Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue
These days, a church wedding is a bit old school. After all, ministers travel, right? So, why not plan a destination wedding or find a place that has special meaning to you and your fianc©? It makes perfect sense until you go online and quickly get overwhelmed by the choices. Fortunately, there is a practical way to make a decision.
First, you need to define you priorities. Determine what is absolute and where compromise might come into play. It could be the distance from friends and family. Do you want people to have to travel to your wedding? Who must be there? How much do you want to spend? When you know these things, the job of choosing a venue gets a lot simpler. With the field narrowed by setting your priorities, you can start your search.
The next key question is whether you want to have the wedding indoors or outdoors. Keep in mind that planning a special event outdoors many months in advance gives you no idea about how the weather may be that day. Still, the beach or a peaceful meadow can be stunning. If it is worth the risk, go for it! If you'd rather have assurance that everything will go as planned, an indoor ceremony is a safe bet.
You will also want to decide how much assistance you want with the planning and catering. You might want to find one-stop service, do it all yourself, or use a combination of these. When we do Weddings at 200 Peachtree in Atlanta, we are happy to do as little or as much as the wedding party wants. That keeps the cost and the personal touches in your control. If you want someone to just take over and make it happen, that can be done as well. You will need to know what you are most comfortable with.
If you decide to keep the ceremony indoors, the next step is to know how big it needs to be, how grand, and what features are essential. Does it need to have a kitchen? Does the space itself need to impress? How many people do you expect? Some venues will have multiple spaces to choose from, depending on your needs.
After you have accumulated as list of venue options, it is time to weed through them. The final decision may have to do with you comfort with the staff. That is actually hugely important, as they can either make or break your day. Don't forget to think about things like acoustics and sounds systems. There is nothing like a ceremony that cannot be heard well. You will also want to make sure there is adequate and convenient parking for your guests.
There you have it. Simple, right?
First, you need to define you priorities. Determine what is absolute and where compromise might come into play. It could be the distance from friends and family. Do you want people to have to travel to your wedding? Who must be there? How much do you want to spend? When you know these things, the job of choosing a venue gets a lot simpler. With the field narrowed by setting your priorities, you can start your search.
The next key question is whether you want to have the wedding indoors or outdoors. Keep in mind that planning a special event outdoors many months in advance gives you no idea about how the weather may be that day. Still, the beach or a peaceful meadow can be stunning. If it is worth the risk, go for it! If you'd rather have assurance that everything will go as planned, an indoor ceremony is a safe bet.
You will also want to decide how much assistance you want with the planning and catering. You might want to find one-stop service, do it all yourself, or use a combination of these. When we do Weddings at 200 Peachtree in Atlanta, we are happy to do as little or as much as the wedding party wants. That keeps the cost and the personal touches in your control. If you want someone to just take over and make it happen, that can be done as well. You will need to know what you are most comfortable with.
If you decide to keep the ceremony indoors, the next step is to know how big it needs to be, how grand, and what features are essential. Does it need to have a kitchen? Does the space itself need to impress? How many people do you expect? Some venues will have multiple spaces to choose from, depending on your needs.
After you have accumulated as list of venue options, it is time to weed through them. The final decision may have to do with you comfort with the staff. That is actually hugely important, as they can either make or break your day. Don't forget to think about things like acoustics and sounds systems. There is nothing like a ceremony that cannot be heard well. You will also want to make sure there is adequate and convenient parking for your guests.
There you have it. Simple, right?
