Opinion / Columnist
What to consider when choosing a wedding venue
07 Sep 2018 at 06:41hrs | Views
Hello there everyone, I trust you all had an amazing week. I had a horrible week. I was asked by a client, what is better "to pay for a venue that can put together your whole wedding or venue only and put the wedding together on your own?"
Here are some aspects to consider before making any decision.
There are lots of wedding venues to consider, from halls to gardens! You will likely spend a large portion of your budget on wedding venue cost, so it is important to research before selecting your wedding site.
The average wedding venue is $300 with most couples spending between $3500 and $10500 for full venue filled. Pricing varies widely depending on a variety of factors, like whether in-house catering is included.
Some couples choose to have their wedding ceremony and reception in separate locations.
A wedding ceremony is shorter than a reception and does not include catering, so the cost of a ceremony venue becomes cheaper.
Most couples, however, choose to do both on the same venue. In many cases, you will save money by having the two at one venue.
You will not only save on the venue itself, but also on other wedding costs like transportation, and rentals.
There are many factors that drive wedding venue prices up or down:
Location:
Wedding venues located in major cities tend to cost more than those in the countryside. In fact, the most expensive places to get married are big cities.
Wedding date:
The wedding date can have an impact on your wedding venue costs. If you want to get married on a Saturday night during peak season, you will likely pay more than a weekday wedding during an off-peak time of year. Many venues offer discounts for weddings during low season or weekdays.
Size:
The more guests you invite, the more money you will spend. Larger venues that accommodate more people will cost more than smaller ones. If your venue includes catering, you pay "per person," so a large number of guests means a higher cost.
What is included:
For some venues, you will pay a site fee and then have to hire an outside caterer, rental company or other vendors. Other venues are all-inclusive and have an in-house vendor and other vendors.
While there is no rule that all-inclusive venues always cost less, you may be able to find some savings on your wedding reception prices if your venue has in-house vendors.
Less than 50 percent of venues include tables and chairs and you will have to hire them from without.
Unanticipated expenses – Parking:
If many of your guests will be driving to your venue, you may have to pay for security parking or parking fees.
Taxes and fees:
From cake cutting fees, corkage costs, service charges, and more, your wedding venue contract may include additional fees. Be sure to talk to your venue coordinator to clarify these additional expenses before signing on the dotted line.
Many of your vendors will receive gratuities for a job well done. At your venue, you should tip the wait staff, bartenders and restroom attendants.
Outside vendor fee:
Many wedding venues have approved vendor lists - a list of vendors the venue has vetted and trusts. If you choose to hire a vendor outside of this list, you may have to pay an additional fee.
Yes, your wedding venue will likely be one of the most expensive things you pay for during your wedding planning journey-so every bit of money you can save on your wedding venue cost is a good thing! Here are a few ways to save money on your wedding venue.
Cut the guest list:
As mentioned, the more guests you invite, the more you will pay. Cutting even just 10 guests from your list can save you major bucks!
Be smart about setting a date:
Saturday night weddings during peak season will cost more than weekday weddings during the off-peak season.
Look for tax-deductible sites:
Certain venues that are affiliated with non-profit organisations may have tax-deductible site fees.
Read all contracts closely:
Be open and honest with your venue about your budget, and be sure you completely understand your venue contract. There may be some fees that your venue can waive if you ask politely.
What questions should you ask your wedding venue before booking?
Choosing a venue is one of the first decisions you will make at least a year before the wedding date. You will start off by figuring if you want to host a destination wedding or a hometown wedding.
Once you have selected the area where you would like to wed, be sure to ask the following questions.
Is your venue available on my target date?
What is the venue capacity?
What is the Plan B in case of bad weather for outdoor venues?
Do they have climate control?
Can you have prior look at the restrooms?
What is the size of the dance floor?
Scrutinise the venue parking situation.
What is included in the contract?
Who is the main contact?
Will they be present on my wedding day?
Are they accessible to guests with special needs?
What are the rules and regulations?
How much time do vendors have to set up and clean up at the end of the night?
Do they have an approved vendor list or can you whomever you want?
Can you host your ceremony there as well?
