How to choose a venue for your wedding
Choosing a wedding venue can be an uphill task so you got to have a vision of what you want before you start looking so that you know what you are looking for.
Have a checklist with you as a guide and stick by it. Some of the guidelines to consider when choosing a wedding venue include:
Consider your budget
Yes you have set your eyes on the most beautiful venue and you have it all in your mind how you will set it up, but your budget does not allow you. There are venues that cost as high as 200k and as low as free. Your pocket depth will determine what you will get.
Do not blow your budget over a venue, there are things that will require more finances and obviously, it will not be a venue.
Bear in mind that most venues are fully booked for months to come so be swift in deciding as well.
The capacity of the venue
Look for a venue that will comfortably fit all your guests and will have space for the kids to play. Also, consider the capacity of the parking space; you do not want your guests being forced to park their expensive machines outside the venue with no one to watch over their cars. It’s quite risky in terms of safety and your guest will most definitely not be at ease.
They need to be enjoying your wedding not making trips to and from the venue to keep checking their cars.
Security
This may not be much of a concern but it is important that you take care of your guest’s safety while at the wedding grounds.
Insist on having security guards at each corner of the venue. Confirm if the venue gives security persons and if not consider hiring a few.
Accessibility for your guests
Be mindful of your guests, some have come from so far and the least they want is to start looking for a venue they know not. Worse if they are going to spend almost a whole day trying to find the venue. Send the directions in advance and appoint a contact person who can handle queries on the venue directions
Distance between venues
This is easy if you are holding everything in one venue. However, if you have to switch venue from the church to the reception and the photo shoot location you will have to be very mindful of the time factor as well the hustle of moving from one place to the other for your guests especially those who have no personal means of transport.
Things like unexpected traffic and change of weather can really delay your movements. Have venues that are close to each other at least
Restrictions
Go over the terms given for the venue and confirm if they have any restrictions such as loud music, start and end time as well set up. Confirm also if they have an in-house caterer or they have their own list of caterers and other vendors that they prefer.
Parking
Confirm if they have a big enough parking space and if they have any restrictions on parking as well. Check on the security of the parking too.
Facility
Does the venue package come with other facilities like washrooms, equipment, chairs, table or any other? If it does, the better, if not make a point to arrange for all those.
All in all, a site visit is important. Don’t just take the ground’s man word, go round the venue, confirm if everything is in order. Discuss your expectations and agree on terms of service before putting down a deposit. Follow up on another site visit 2 weeks prior so that if there is a need for any adjustments, they can be done in ample time.
With these guidelines, I believe that venue hunting will be much easier.
Daisy Chepkoech is a Freelance Blog Writer, Social Media Manager and Trainer. She is also the Marketing Director at Dake Business Solutions. Daisy holds a Bachelors degree in Communication and Media Technology from Maseno University.
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