10 Red Flags To Avoid When Picking The Perfect Wedding Venue & 10 Ideals
Tips For Picking The Best Wedding Venue
If you're getting married soon and have finally begun the planning phase, first of all, congratulations! We're so happy to hear you're getting ready for your big day. Of course, we know how important it is that everything feels perfect for you and your partner, so to lend you both a helping hand, we've got some excellent tips for finding the best venue. Here are 10 red flags to avoid and 10 ideals you definitely need to look for.
1. Negative Reviews
Never ignore reviews if they're accessible to you. Take other peoples' experiences into account and use that as helpful information to determine if the venue is worth it. Seeing low ratings and poor comments should be an instant red flag if there are any.
2. Hidden Charges & Fees
You should always be given all the important information upfront when it comes to booking a wedding venue. These costs can be pricey, and you won't be happy learning about hidden charges and fees when you're already trying to plan around a budget. Make sure you only book places that are honest and don't withhold information from you - especially when it has to do with money.
3. Bad Parking Situation
It can be easy to forget other factors that don't directly impact the look and location of your wedding, but don't leave out reviewing the parking situation when trying to book. Is there going to be enough space for all your guests? Is it going to be a hassle? No one wants to deal with unnecessary stress before the wedding like dealing with a bad parking situation that's getting out of hand.
4. No Handicap Accessibility
Make sure you consider the comfort of all of your guests when planning your wedding. That includes whether or not handicapped guests have easy access to and from the venue. Forgetting to take this into consideration can leave them feeling unappreciated and unseen.
5. Poor Flexibility
Sometimes, plans change and for an event as big as a wedding, it's best to work with people who allow for some flexibility. If the venue you're reviewing is incredibly strict and charges you for any changes, consider if that's really where you want to book the biggest day of your life.
6. Pushy Salespeople
There's nothing worse when it comes to pushy salespeople, and if they're rushing you to make a decision on something that needs more time, don't give them a second thought. You want to book at a venue where the workers are accommodating and helpful.
7. Poor Weather Back Ups
If you're planning an outdoor wedding, always be prepared for unexpected conditions. Even in summer, you never know if the clouds might turn on you! Be prepared and ask questions on what can be done should your perfect day suddenly change. A good venue will always have a back up option.
8. Lying About Space
Take a moment to think about how big of a wedding you're planning. You need to make sure that all of your guests aren't cramped in one little space! Good venues won't lie about their maximum capacity, ensuring that all attendees will be comfortable. Shady spots will definitely try to convince you otherwise.
9. Poor Communication
While you should never expect instant responses, if the venue is incredibly slow with getting back to you or provides confusing information, that's an instant red flag. Planning a wedding is stressful enough, the last thing you want is more uncooperative people to deal with.
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10. Rushed Set Up
We know how picky brides can be, after all, it's their big day and they want everything to be perfect! From planning out how you want to arrange the flowers to the layout of the chairs, a lot of thought goes into creating the ideal setup. If venues rush you or don't give you enough time to create your ultimate dream wedding, should you really be giving them your money?
1. Nice Area For Getting Ready
Don't forget that there's more to your wedding than just the altar; great venues also provide the bride and groom with wonderful rooms for getting ready. It should be comfortable and have a ton of space so you can get ready for your big moment in peace.
2. Kind Staff
Weddings are a big event to plan, and while we know you'll likely get frazzled, it's nice knowing you have a whole team of kind staff just waiting to lend a hand. Workers who are dedicated in helping you make this wonderful day extra special are the type of people you want to work with.
3. Full Service
From the early stages of event planning to organizing the catering and providing the audio systems, does your wedding venue provide you with everything you need to succeed? To make it less stressful for you, locations that do it all should definitely be up for consideration.
4. Beautiful Location
In all honesty, the location of your venue can truly make or break your dream day. Don't underestimate the impact stunning scenery can have on the entire look and feel of your wedding. It's your big day, don't compromise!
5. Matches Your Style
Whether you're trying to match the venue to the theme of your wedding or your own personal style, don't be afraid to pick a place based on how it meshes everything together. You don't want different elements to clash, and you definitely want the venue to feel like it speaks to you.
6. Has Plenty Of Room
No guest should have to feel like they're sitting right next to the person beside them. Depending on the size of your wedding, the perfect location should have ample room to fit the corresponding number of people comfortably.
7. Fits Your Budget
Look, we know weddings aren't cheap. That's why you should always be looking around at different options to fit your needs. Don't just settle on one because it looks nice — your wallet definitely deserves more than that. Take the time to review multiple venues, finding one that doesn't feel too out of reach. Trust us, it'll make the day less stressful when you know you didn't just put up your whole lifesavings for the spot.
8. Easy To Access Bathrooms
The bathroom situation often gets overlooked during wedding planning, but whether you do or don't have accessible ones can really complicate things. The best venues will have easily accessible, large bathrooms that won't create line ups down the hall. Yes, we're telling you to keep this in mind during your planning phase!
9. An Experienced Location
The older your venue is, the smoother we'd guess your wedding will go. While most people frown at the thought of aging, when it comes to wedding spots, venues that have been around for longer know the ups and downs of running the business better. You'll definitely want an experienced hand helping you run the show.
10. Convenience
Sure, we've talked about how beautiful the location has to be and how there has to be a great parking situation, but what's truly most ideal is having a venue that's located in a convenient spot for your guests to get to. No one wants to drive 4 hours in the middle of nowhere just to attend. Pick a spot that's well thought out and is considerate of not just you, your partner, or your families, but also all of your wonderful guests.
