But first
things first, and you have an important question to ask yourself. Where are you going to have your wedding?
A daunting
question this is, given the hundreds
of venue options. How in the world do you narrow that down?
Consult
Your Wallet
Unfortunately,
weddings follow the adult world, in that you cannot get all the good stuff
unless you pay for it. And weddings can be... well… an expense to say the
least.
There are
no rules on what you should spend (i.e. six months salary on a ring), except for
a really big one we should talk about called
do not outlive your means. You are embarking on an adventure with
your husband on a life time commitment. Starting that off on the right foot
financially should be the rule.
And while
this is a huge day, it simply is a day. There is no good reason for you to
spend years in debt and stressed after what is meant to be an awesome, fun,
memory-filled day of goodness for you and your husband.
 |
| That’s right, I said you and hubby. That’s what all of this is about! |
Planning
ahead is also key. Understand that more bills will be coming your way other
than the reception hall – such as photographers, videographers, the cake,
florist, DJ (more on why this is especially important), and even where you
choose to have your ceremony.
Deliberate
where you do the “I do’s”?
That first
kiss needs a location to happen at, which can have a huge effect on your venue
choices also. There are basically three options:
1.
Off-Site
Ceremony: typically in a church, or nearby gardens
A traditional wedding
only compromises your reception hall choice by proximity. If you have your
ceremony hours from your reception hall, your guests may not be as happy to
attend both. (Considering this can you save you some time at your wedding, and
so can a few other tips you may not have thought of).
2.
On-Site
Ceremony: performed in or outside the reception hall
The convenience bell rings clear on
this one, in terms of time savings and money savings, as it can usually be a
cheaper option. Given this is the biggest ongoing trend in the wedding industry
in the last few years, many venues have ways to accommodate this option.
Gazebos and beautiful woods or lake scenes have been decorated and carved out
for ceremony sites. They are also more than prepared to handle the weather if
it takes a turn with inside options as well.
3.
Destination:
in a far off, distant land…
 |
| ...can we make destination jobs, like, a thing? |
If this adventure is what you are leaning towards, then you are wide open for wedding venue options.
Shoot, wasn't I supposed to help you narrow that down? Good thing I have more to write about...
Follow
the Food
No joke, I
am more foodie than I am human. Okay, maybe joke. Food is high on my priority
list in terms of taste, and in finances, as you should consider on your wedding
day too.
Depending
on where your decisions from the first two tips led you, you may have venues
left that only offer limited ways of serving your guests food, and these
options vary widely in cost.
Food
options, listed by popularity:
1.
Family
Style: most economical option, but sometimes with limited choices. 5-7 entrees
are passed around the table for guests to choose what they want on their
plates.
2.
Plated:
least economical, but most sophisticated. Everyone gets their own plate of
food.
3.
Buffet:
also very economical, and gives everyone the most options to choose from. Time
can be a factor depending on how many guests are at your wedding, but most
venues that offer this option have the timing down to a tee.
4.
Catered:
depending on the company, they can offer all of these options, but you get to
choose what food from which catering company you like most. Not all venues
allow this, and some require this if they do not have a kitchen.
The greatest
part about these tips is that you can do most of this research online or via
phone before you even jump in the car to go do venue visits. And while I am all
about the time savings, I am about enjoying the journey to your wedding day.
Have strategy, using these tips, but relish in the experience of making your
big wedding day happen.
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