So he (or she) has ‘put a ring on it’ and now it’s time to start planning your big day!

Choosing a venue can be an overwhelming process. You are surrounded by venues of all different shapes, sizes and styles and just like Cinderella’s glass slipper – you need to choose one that is the perfect fit FOR YOU!

Here’s a few tips to choose the PERFECT wedding venue for you and your spouse to be:

MONEY MONEY MONEY MOOOOONEY MONEY……..

Money will come into it, and is a good place to start when looking for your wedding venue.  Make sure before you start searching for a venue you have a clear understanding of your budget and communicate this with your venue finder or potential venue so they can tailor the right package or proposal for you.

It’s also important to find out if there is a minimum spend requirement to hold your event.  It’s all well and good if your wedding package sits within your budget, however if there is a minimum spend requirement which is higher that your package spend that that could blow the budget out.

FIND ACCOMMODATION NEARBY

If you have people travelling you may want to find somewhere with a hotel attached. Another option is to find a venue with a selection of accommodation options nearby, so people have plenty of options for their own financial budgets.

It’s also worth finding out if you can offer guests a discount for staying or if you can book a set number of rooms to keep costs down for guests. This will help ensure specific people you want to come have no excuse.

THINK ABOUT NUMBERS

You’ll need to have a rough idea of guest numbers to make sure the wedding venue is able to hold everyone. You won’t have exact numbers, but think about a rough idea on the size of your wedding. Talk to other family members to find out who they invited and their numbers. It will just give you a basic idea.

Some weddings are as small as 30 – 40 people. Others will have hundreds. Most of the time you’ll need to overestimate by about 20 percent to make sure there is plenty of space.

Don’t forget to factor in room for a dance floor (if that’s what you desire)  a venue may be able to accommodate your guests at their maximum capacity, but make sure there will still be room to dance the night away.

THINK ABOUT THE SEASON

Are you opting for a summer wedding or a winter one? This will affect your choice of wedding venues. You’ll want somewhere that is warm enough for the winter or cool enough during the summer. Talk to the venue owner or manager to find out about heating and A/C options. Find out if there is a wet weather option if you plan to hold your ceremony or reception outside and understand if there is a difference in cost for a last minute change of plan.

You can also talk to others close to you about the venues. Chances are you know someone who has either been to a function in a venue or knows someone who has. They can help advise you about seasonal impact.

LOCK IT IN

Once you have fallen in love with the ideal venue LOCK IT IN!  Availability is tight during peak seasons / peak days and if you have fallen in love with a particular venue then chances are many others have too and are looking to secure their date.  The average booking lead time for weddings is 12-18 months with some venues sold out on peak dates 3 years in advance!

I hope the tips above will help you to narrow down your options and assist you in choosing the perfect venue for your special day.  For assistance in planning your event contact the expert team at My Venue Finder on +61 3 9459 8576 or email enquiries@myvenuefinder.com.au