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Your wedding venue is like the backdrop to your very own fairy tale. It needs to be planned according to your comfort as well as your guests. Here are some guidelines in choosing your wedding location.
Choose a country or a city
Some brides marry in their local church or parish. Some prefer it at a hotel or at an outdoor park. There are brides who prefer destination weddings. The first step in finding the best location for your wedding is choosing the country or city of your wedding venue. Choosing the geographical location of your wedding is important because this is where the rest of the decisions are based from such as accommodations, transport and legal requirements.
What type of venue do you need?
Do you want an indoor wedding or a beach ceremony? Do you prefer an outdoor garden? How many guests have you invited? These are just some of the questions you need to ask when looking for the ambience and environment that you want for your wedding. Make sure that the venue is not only gorgeous, it can also accommodate the other details you want for your wedding.
Is your venue available?
Most wedding venues get tons of booking in the summer. It is always important to book as early as possible. If you have a set date for your wedding, search for other venues. If you are set on a location, be flexible on the date of the wedding. Venues generally have more open schedules for winter weddings. Evaluate what is the most important thing to you and consult with your wedding or venue coordinator to work around it.
Consider accessibility
How accessible is the venue to you and your guests? You need your wedding dress to reach your wedding venue without a crease. You need your caterers to be able to make it. Your wedding band will need to bring their amps and instruments to your venue. Make sure your wedding venue is accessible. If not, see that your vendors and entertainer will be able to reach your wedding venue efficiently.
How accessible your wedding venue is also important to your guests. If you have elderly guests or guests with children, make sure that the trip to your wedding will be easier for them. If not, arrange for transportation. Several venues provide shuttle service that your guests can use to get to the location.
Plan for the elements
When planning for a wedding always include the weather as a consideration. Whether it is a summer or a winter wedding, it affects all the other preparations such as attire and menu. If you dream to have an outdoor wedding, make a contingency plan in the case of rain or strong winds. Make an inquiry about tents or a reserved indoor venue when talking to you locations coordinator. Plan for the elements to weather-proof your wedding and ensure that you and your guests have a cozy time.
The location is the backdrop to your happily ever after. Your wedding, however, should take center stage and not the time or setting. Know that with the right planning, you can still make your wedding spectacular whenever or wherever it is held.
*Photo credit: Salicia via Flickr cc
Melissa Page loves weddings and music. She is a regular contributor for Music for Scotland, a live music agency that features the best wedding bands in Scotland. Follow her on Twitter @Melissapage90.
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