That is it folks this week, hope you have an idea on which is best. Until next week, God bless! Ann can be found at Utate Garden, 28 Chimoio Ave Mutare. 0772933845.
Here are some aspects to consider before making any decision.
There are lots of wedding venues to consider, from halls to gardens! You will likely spend a large portion of your budget on wedding venue cost, so it is important to research before selecting your wedding site.
The average wedding venue is $300 with most couples spending between $3500 and $10500 for full venue filled. Pricing varies widely depending on a variety of factors, like whether in-house catering is included.
Some couples choose to have their wedding ceremony and reception in separate locations.
A wedding ceremony is shorter than a reception and does not include catering, so the cost of a ceremony venue becomes cheaper.
Most couples, however, choose to do both on the same venue. In many cases, you will save money by having the two at one venue.
You will not only save on the venue itself, but also on other wedding costs like transportation, and rentals.
There are many factors that drive wedding venue prices up or down:
Location:
Wedding venues located in major cities tend to cost more than those in the countryside. In fact, the most expensive places to get married are big cities.
Wedding date:
The wedding date can have an impact on your wedding venue costs. If you want to get married on a Saturday night during peak season, you will likely pay more than a weekday wedding during an off-peak time of year. Many venues offer discounts for weddings during low season or weekdays.
Size:
The more guests you invite, the more money you will spend. Larger venues that accommodate more people will cost more than smaller ones. If your venue includes catering, you pay "per person," so a large number of guests means a higher cost.
What is included:
For some venues, you will pay a site fee and then have to hire an outside caterer, rental company or other vendors. Other venues are all-inclusive and have an in-house vendor and other vendors.
While there is no rule that all-inclusive venues always cost less, you may be able to find some savings on your wedding reception prices if your venue has in-house vendors.
Less than 50 percent of venues include tables and chairs and you will have to hire them from without.
Unanticipated expenses – Parking:
If many of your guests will be driving to your venue, you may have to pay for security parking or parking fees.
Taxes and fees:
From cake cutting fees, corkage costs, service charges, and more, your wedding venue contract may include additional fees. Be sure to talk to your venue coordinator to clarify these additional expenses before signing on the dotted line.
Many of your vendors will receive gratuities for a job well done. At your venue, you should tip the wait staff, bartenders and restroom attendants.
Outside vendor fee:
Many wedding venues have approved vendor lists - a list of vendors the venue has vetted and trusts. If you choose to hire a vendor outside of this list, you may have to pay an additional fee.
Yes, your wedding venue will likely be one of the most expensive things you pay for during your wedding planning journey-so every bit of money you can save on your wedding venue cost is a good thing! Here are a few ways to save money on your wedding venue.
Cut the guest list:
As mentioned, the more guests you invite, the more you will pay. Cutting even just 10 guests from your list can save you major bucks!
Be smart about setting a date:
Saturday night weddings during peak season will cost more than weekday weddings during the off-peak season.
Look for tax-deductible sites:
Certain venues that are affiliated with non-profit organisations may have tax-deductible site fees.
Read all contracts closely:
Be open and honest with your venue about your budget, and be sure you completely understand your venue contract. There may be some fees that your venue can waive if you ask politely.
What questions should you ask your wedding venue before booking?
Choosing a venue is one of the first decisions you will make at least a year before the wedding date. You will start off by figuring if you want to host a destination wedding or a hometown wedding.
Once you have selected the area where you would like to wed, be sure to ask the following questions.
Is your venue available on my target date?
What is the venue capacity?
What is the Plan B in case of bad weather for outdoor venues?
Do they have climate control?
Can you have prior look at the restrooms?
What is the size of the dance floor?
Scrutinise the venue parking situation.
What is included in the contract?
Who is the main contact?
Will they be present on my wedding day?
Are they accessible to guests with special needs?
What are the rules and regulations?
How much time do vendors have to set up and clean up at the end of the night?
Do they have an approved vendor list or can you whomever you want?
Can you host your ceremony there as well?
That is it folks this week, hope you have an idea on which is best. Until next week, God bless! Ann can be found at Utate Garden, 28 Chimoio Ave Mutare. 0772933845.
Source - manicapost
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