Things you should do before securing a wedding venue

Congratulations on saying YES!!! We know it's an exciting time for you but, before you say YES to your dream venue, here are 5 things you should do first:

1. Have a vision for your wedding.

You may have always dreamed about a big dreamy tented wedding with ballerinas or a ballroom with the ceiling dripping with diamonds. Knowing what you want in the beginning can help you fish through options easier and eliminate the options that don’t align.

2. Draft out your guest list

This is crucial to eliminate stress during the venue search process. No point in visiting venues that can’t accommodate your guest count.

3. Hire a wedding planner

If this is your first wedding, chances are that you don’t know how much weddings normally run but you may have a number in mind that you believe your wedding will cost. When you hire a wedding planner, we can tell you what’s realistic for your budget amount and you can decide from there whether you need to cut your guest list or raise your budget to have the wedding of your dreams.

4. Have a decor vision

Having a decor vision from the beginning will help you stay away from venues that clash with your wedding colors or vision. Some brides make the mistake of choosing a venue and thinking that they can just hire a decorator to cover things like the carpet or drape the walls until they find out the true cost to do so. Have a vision first and then consult with a decorator.

5. Consult with a decorator

Scenario:

You've been dreaming of having flowers cascading from the ceiling and elaborate decor for your ceremony & reception. You found a venue, signed the agreement, and paid a retainer to lock in your date. You then sit down with a decorator to go over your vision and they then explain to you how many days a production like one you've envisioned would cost. So you contact your venue to extend your agreement to add the additional time and you find out that they can’t accommodate your needs because the time slot isn't available.

This unfortunately happens to many couples which is why it is a great idea to first hire professionals in the wedding planning industry that can help you avoid this from happening.

Need further planning assistance? Feel free to contact Style Luxe Weddings. We would love to assist with your planning needs!