|
Location isn’t a concept reserved solely for buying and selling real estate, but is also one of the key factors to consider when choosing the venue for your wedding reception. In fact, it’s one of the first steps in the planning process because most of the planning details hinge on the venue.
From common venues such as hotel ballrooms and banquet halls to uncommon venues such as museums and parks, the whirlwind of site visits can make your head spin. To stay on track when visiting wedding venues, there are some things to keep in mind and consider before choosing one. Your bride may fall in love with the look of a venue, so it may be up to you to consider some of the logistics.
Size Does Matter
The size of your guest list dictates the reception venues that are viable options. If your guest list is 200 guests or more, there will be fewer venues to choose from because there won’t be enough room for a wedding of this size. If your wedding is less than 25 or 50 guests, it will take other venues out of the running because there isn’t a space small enough to accommodate your needs. In order to start out with a list of venues with spaces that coordinate with your guest list, you need a realistic number of how many guests will attend.
While your guest list plays the starring role in venue options, the items that have to go in the room are considerations too. You may be blown away by the ballroom at your parent’s country club for its rustic look and brick fireplace because it fits your wedding style. Now you have to imagine it filled with tables, chairs, a dance floor and wedding guests. Is it still warm and cozy or cramped and uncomfortable?
The Menu
When evaluating a venue, food and beverage options are typically high on the list of importance. There are two possible options when it comes to catering—onsite catering comes with the venue or you have to hire an off-premise caterer to work on premise. Generally, if the venue has a catering department, it usually requires you to use its catering services. This may pose a problem if the style or the price of the food does not fit what you have in mind. Be sure to ask what the catering policy and menu options are for the venue so you can weigh the space available with the food and beverage options.
The Bar
After food, alcohol is usually high on the list of priorities for a reception venue. How you pay for alcoholic beverages may dictate whether or not the bar takes a big chunk out of your wedding budget. Understanding wedding bar bill 101before heading out to look at venues can be helpful in reviewing and narrowing down your options.
Consumption
A consumption bar is similar to running a tab at a bar, but on a grander scale. Essentially, you pay for the drinks your guests order, which typically makes it a cost-effective way to serve alcohol at the reception. The bartender keeps a “tab” of the drinks ordered throughout the evening and at the end of the night you have to pay your tab.
Per Person
Per person charges have a flat rate fee paid on a per person basis per hour of the reception. This fee is paid on the number of guests attending the wedding, even if some or most of them do not drink.
Limited Bar
Limited bars may only serve beer and wine. It can also be a limited bar if you choose to limit the types and brands of alcohol available for your guests to order—meaning you remove the pricey alcohol brands from the shelves. You can usually combine a limited bar with the consumption or per person payment option.
Proximity
Where your venue is physically located is something else to consider. Is the reception location close to the ceremony venue? Is the reception venue easy to find or out in the middle of nowhere? As a convenience to you, your bride and your guests, the proximity of the reception venue is important. It’s easy to get sold on the looks of a venue but practicality is important too because you’ll have several meetings at the venue during the planning process. On the day of the wedding, you also want to make sure your guests can find the location and arrive at it in a timely manner.
Pricing
The bottom line of choosing a venue typically comes down to the cost. Obtain a line item list detailing the items provided by the venue and the cost per item, which is vital to calculating the true cost. Many venue rental fees include items such as linens, plates, cups, tables and chairs in as part of the fee for booking the venue. For convenience and cost savings, many wedding venues offer wedding packages. Package deals may limit your choice of linens, chair styles, cake flavors, etc. There may also be items in the package you don’t want. See if the venue gives a credit for unwanted items or allows substitutions. For the items not offered by the venue, tack on rental or purchase prices for obtaining these items elsewhere.
The wedding reception venue is one of the primary decisions when you and your bride are planning the wedding. How a venue looks can make a difference in your decision, but there are many additional factors to consider so you can choose the right venue for you. Now that you know some of these considerations, you’re armed and ready to start on your venue hunt.
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/hide comments
