Venue Matrimony

Defined by Wikipedia, "Marriage (also called matrimony or wedlock) is a social union or legal contract between people called spouses that establishes rights and obligations between the spouses..." There is also one other VERY important contract to be considered and that is your venue contract.

For those of you that know me (and for those of you that I'm still getting to know) I am recently engaged. I've been stuck in Ground Zero for the past several weeks - Venue Selection.

To date we've seen about 6 different venues ranging from banquet halls and art galleries and everything in between. Here are some helpful tips on choosing a wedding venue:

Will you have a religious ceremony?

Hopefully you and your spouse to be have discussed your religious beliefs beforehand. If not this first step could make for an uncomfortable discussion, not to mention a rocky start to happily ever after!

Berkeley Church ~ Photo courtesy of Tara McMullen Photography

If you choose to get married in a traditional religious ceremony keep in mind that some religions require that the venue be your place of worship. If you and your fiancée have different religious beliefs consider tying the knot someplace neutral like an art gallery or banquet hall. If you still want to capture a religious sentiment then try a non-denominational venue such as Berkeley Church.

 

Budget and Amount of Guests



Photo courtesy of Impressions are Everything

Another important consideration (arguably your top consideration) is your budget which is almost directly tied to your number of guests. Will your wedding be reminiscent of a William and Kate affair or will it more closely resemble Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz’s four guest (yes you read that right) ceremony? Before signing on the dotted line ensure that you understand what is included with the cost of the venue. Most venues will include the cost of tables, chairs, and flatware however there are sometimes many hidden fees or items that you will be on the hook for. For example some venues allow you to bring in your own DJ however they may charge you for a ‘plug in fee’ which can range anywhere from $100 and up.

Ensure that the venue you choose can comfortably accommodate the amount of
guests you will have. If the venue seats 100 but you have 90 attendees that may not leave enough room for the dance floor. The cost of your reception venue can be about 50% of your overall wedding budget (including food). Make sure that you and your fiancée are on the same page when it comes to how much you will spend on a venue. Sit down and have a frank discussion about who each of you will invite and what your maximum budgeted amount is. A good rule of thumb to add 10% to your total budget to account for any unforeseen incidentals. Many websites now offer downloadable budget templates. Take advantage of these templates to keep you on track.

DO NOT live outside your means! Just because your parents think that should invite Auntie Meg whom you haven’t seen since you were 3 days old does not mean she gets an automatic invite. I will get more in depth with budget and invitee etiquette in a later post…


Location, Location, Location…

If you live in a major city such as Toronto or New York, consider having your ceremony just outside of the city to save on costs. A venue even just 2kms outside of a major city may allow you to realize significant savings.

A popular trend for the adventurous or even budget conscious is a destination wedding. Lush, tropical locales can make for a stunning backdrop to your big day. As a bonus it acts as a built in honeymoon! Some popular destination wedding locations include Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Up and coming locations include Aruba, Turks & Caicos and Jamaica. This will be a day and time in your life you will want to remember so this is not the time to book a 2 star resort!

Remember to keep in mind where your guests will be travelling from. Although this is your day if at all possible try to keep in mind the geographical location of your guests so that those you really want to be there are able to be included.

What is your theme or what type of wedding do you want?

When you picture your wedding what is the first thing that comes to mind? Whatever it is – go with it! As you consider the 5 senses – sight, taste, touch, sound – consider how these play into your vision. Do you see an elegant white tent, complete with drapery and beautiful natural light? Perhaps you smell freshly cut grass and the great outdoors – if so a romantic gazebo or a vintage barn wedding could be the thing for you.

Time to get crafty…get your hands on any wedding magazines you can. Cut out some pictures that you are instantly drawn to. Start a scrapbook and place all of your photos in your special new place. Don’t trust yourself with scissors? There’s always Pinterest. Sign up for a free account and start browsing by theme, color etc. The sky is the limit and I guarantee minutes will turn into hours! Whether you choose to scrapbook the old fashioned way or digitally pay attention to any themes that emerge.

These tips above are just a few tips to keep in mind when selecting the backdrop for your big day!