Picking a venue for your wedding can be difficult. For instance, you probably already have a vision of how you want that day to go. If you are like most folks, you would have refined it to the point of perfection. When the time comes, however, translating that perfect dream into reality can be a little tricky because dreams often don’t consider the boring but important aspects like convenience, cost, etc.
In picking your wedding venue, you must deal with some of these boring details because it is important to have a wedding that looks good in reality and on camera, as well as provides a pleasant experience for guests who witness your union.
As with all things that come with planning, asking yourself a few questions will make your decision easier. The good thing about picking a venue is that you don’t have to do it alone. You’ll want to work with your planner (if you have one), your photographer, your decorator, and, of course, your spouse.
To help make it easier, here are a few things to consider when picking your wedding venue.
Size
A good wedding venue should be able to accommodate all intended guests with enough room for more. Face it, especially if you are in Nigeria, you’ll have a few uninvited guests. Find the middle ground between your preferred size and possible outcome. After all. You don’t want a place that’s too cramped, but you also don’t want one so big it’ll look empty. Let the number of guests you are inviting influence your decision on the size of the wedding venue.
Weather
Picking a location that works with the weather is important. While you may have dreamt of an outdoor wedding all your life, if you have picked a date in the rainy season, you might have to find an indoor alternative.
Decor
Let us go back to your dream to create your perfect wedding. If your wedding has a theme, you might want to think of a place that best suits that theme. For example, if you want a retro-themed wedding complete with chandeliers and candelabras, a garden wedding is a no-no. The reason you need to work with your interior decorator in picking a venue is that s/he will be able to advise you on which location will best accommodate the decor or theme you have chosen.
Lighting
You may really love a venue, but your photographer and videographer may not think it provides the right type of lighting for the occasion. This is why you should involve them in the process early on so that they can advise you, and also make provisions for additional lighting if need be.
Movement
It’s boring but you have also to think about catering logistics – how servers can move freely, and how food and drinks can be stored. If the hall you are thinking of renting is located upstairs, you have to consider your caterers and servers and make plans for them. You want your servers to move in an organised fashion that reduces the probability of accidents as they go about their duties.
Convenience
This one is very important but has little to do with you, and everything to do with your guests. They will come from different places, and some of them may not be familiar with the area in which you’d like to have your wedding. Try to pick a venue that will be easy to find, or give detailed directions to avoid stressing them. You can also leave markers on the way to the venue (e.g. signboards that read “This way to X and Y’s wedding”).
Your wedding venue is one of the gifts you give to yourself and to guests. So, pick one that will be comfortable, convenient, and creative.