Choosing your wedding venue

Photography: Phosart Photography & Cinematography | Wedding Dress: Galia Lahav

Choosing your wedding venue is probably one of the most important decisions you’ll have to take during your wedding planning and there are numerous factors that will affect you. Your budget, the number of your wedding guests, the preferred vendors as the ones of music, planning and decoration.

1. ALWAYS CHECK VENUES WITHIN BUDGET
   As you start narrowing down venues, don’t forget to stay within budget. The only thing you will achieve by looking over-budget venues is to feel stressed and you will end up cutting off your guest list to make it to your dream-venue.
2. DO NOT SETTLE
   Ending up in a venue just because it is cheap and affordable, it won’t be a clever move. Book a venue that makes you crazy about everything. The place, the aesthetic, the price. Don’t make the mistake thinking that with the flowers and the decoration you can save an ugly venue.
3. MAKE SURE THAT THE VENUE HAS A COORDINATOR FOR THAT DAY
   Probably one of the most important points. Make sure that the venue will offer you a coordinator for that day, who will ensure that the guest will find their right seats, the waiters will be groomed and that the toilets will be in perfect condition (all these might seem funny details to you, but you definitely don’t want to be stressed over these on your wedding day)!
4. MAKE SURE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE PREFERRED VENDORS
   Something that many couples forget, is to check with the preferred vendors of the venue. For example, the catering of the venue. Go and try the menu before booking it. The Dj of the venue… Book an appointment with him and make sure he follows the music you love and not the one he is used to.
5. BE FLEXIBLE
   What do we mean? If you have found the venue but it is slightly more expensive than what you had in mind, then ask if there is an offer if you get married on a Friday or a Sunday, or if your wedding is off the high season (May-September). You should know, there are venue that the ceremony can be held there as well and that will save you some extra expenses. In general, ask talk and don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Just remember one thing! When you book the date and the venue, then you will be able to take a deep breath and let the best part of your wedding, the planning, to begin!