fundamentals of your big day.
When it comes to your special day, Cosmopolitan events has proven itself to be an iconic wedding venue and function centre in Melbourne
While every wedding-related decision plays a part in constructing your big day, there are a few choices that make a more substantial impact than others. If not the largest, then certainly among them. Your venue. The atmosphere of your wedding reception depends on the venue you choose. Surely there is no pressure here. Some of the most respected names in the wedding planning business say there is no need for it if you follow their advice.
We consulted with some of the best wedding planners in the country to compile this list of the most important criteria to keep in mind when choosing a location for your big day. Start your search at least a year in advance! Do you envision a traditional, bohemian, or rustic wedding? These questions might help you narrow down your venue options. these characteristics will ultimately make or break any prospective locations.
Use these as a checklist before finalising any agreements or signing any contracts, and to help you think of questions to ask on any upcoming tours. Making sure the location you pick has everything you need is the most important thing. Check out our post on Selecting & Planning the Right Wedding Venue
The cost shouldn't be too much too. While not every feature is directly related to personal finance, you'll see that many are made to help you save money. That involves thinking about whether or whether the vendor will give space, food, and drink as part of a package deal. to what extent you're spending money on unused square footage and the building's overall capacity. Below, you'll find solutions to the rest of your inquiries about wedding halls.
FAQs About Weddings
Size. Size encompasses a lot of things, but it's one of the most important factors when selecting a wedding venue is the size of your guest list.
But – and this is a big but – location is arguably even more critical. Why? The answer is simple: people can look their best wherever they go, but locations are fixed. Once you choose a wedding venue, the quality of the surrounding environment dictates how good your photos ultimately end up looking.
While on an average couples book the venue before 6-7 months of the wedding. While some families choose a longer courtship period so that they can give more time to each other and then decide the wedding venue date.
Choosing the perfect venue for your special event is no easy task, and there are a lot of factors to consider. The venue's price, available dates, location, parking availability, accommodations for your guests… the list of things to think about can go on and on and you do not want to make a costly mistake!
The critical thing to remember when selecting a venue location is the logistics. Consider how far your guests will have to travel, including the associated costs: airfare, hotels, transportation, and so forth. That is why events held far away should be reserved for those truly special occasions.
What to Think About
How Many Guests Do You Want, and How Mobile Are They?
Is the wedding of your dreams going to be intimate or a big production? The location could depend on your response. Why? Your guests are an integral part of your special day. Is it unreasonable to expect your closest friends to bring their young children to your South African safari wedding? Can you guarantee the safety of your elderly relatives by taking them to the beach? The attendance of your loved ones is more important to you than trying to please everyone.
The first step in limiting down your options for a wedding location is deciding whether you want a huge capacity venue or a smaller, more intimate one. The budget and your guests' level of satisfaction will both be affected by the site's size. If your guest list is too large for the area, everyone will feel stifled and uncomfortable, but if the room is too small, nobody will feel welcome.
Create an approximate guest list to quickly eliminate venues that are too small or large. You should keep in mind that it's simple to forget just how many children your folks have. will inevitably invite, and you may quickly find yourself with more confirmed guests than room can accommodate.
It is difficult to visualise how a space will seem when it is not occupied. Because of this, we always suggest checking out a venue while it has been prepared for a wedding. Alternatively, you may enquire about seeing images, as most locations will have a photo book or slideshow available.
Another useful suggestion is to enquire about a seating chart for the venue at maximum capacity, which will show you exactly how much room you have and how many people you can invite without crowding the area.
A Religious Ceremony?
Over half of 2007's newlyweds tied the knot in a religious ceremony. Several points to think about:
A venue of worship may be required for a traditional religious ceremony, so it's best to find out about this in advance. If that's the case, schedule your religious ceremony first, and then reserve a venue for the reception. Inquire as to whether or whether the church frowns on skin-baring outfits or excessive floral arrangements.
A reception hall might serve as a secular venue for a wedding if you and your fiancé come from different faith backgrounds. Hold an early conversation with both sets of parents to discuss your plans.
If you don't practise any religion but still want a spiritual component in your ceremony, one option is to do it outside in a place like a park or beach (just make sure you get the proper permits).
How Much Work Are You Willing―or Do You Want―to Take On?
It's possible that you'll have to perform some heavy lifting, but it depends on where you are. Before deciding to "I do," it yourself, consider the pros and cons of the following environments:
A one-of-a-kind spot: Who, exactly, is going to bring Bessie out to pasture, clear the hay from the aisles, haul in the tables, arrange for lighting, and put up the Porta Potties for your large barn wedding reception? Mother Nature should be taken into account as well. You should expect double the effort if you choose for an outdoor ceremony or reception because you will also need a plan B in case it rains.
