Posts Tagged ‘How to?’
Finding the Perfect Venue – Questions to ask
Thursday, January 7th, 2010
In our series this week on venues we now concentrate on what questions to ask and what to take into consideration before you make the final decision. Your venue is one of the most important choices you make when planning your wedding so be sure to have all the information you need, and be happy and clear with what the venue are offering in terms of the services and the options available.
As a guide here are some things to be sure to look for and enquire about before making your final choice.
Look around and Ask Questions
- Walk around the venue and get a feel for the atmosphere. Most brides I have spoken to feel really comfortable and at home in a venue as soon as they walk inside. You and your new husband will be spending the very first hours of being married here with the most important people in your life so it should definitely be a place you feel comfortable in.
- Is everywhere clean and well kept?
- Does the decor fit with your theme? Contemporary modern furniture may not be acceptable if your vision is classic and traditional.
- The venue staff should be professional but friendly and approachable. You need to feel they will look after you as well as your guests.
- If your guests are likely to be staying at the venue ask to be shown the bedrooms to check their suitability.
- Will they offer a group discount you can pass on to your guests? If so how long will they hold the rooms before they need to be booked?
- Check to see if they have a dedicated wedding coordinator on the day. Many venues use events coordinators to help book the wedding but often they do not work at the weekends.
- Check out the gardens and facilities on offer if your wedding is going to take place over a weekend. Your guests may want to make use of the facilities and you need to know if they have to be booked prior to their arrival.
- Is there enough parking for your guests? If not ask where the nearest car park is.
Think about Your Budget
What packages can the venue offer? Will they be flexible? For instance, to reduce costs you may want to serve your wedding cake as a sweet instead of paying for desert. Will they allow this? If so will they charge you for cutting the cake and serving it? Is there the possibility of bringing your own wine? If so what is the corkage price? If you are planning to stay at the venue do they offer a bridal suite within the package? This can be quite an expense and if you can negotiate this to be included its quite a saving. During this credit crunch period you may very well get a good deal, but you have to ask.
Here are few more things to ask and think about regarding what is offered
- What exactly is covered within each package?
- Check if wine is included within the package, can you upgrade to different wines if you want to?
- Can you use your own caterers?
- Is there an extra hire fee for the ceremony room?
- Is it extra to hire a cake stand? Cake knife or the board and easel for the table plan? Or are they included?
- If you get married mid week ask for the charges, they should be lower. Its a thought if you really love the venue but can’t afford the weekend costs.
- Are there any flowers or decorations within the package?
- Is the price quoted with VAT?
- When do they need a deposit and when is the final payment? – Make sure it comes in line with your savings if you need to add to them for the venue costs.
Phew its a lot to consider, but not so fast. There are a few more important issues to cover before you have all the information you need to make your final choice. Come back and visit on Friday for the final blog on Choosing the “Perfect Venue”.
Until then, happy planning.
Tags: How to?, Planning, Tips & Advice, Venues
Posted in Tips & Advice, Venue | 3 Comments »
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