Choosing A Venue For The Big Day

Today we would like to discuss the WHERE of your wedding.

The most important, the WHO, and the WHAT, is obvious :)

But where will all this magic take place? Where will fit your guest count and provide the atmosphere you want for this important day in your lives?

Aside from finding the wedding gown, the venue is the only other element of the wedding that may take long and may, in many cases, be discouraging for a couple.

The first thing to think about (after setting your overall wedding budget range) before searching for a venue is create a preliminary guest list, so you figure out the approximate guest count you expect to have at your wedding. You have a 'must-invite' list, and a 'maybe-invite' list. Once a range is decided, the next thing to think about is what kind of a venue you like. For example, outdoor, indoor, banquet hall, rooftop, hotel ballroom, private estate,  country club, museum, warehouse, garden, ocean view, city view, on the beach, etc.

At this point, you can start the search. Try to think of places that you attended weddings as a guest that really stood out for you. Somewhere where you can imagine making it your own there. Also, start searching online. There are websites like www.herecomestheguide.com or our favorite, www.eventup.com that can provide search results based on guest count, city, type of venue, and so on. If you have hired a planner, your planner will hand pick venues for you that best meet your needs.

After seeing a few options that are worth checking out in person, make appointments with the site's coordinator to get information about the venue, as well as a personal tour of the entire property.

Be observant during this meeting. Can you have both the ceremony and reception on site? Does it have a large enough cocktail hour space? Does it meet your expectations from what you saw online? Does the pricing include catering and bar? Can you bring in your own caterer or alcohol? Does that city have noise restrictions that the venue enforces? If it's an outdoor area, are there options to bring the event indoors in the event of bad weather? Is that something you would want? What fees and service charges are included? What rental items are included (chairs- what kind, tables...) The list of questions can really go on forever.

Once you have your answers, you may be ready to book, discard the idea of having the wedding there, or keep it open as an option.

If the below is you, as you are ready to book...

DO NOT BOOK right away!

If you are interested in a venue you see in person, ask to be provided an estimate and find out the available dates for the month and year you wish to get married. The worst feeling for a bride-to-be is falling in love with a place that is way out of budget (so screen this information to a certain extent prior to booking a tour), or to fall in love with a place that is not available for the time period the wedding has been decided for. Don't do this to yourself!

Have a discussion after seeing each place. Did you both like it? Is the pricing provided within your budget? Does the ballroom allow for creative design to make it your own space?

After a few venue visits, you will know exactly what you are looking for and what you want to stay away from.

Once you are fully confident that you can see that a particular venue is where you can envision yourself getting married, that's when you can go ahead and book it.

Now you can do your happy dance:

You can get married anywhere your heart desires, but to find it is not an easy and quick process. All we can say it is well worth the wait!

Lots of Love,
Susan









images via Google

You're Blessed, Don't stress

Happy Monday!

Today we are writing about something that is all too familiar for engaged couples...STRESS!

Here's the scenario:

The love of your life, man of your dreams, pops the big question. Yes, score! You are blessed to have found your true partner in life. Someone to share all the adventures that is life with.

And so the planning begins. Insert STRESS here.

 

From the figuring out of the budget, to finding vendors that you love AND that are within your budget, to finding a venue, dress, figuring out the bridal party members, listening to the endless (and unsolicited) advice of family and friends, trying your best to isolate the social pressures of having a certain type of wedding, to having a fiance that is M.I.A. when you need him and all nit-picky when you don't need him, etc., etc., etc.

 

It is a trying time.

 

You have your work, your school, other responsibilities, and everything in between, and NOW you have to plan a wedding. Not just any wedding, but YOUR wedding!

 

You easily go from this:

 

 

 

To this:

 

 

 

To this:

 

 

Very fast. Your relationship can be a rollercoaster of emotions. And it can spiral downwards faster than you can imagine.

 

We have seen it all with our clients. Even the most loving couples tend to get at each other's throats at one point or another because it's JUST TOO MUCH!

 

You lose sight of the goal of all this: to marry the one person that is your perfect match.

 

It's not so much a relationship problem as it is an individual's struggle in learning to make joint decisions. The beginning of a life full of joint decision making.

 

It's almost never what is being said as much as it is what's not being said, or how something is said. In a nutshell, communication.

 

Communication is key. It is the key during the planning process, and it is the key in a successful marriage.

 

Our tip for you is separate your emotional tie to the planning process. Use logic, common sense, and politics.

 

In this case, we can confidently say that it is not about the journey, it is about the destination. The complete opposite of the correct approach to life. But then again, keep in mind that is not life. This is a wedding. The marriage is the life part.

 

So, everyone, keep calm and remind yourselves as many times as you have to, that you are marrying the person that you yourself have decided is the perfect match for you.

 

All else will fall into place. And if it doesn't, hire us (professionals) to help alleviate the stress for you. Focus on what is most important: your mental and emotional health, your relationship with your fiancé, your families and friends, and the responsibilities you have to keep up with whether there's a wedding or not.

 

Balance:

 



 

 

After all, each element in your life, all that causes pleasure and stress, are part of you. Not one thing is the complete you. Don't let one thing consume you!

 

 

In no time, you will be here:

 

And, later, being a pro at making joint decisions and balancing life at the most crucial times in life, you will one day be here:

 

After all, you're blessed, don't stress!

 

Lots of Love,

Susan

 

 

 

all images via Yahoo!