the Perfect Venue

A Good Plan must have the Perfect Venue

From a very very young age I tried to teach my children that certain values were never to be compromised.  There were things that could simply not be done over, they should absolutely be done right the first time. Above all else they should remember one simple word that will make everything alright, . . . ,"elope". 
Fast forward, daughter number one has been seeing 'this guy' for four years. I am waiting for the call, the happy voice that exclaims, "we went to Vegas this weekend and guess what we did!" The phone rings, I pick it up and that happy voice that I have never been able to say "no" to exclaims, "I love you dad and I found where I want to  get married, it's a castle!"
Well as it turned out it wasn't exactly a castle, it was an 27,000sq'  18th Century Welsh Manor House on a four acre estate with sunken gardens, a private lake, 22 bedrooms, 22 baths and ambience to spare, . . . whew. It was perfect, she was a princess and he was her hunky handsome prince.

As a fairly important timeline constant we would suggest that the first thing you do after you have passed on the whole justice-of-the-peace/little-white-chapel-on-the-strip thing is, reserve your venue. It is difficult to do anything else until you have the date nailed down. Most photographers, dj's, officiants, etc are reluctant talk to you until you know the date. And while they cannot know if they are available they are usually available for some friendly advise. Of course when it's your own daughter, a smidgeon more flexibility is involved. (yes I was the Father-of-the-Bride AND one of the Photographers, ask me sometime how THAT worked out).
 The venue chosen for the ceremony and reception has a huge impact on the general atmosphere and flow of events. There are a number of things too keep in mind when touring possible  venues.  It’s important to pick a date that suits your ideas, your budget and the number of people you expect to attend. You may find booking a mid-week date gives you spare funds for all the little extras you have in mind. Many venues have discounts up to 40% on non-saturday weddings. Some of the more popular venues book up to a year in advance so if you are anxious to 'tie the knot' soon after the question is 'popped', you'll need to get right on this.
An important and often overlooked aspect is the design of the venue. A large open hall will make visibility of the ceremony and key events at the reception available to all in attendance. A venue made up of smaller intimate spaces might be more conducive to limited numbers of guests. The design of the space can definitely have an effect on your event.
You can never be absolutely sure of the weather, though you do have better chances for sunny/blue in summer, but worrying about the weather is the last thing you need on the big day. Make sure your wedding venue offers good opportunities for your photography inside and out.
Check out accommodations nearby. Make sure they are sufficient for out of town guests and that there is necessary transportation readily available.
Check to see if the venue requires you  to use their own catering (which can be a plus with chefs working on-site in their own kitchens) or can you / must you bring in an outside vendor. It’s your wedding, so don’t be afraid to ask ethical questions. Do they use free range meat and eggs, or fairtrade tea and coffee? This should come as standard in good wedding venues today and if it’s important to you then don’t be shy to ask. Most venues will be more than willing to assist with this.
An important decision to consider at the reception is wether or not the meal will be a sit-down dinner or a buffet.  A buffet lends itself to more social freedom and personal interaction with your guests early in the evening while a sit-down dinner has a more formal elegant feel.
Your wedding venue may or may not allow a pre-paid bar, or may charge extra to have a licensed bartender for drinks, so you should check this in advance and discuss your options. Table service during the reception and evening drinks should come as standard.
Having a wedding venue that can recommend professionals like a stylist for your hair and makeup, or a resident DJ, will take some stress away from your planning. The venue generally will only choose people they have worked with before so they will most likely be experienced, trusted and know the venue well. Your venue’s wedding co-ordinator is there to help make your wedding day perfect, so make the most of them. They are almost certain to have some great ideas you hadn’t thought of!
If you are having the ceremony in a church or any other location that is separate from the reception keep in mind that the guests, any vendors involved in both locations such as your dj, musicians. photographers, and family will need to have sufficient time and instructions on getting to the second venue.
The ceremony and reception are going to be an event to remember for years and years. The right venue can make the difference between "when that was exhausting, . . " and "oh man, let's do that again next weekend"
As with all parts of the plan we have the resources and references to provide you with reliable and excellent quality assets for your  wedding. Give us a call
When it all comes together on the big day you will have all of these thoughts carefully planned and have many wonderful people working for you to make your day run as smooth as silk. Let go of the stress. Place it all in someone else's capable hands and you  will live 'happily  ever after'.
 
sjones / 921-236-4440 / www.aaronstadt.com