When planning a wedding, few decisions have a greater influence than the venue you choose. Not only does the venue set the tone for the rest of the celebration, but a bad choice has the potential to haunt your memories of your special day for the rest of your marriage. Continue reading for our top suggestions for choosing your ideal wedding location.

Decide Your Budget

A budget might not seem like the most fun thing to think about, but without one, you’re going to have a difficult journey and risk the smooth running of the event with needless planning mistakes and the problems that come with them. Decide on the total amount you would like to spend for your special day, and then add a 5% safety net to that amount. Next, start dividing your expenses into separate categories while doing homework on each aspect, such as the venue, meals and drinks, photography, dresses, and decorations to name a few.

Begin Looking Online

Make a list of the venue criteria first, and then conduct your web investigation after that. Consider your environment, the facilities you’ll require, online ratings, the venue’s interactions on social media, nearby lodging, and availability for the day of your choosing. Also, look at photographs captured on-site by amateur or freelance photographers. A quick Google search for a “wedding venue near me” will provide an excellent starting point for you to discover the best venue options to fit into your plans.

Cement Your Guest List

You need to have an idea of the number of people you plan to invite before you scope out your first venue. You may find yourself in a difficult situation if you select a place that isn’t large enough to accommodate your guest list, or if more people say yes than you expect. Have that discussion beforehand to determine what capacity you need to plan for, because couples frequently misjudge how many guests will accept invites, and the number their folks might expect. This will also assist in organising your finances because most expenses are strongly influenced by the number of guests you’re expecting.

Consider All Angles

Make sure to compare prices if you’re considering both full-service venues and those where you may set up your own decorations and have external catering. A facility where you don’t have to rent anything could end up being more expensive up front than one where you need to hire extra services, so ask for quotes on everything and try to compare like-to-like. Keep in mind that the included rental products are often basic, so you may have to spend more to hire products that are more in line with your concept for the day.

Choosing your wedding venue needs special care and attention because it’s one of the first steps you need to finalise in the planning process. Before making your final decision, do your research, take the time to think it over carefully, follow your instincts, and maybe consider visiting some of the more outlandish venues. You’ll likely never again have such a perfect excuse to explore some of the magnificent options available to you as you do now.