One of the first things you’ll be thinking about after you’ve said yes, besides your dress, of course, will be to find your dream wedding venue.
Once you’ve found the absolute perfect venue to get married at, the rest of your wedding day details (color, style, decor, flowers and such) should speedily fall into place.
So,what should you look for in your wedding reception site (besides that feeling of rightness you know you’ll have the moment you see “the one”)? We have outlined a few helpful hints you should keep in mind, below:
A Great Fit
It sounds kind of elementary, but do ensure that the room is large enough to accommodate the number of people you have placed on your guest list. The space may come across as huge when it’s devoid of tables and chairs, but wedding essential which also include a buffet station, your drinks bar, the band or DJ setup, and even the dance floor—can take up a vast anmount of space. Not to mention your guests will need some elbow room at their tables. Even if you select an outdoor venue, you’ll need ample room on the lawn, in the arbor or by the pool. The best way to assess the size would be to ask your venue if you can take a peek at the space when another wedding (with an similar guest list size) is set up. However if you do decide you must have your wedding at your favorite bar (the one with one toilet, two booths and about five meters of floor space), you can always work backward and “make it work” by cutting down on the guest list and other items.
For more info on selecting good size venues, click here
Eating, Drinking and Dancing Areas
There should be logical and useful spaces within the area where your guests can eat, drink, talk and dance, possibly even step away for a quick cigarette? When you’re standing in the room or venue, try to envision where each activity or part of the event would happen (especially if your ceremony will also be at the reception venue).
A room that is too small to separate into sections may leave you feeling cramped. If it’s shaped like an S or some weird shape, that can really affect your party’s flow and movement as well. Also, make a note of the locations of for example, columns or other obstructions in the room—will they block people’s views of ceremony, or of important speeches?
Privacy
Privacy varies widely from person to person, as does the importance couples place on it. If you’re having a daytime wedding in a public spot, such as on the beach or at the botanical garden, be prepared for strangers to wander past and stop and stare. They may even smile, wave and come by to offer their good wishes. If this works for you, then by all means go with the outdoor venue. If not, rather opt for a lawn on a private estate or even a golf course. Be sure to ask about available security at your site to keep gate-crashers away!
However just holding an event indoors doesn’t guarentee that there wont be other events at the venue or hotel. You may hear karaoke-loving guests singing their hearts out to the sounds of Beyonce through the walls or meet them over the hot-air dryers in the bathroom. Again if this is an issue, try to schedule your wedding when there won’t be another one next door. If this is impossible, visit the site on a dual-party night and see how the sound carries and whether there really are any major people problems before you make a decision.
For a list of 25 key questions to ask your wedding venue, click here
Lighting
Light can make, and sometimes break, the mood and flow of the space. If you’re getting married during the day, make sure your room has plenty of windows to embrace the natural sunlight. Who wants to spend hours in a dark room when the sun is shining outside?
If it’s an evening event, do make sure that the room is not too dim—or that the lighting can be controlled for entrance of the bride and groom, dinner service and dancing. If you’re marrying outdoors, as the sun sets, will you be able to set up candles or fairy lights if necessary?
Visit the site at the same time of day that you’ve chosen for your wedding. Even if the space looks romantic by candlelight, you may be surprised by the sight of that outdated carpet during the day. You’ll also miss a chance to see how sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows completely transforms the room, if you only check it out in the evening.
