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The venue is extremely important for any wedding. It sets the tone for the event (casual, romantic fun), is the backdrop for all photos, and is one of the big things that guests actually remember. Brides often plan their whole wedding around their dream location--it's not unusual to pick the date, season, theme, colors and more based off the venue. Have we stressed enough how major the venue is? Okay, I think we have. Now, what are the things you should absolutely NOT do when pickings yours? Click to find out the common mistakes brides make when choosing the location.
[Photo: Ryan Ray Photography]
Not choosing a place that allows you to choose your own vendors. Wedding venues that require you to use vendors from their approved list, or in some cases use their *one* approved vendor (ie. the house caterer), should be avoided at all costs. These are usually wedding mills that put profit before the customer, ie. you. Using their preferred vendors, such as caterers, rentals, lighting, etc., is a huge ripoff 99% of the time.
[Photo: Style Me Pretty]
Not finding out if there's flexibility with the numbers (or negotiating it). You should not have to pay for plates that aren't served, aka agree to a guaranteed number of guests, because inevitably people will not come (typically, 20% of guests RSVP no, but in many cases the number is even higher). You can and should negotiate any terms of the contract that leave you with a loss. You can also negotiate things like cancellation policy and any other extra fees they've tacked on for no reason (service fees, location fees, etc).
Not asking that yours be the only wedding that day. Wedding mills won't like this (hence why you should avoid them altogether) but a good wedding venue should be pretty receptive to this request. The last thing you want is for them to shuffle your wedding through because they have another one coming, or to kick you out while the dance party is just getting going. You also don't want to share the venue at the same time--some vendues might be big enough to hold two, but trust me you don't want that. It's just complicates things like parking, favors, the guest experience, the venue's ability to cater to your requests, and more. Just put it in your contract that your wedding is the only one being held at the venue that day--or walk.
Not having an inclement weather plan. Sure, you love that outdoor venue--but what happens if it's pouring rain (or worse!) on the day of your wedding. Make sure your venue has a solid plan B for inclement weather. They should have a way to keep your guests comfortable and things running smoothly, even in the worst of conditions. Things like the valets having golf umbrellas to take guests from their cars matter.
Not considering the season. A ski lodge is great for winter weddings, a garden is great for spring. Get them switched, and you've got a bunch of freezing cold guests and/or a muddy backdrop for your big day. Consider the season when choosing the venue. What will the temperature be? What will the foliage be like? Will they have plowed? What will guests wear? Will guests have to walk outside? Will there be bugs or any other seasonal critters? All important aspects to consider that not every bride does.
Going over budget. You shouldn't go over budget for the wedding venue unless you're going to make serious cuts elsewhere. This is a big ticket item--if you go over budget on the venue, it's going to be nearly impossible to find that money somewhere else. In fact, as the planning progresses, you will find many other additional costs that come up that you had not anticipated for. Start your budget off on the right now by only considering venues that you can afford.
Not getting an itemized invoice with the contract. You should know exactly what your getting for your money, including extra fees and any other charges such as rentals that might be factoring in to your 'per price' amount. “The expense of renting and bringing in tables, chairs, props, linens, glassware and table settings is huge,” Kara Lamerato, producer and host of the Wedding Planning Podcast, explains. “A couple should fully understand what (if any) of these items are included on their venue contract.”
Getting married on a weird date. You shouldn't get married on a Wednesday or another inconvenient date just because that's the only time your dream wedding venue is available. Trust us, there are plenty of other amazing venues out there to choose from. You can have a great venue and a great wedding date, too.
Not having a contract. It's likely that the venue will be pressuring YOU in to signing a strict contract, but in some very rare cases venues will try to go without one and in this case you absolutely have to make your own and demand that they sign it. You should have clarity on *all* the terms, fees, etc. that you're agreeing to. This likely applies to venues that are not typical wedding venues. You can easily search for contracts templates online and update them with your specs.
