Choosing a wedding venue is perhaps the most important and time consuming activity in the run up to every wedding. During the peak wedding season it can become quite a headache to find a good location, especially when you are looking for a decent place, which fits well within your budget. Yes, searching for a perfect wedding venue is one of the most tedious wedding tasks that involves a lot of research, planning and discussions.
If you are looking for a perfect venue for your D-day, here are 10 tips that you will find extremely useful. Especially if this the first wedding in your family, you will find these tips quite helpful for later on as well.
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This is one of the first things that you will need to decide is whether you want a simple wedding or an extravagant one. This decision will dictate the kind of wedding venue that you choose and the location too. Depending on your choice, you may want to pick either a wedding hall that is just a simple covered area and allows you to customise the decor, or a farm house that has a grand palace-like structure already set for use.
Irrespective of whether you are planning a large wedding or an intimate one, location of your venue is very important as well. Decide whether you want a sprawling farmhouse on the outskirts of the city or something that is centrally located, say a hall or a five star hotel. Once you decide this you will be able to reach to a better decision. Location is also a very important point to think over from the budget point of view. This would help you to decide on other crucial things as well, like accommodation for outstation guests, and transportation to and fro the venue.
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Once you have decided on the kind of wedding that you prefer to have, research your options well. Make sure that you shortlist all the wedding locations that are possible. If you have a wide list, then you can shortlist based on your dates, budget and other factors. Once you have a manageable list, try and visit as many of them as you can. Also, try to visit them on a day when there is already a wedding taking place. This will help you make a better decision.
Book your wedding venue as early as you can. Booking early would not only buy you peace of mind, but also probably get you some discounts that you might not be able to avail at a later date. Also, good venues often get booked early and therefore, it makes a little sense to wait unnecessarily, especially if your wedding is taking place during the peak season.
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Before you finalise a hall or opt for a farm house, look at the approximate number of guests that you expect on the day of the wedding. Talk to the groom's side as well to find out how many guests they are expecting. A crowded wedding venue can really spoil the mood and make it stuffy and difficult to manage. Take a clear idea from the venue managers about the number of guests that can be convieniently accommodated there.
While evaluating the wedding venue, keep a list of different ceremonies that you want to hold there on the D-day. Make sure there are enough segregated spaces where each ceremony can be held without causing any disturbance to the guests' celebrations. Say, you might want separate area for the jaimala ceremony and a different space for the mandap where the wedding rituals will be held. So, keep this in mind when you are visiting the venue before finalising it.
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Indian wedding rituals are long affairs that go on for hours. Children tend to fall asleep since the ‘mahurat’ (auspicious time) for most weddings is often at odd hours in the night. For better comfort of your guests, ensure that the wedding venue has some rooms or enclosed tents that will be made available for guests to change or take rest.
Some wedding locations provide catering services, so that you can book the location and the caterer at one go. Some wedding halls have tie-ups with large catering services and allow catering by those groups only. In case a wedding venue insists on some specific caterers, make sure that you evaluate them separately based on the menu, food quality and price. Almost every wedding hall has tie-ups with certain caterers and they would happily invite you to taste the food. Request them to invite you on a day when there is a wedding function going on, so that you too can have a sneak preview of what your wedding could look like and what would be the taste of the food that will be served.
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In most cases, the wedding decoration services are included in the venue package itself. Ensure that you are comfortable with the kind of decoration options that the venue offers. If there are any changes that you want, ensure that you pass on the instructions to the decorator well in advance. Also, if you want to decorate the venue yourself or hire a separate professional for this, then make it clear to the venue manager beforehand to avoid any confusions later on.
Last but not the least, the budget is extremely important. Most weddings usually take place only in the evening hours and therefore, it would be advisable to book the lawns or the wedding hall only for the hours you actually need it. An experienced wedding decorator would need no more than a couple of hours to have it ready for you, provided he or she has all the logistics in place. But, also keep in mind that at times weddings do not take place by the clock. Count in a little overtime for unforseen circumstances before deciding on the time limit of the site.
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Once you go through all these steps and find your perfect wedding site, just make sure that you get a written contract drawn up mentioning all the details to avoid any confusion later on. Armed with these tips, you will surely find a perfect venue for your special day.