In a formal dining room: The place may have a cookie-cutter vibe, but the crew is likely ready to do the grunt labour, which may include (very importantly) cleaning up after the party.
Does it Fit With Your Theme?
Consider if the location complements or detracts from the overall look and feel you want to achieve for your wedding. Consider a magnificent mansion like Pembroke Lodge or a sprawling country estate if glitz is your thing. How about cutting-edge? A warehouse or an art gallery might be ideal in that case. Can't get enough of nature together as a couple? It may be a garden marquee, a castle with expansive grounds, or a sports facility if that's something you and your partner are into.
How and where the ceremony will take place can even affect the bridal gown you choose. Think about the location's swank, the weather, and the amenities. The large meringue dress may not be the best choice for squeezing into fancy porta-potties or dragging through muck in a field. Check out our tips for locating a wedding gown that will look stunning in your chosen setting.
Venue Selection Guidelines
Choose Your Wedding's General Location.
Traditional marriages throughout our parents' and grandparents' generations took place in the bride's hometown. It's also possible to have your wedding in the city where you now reside, at a favourite vacation site, or even in a far-off locale that you've always wanted to visit.
A wedding in one's local community has several advantages. But the stunning scenery is just one of the benefits of a destination wedding. First and foremost, decide where your event will be held generally; this choice will have a significant impact on everything from your budget to the availability of potential venues.
Figure Out Your Budget
One of the most crucial choices you'll need to make when deciding how to pick a wedding location is your budget. Most of your wedding budget will go towards the location and food. Most couples in other nations spend between $2,700 and $10,500 on their venue alone, which is a significant amount of money.
The cost of hiring a site in a major city will generally be more than that of a location in a more rural area, but this can vary depending on where you decide to hold your wedding. Calculate your entire wedding budget by consulting with your spouse and any family members who may be contributing financially, and then divide that number in half to determine how much you can spend on your venue and catering, which may end up costing the same if you choose an all-inclusive site.
We know this is a dry topic to start with, but it needs to be addressed. In most cases, the type of venue you're able to deal with will be determined by your budget. We use the word "tentative" because, as women who have been down the road of wedding planning before, we are well aware of the fact that wedding budgets often wind up being exceeded despite careful planning. Our research showed that 98% of the pairs we looked at had a budget overrun.
However, setting a budget cap on how much you're willing to spend on a location is a good idea. Think about whether or not you'll need to rent extras like tables and chairs before making a final decision on a venue. More portable toilets? Don't be surprised by unexpected costs; enquire about the necessary tools in advance of signing a lease.
Come up With an Estimated Guest Count.
Make an educated guess as to how many guests you'd want to invite to your wedding before making any final plans. Almost all venues have a minimum number of guests that can be accommodated, so it's best to err on the side of caution and estimate lower than you'll need. She suggests asking the venue for some extra appetisers during cocktail hour or extended time for the reception if the final number of guests is lower than expected and you need to pay for extra plates.
There is a hard and fast amount of people that can be accommodated in any given wedding venue. Venues typically have a maximum capacity, so you'll need to have a decent idea of how many people you're expecting before making a final decision. When comparing venues with 75 and 500 guest capacities, there is a significant gap.
Don't make up a number of expected attendees. To avoid any major surprises down the road, it's a good idea to get down with your partner and their families and make a list of everyone who should be invited. You don't want to fall in love with a wedding venue that can only hold 200 guests and then find out that your guest list actually includes 350 people.
Think About Your Priorities.
Thinking about your ideal venue is the next step after deciding where, how much, and how many people will be attending. Have a seat and discuss what characteristics your perfect home would have with a friend or partner. Your ideal wedding venue might provide certain amenities like an outdoor area for the ceremony, a full kitchen for food, or a rustic theme. Maybe you want a place that's easy to get to, welcomes pets, and lets you bring in your own food. There are countless options, and every couple has their own set of priorities.
Use Google Creatively
When searching Google for a wedding location, we utilise the region's name and the phrase "wedding" to help us narrow down our results and discover the perfect place. To see examples of local weddings, open a new tab in Google Images and start scrolling back through time. In many cases, this will bring you to the blogs of local photographers, where you can learn about unique venues that you might not have found from a more general web search.
Get Stalker-Ish
Were you able to find the perfect location for your wedding? Give free rein to your inner social media stalker. You may learn more about the photographer who captured the event by searching for other weddings that took place at the venue. If you want to snoop on a wedding via Instagram, all you have to do is go through photos and look for those that use the hashtag. That way, you may see the venue through the eyes of a real visitor.
Be Clear on What's Flexible at the Venue
It would be pointless to check out a site that just partners with one catering company if you already have your heart set on working with a specific caterer for your big day. Do your research before committing time to checking out your options. Can you choose which vendors to work with? Is there a DIY option for decorating the venue? Bring-your-own-alcohol option; if not, do you sell it? You should keep these elements in mind when deciding on a location.
