Choosing A Wedding Venue

One easy way to rule out possible wedding venues is to check the availability of the venues on the day you and your spouse-to-be have decided to wed. You will want to book your venue anywhere from six months to a year before your actual wedding, as venues tend to fill up quickly. If you have your heart set on having your wedding at a particular wedding, in addition to booking it early, you will want to keep your wedding date slightly flexible.

Early on, after making a list of friends and relatives, you should have a tentative guest list. Be sure to look only for venues that can accommodate the number of guests you think you may have. If you think you may have 160 guests, do not get a venue that sits only up to 150, hoping that some people don't show up. As your mother always said, "It's better to be safe than sorry." Find out when the venue will want a final head count, as well.

After having discussed your wedding budget with your spouse-to-be, you will know approximately how much money you can devote to the wedding venue. One of the first questions you will want to ask is whether the venue charges a flat fee or a per hour fee and if they have any packages available that work within your budget. This will help eliminate some of the more expensive venues, if you are on a tight budget. Be sure to ask if certain days, like a Thursday or Sunday, offer a discounted rate. Once you decide on a venue, make sure to find out when deposits and payments are due.

Ask the wedding venue director what items are included in the price. Some venues offer tables, linens, chairs and, even, decorations, while other venues offer only the space that you will need to fill. Be sure to find out if a set-up or clean-up fee is included in the price, as well as the hours before and after the wedding needed to do so.

If you and your spouse-to-be have a particular type of food you want served, ask your venue director if the venue offers only in-house catering or if they allow outside caterers. If the catering is in-house, is this also included in the price?

Should you and your spouse choose a place that will host an outdoors wedding ceremony and reception, make sure they have a provisional space in case of bad weather. Also, find out if the venue offers changing rooms for the bridal party and groomsmen.

If you and your spouse-to-be plan on serving alcohol, find out what types of rules or restrictions they may have. Some venues allow you to bring in your own liquor, while others make you use their own in-house bar and bartender.

Depending on the location of your venue, you may need to discuss the parking situation. Some venues may offer valet parking while others offer adequate-sized parking lots for all of your guests.