Choose Your Wedding Date.
A wedding's date may be chosen for sentimental or cultural significance, such as the anniversary of the couple's parents or grandparents' marriage or the date on which they first met. Others may choose a year and season, but not a specific day. Choosing an off-season month and being flexible with the date will help you get the venue of your dreams at a price you can afford.
An event held on a Friday in February is likely to cost less than one held on a Saturday in June. Your bargaining power with merchants will change depending on the season, the day of the week, and the length of your engagement. Since popular spots tend to fill up fast, it's a good idea to contact ahead and make sure your prefered day is still available before making the trip out there. A good rule of thumb is to contact the religious institution where the ceremony will take place before making any further arrangements for the reception.
Any newly engaged couple's first order of business should be to start looking for a wedding venue. The site is crucial to the success of your day, making it the most important decision of the day. And the variety is incredible!
It's easy to fall in love with a venue during a first visit, just as it is simple to fall in love with a new home during a showing. Choosing the appropriate wedding venue is crucial because it will affect many aspects of your big day, including the number of people you can invite, the style of your decorations, the quality of your food, and the services you can hire, not to mention the total cost of your wedding.
Conclusion
The location you choose, be it a grand barn, a lavish ballroom, or a tranquil stretch of coastline, will have a major effect on the mood of the event. If you use their advise, which is considered to be among the best in the wedding planning industry, you won't need to. Think about how many people will be attending so that you may choose between a large setting and a more cosy one. Think about whether the seller provides a complete service, including a venue, catering, and beverages. The best time to visit a wedding venue is right after it has been decorated.
Traditional religious ceremonies may call for a house of worship, therefore it's important to investigate this in preparation. If you don't participate in any organised religion but yet yearn for a spiritual experience, you may always go for a walk in a park or meditate on the beach. The wedding dress you choose may also be influenced by the setting and style of the ceremony. If flash is your thing, you might appreciate a grand home like Pembroke Lodge or a large country estate. Perhaps a warehouse or an art gallery would be more suitable.
Take a wild stab at estimating how many people you'd want to have at your wedding. You should have a good sense of how many people will be attending because most venues have a maximum capacity. In order to keep unpleasant surprises to a minimum, it's best not to make up a number of expected guests. By using both the name of the area and the keyword "wedding" in our Google search, we are able to limit down the options for a suitable wedding venue. Just open a new tab in Google Images and start scrolling back in time to discover pictures of local weddings.
The couple may want to honour family traditions or cultural norms when selecting the wedding date. It's likely to save money if you have your event on a Friday in February instead of June. If you're set on a specific venue but open to moving the date, planning your event during a slower time of year is your best bet.
Content Summary
- Finding the right location, though, might be challenging.
- The atmosphere of your wedding reception depends on the venue you choose.
- The first step in limiting your options for a wedding location is deciding whether you want a huge capacity venue or a smaller, more intimate one.
- The budget and your guests' level of satisfaction will both be affected by the site's size.
- Another useful suggestion is to enquire about a seating chart for the venue at maximum capacity, which will show you exactly how much room you have and how many people you can invite without crowding the area.
- If that's the case, schedule your religious ceremony first, and then reserve a venue for the reception.
- If you don't practise any religion but still want a spiritual component in your ceremony, one option is to do it outside in a place like a park or beach (just make sure you get the proper permits).
- It's possible that you'll have to perform some heavy lifting, but it depends on where you are.
- You should expect double the effort if you choose for an outdoor ceremony or reception because you will also need a plan B in case it rains.
- Consider if the location complements or detracts from the overall look and feel you want to achieve for your wedding.
- How and where the ceremony will take place can even affect the bridal gown you choose.
- Think about the location's swank, the weather, and the amenities.
- One of the most crucial choices you'll need to make when deciding how to pick a wedding location is your budget.
- Most of your wedding budget will go towards the location and food.
- In most cases, the type of venue you're able to deal with will be determined by your budget.
- However, setting a budget cap on how much you're willing to spend on a location is a good idea.
- Make an educated guess as to how many guests you'd want to invite to your wedding before making any final plans.
- Don't make up a number of expected attendees.
- Choosing an off-season month and being flexible with the date will help you get the venue of your dreams at a price you can afford.
- Any newly engaged couple's first order of business should be to start looking for a wedding venue.
- The site is crucial to the success of your day, making it the most important decision of the day.
- Choosing the appropriate wedding venue is crucial because it will affect many aspects of your big day, including the number of people you can invite, the style of your decorations, the quality of your food, and the services you can hire, not to mention the total cost of your wedding.