HOW
TO CHOOSE A WEDDING SITE
General
Information
We recommend that if possible,
both bride and groom will attend
all interviews. Always carry a note
pad and pen to write down important
information
and questions that may arise during
your interview.
Actually,
choosing the wedding site that
is just right for you, is a
lot of fun. Before you start looking,
you should brainstorm. As you do,
take to consideration
your budget, your wedding theme,
the atmosphere you want at your wedding,
your interests, and your guests.
The location is one of the most
important aspects of your wedding
so consider carefully what will make
yours a special, one-of-a-kind wedding
event. You have many option including
a do it yourself wedding (friends
and family contributing of course.)
Following is a list to get you started.
Ideas for wedding sites include:
-
A
Home—do it yourself wedding
-
Auditoriums—usually on a rental
basis,
Beach - public domain may need
permit and or license
-
Bed and Breakfast—full service
-
Camp
Grounds—do it yourself wedding
-
Club Houses—do
it yourself wedding
-
Country Clubs—most offer full service
-
Conference Centers—some offer full service, some are on a rental basis
-
Convention
Centers—some offer
full service, some
are on a rental basis
-
Hotel—Ball Rooms-Grounds or - Gardens. A Gazebo makes a wonderful setting for a wedding ceremony—full
service
-
Houses of Worship—Churches
- Synagogues - Temples
- Mosques—etc...some
offer full service,
some are on
a rental basis,
some can only facilitate
the ceremony
-
Mansions—full
service
-
Museums—some museums offer
celebration
rooms and may
even help with
special wedding
themes, especially
historical
- usually on
a rental basis
-
Parks—Great - do it yourself
wedding
Patio - Gardens
- do it yourself
wedding
-
Ranches
- usually
on a rental
basis
-
Resorts,
full
service
-
Rented
Halls—usually
on
a rental
basis
-
Stadiums—usually on
a
rental basis
-
Yachts
or Cruise
Ships—full service
You can probably come up with
some more ideas. Unless
the location is your top priority,
choose the dream location
and a few
alternative sites that will be
just right for you, so that if
necessary
you can be flexible. Some location
are natural for weddings and
offer all the amanities you need.
Others
rent the space and leave the
rest to you, still others are
free but
you have to make all the arrangements.
So, consider your budget, consider
the work involved, consider your
guests and choose the site that
will afford you your dream wedding.
The
information you gathered, is
actually a wonderful preparation
for your
interviews.
Full
Service Wedding Site and Facilities
These are venues that can take care
of every little detail regarding
your ceremony and reception. You'll
still need to attend to your personal
needs. You'll need to attend to the
attire, wedding accessories and wedding
gifts for each other, family, and
wedding attendants.
Sites
Available on a Rental Basis
Many wedding sites that are available
on a rental basis. Some provide the
space, others provide tables and
chairs too while still other provide
linens, tableware, flatware and glassware
as well. There are also rental based
sites that have a working relationship
with selected caterers and are familiar
with other wedding service providers
and vendors.
Public
Sites
Public parks, beaches, gardens etc...
make great wedding sites and are
perfect for do it yourself weddings.
They offer you the opportunity to
express yourselves in an unconfined
atmosphere. Most are free to use
but you'll need to do the majority
of the planning and contracting.
Your first step is to find if you
need any permits and or licenses.
If you do, obtain them.
Home
Many
apartment complexes, condominums,
mobil home parke and gated communities
have club houses for their residents´ use.
So whether you choose to have your
wedding in a home or a club house,
you'll need to be in charge. Do recruit
your family and friends and assign
them appropriate tasks. Most will
be honored to be asked and excited
to be a contributing part of your
wedding.
How to Find Wedding Sites
Once you have chosen the type
of wedding site you want
for your wedding,
do the following:
-
Ask
your family, friends and
acqaintances for recommendations.
-
Attend bridal shows.
-
Search the yellow pages under
the appropriate category.
-
Either call or visit the facility
and request a brochure
specific to weddings.
-
You want only the best!
Be selective!
-
When visiting or calling,
were you greeted cordially?
-
Were you able to obtain
the information you
requested in a timely
manner?
-
Were the people you
spoke with helpful?
Too helpful
and eager?
-
Now, check the
internet for
local wedding
sites and go
to their websites.
-
Do you like the
look and feel?
-
Does it provide
you with
the information
you are
looking for?
-
Does
it show or tell
about unique
one-of-a-kind weddings?
-
Can
you find Free
gifts,
Free articles
or Free
information?
-
Are
they helpful?
-
Did
you
find
a clearly posted name,
address,
phone
and email contact?
-
If not,
skip
it
and go
to
another site.
-
Bookmark
(favorite) the
websites that
are agreeable.
Place the
brochures in
a folder until
you are
ready to
choose a few
favorites.
What to Expect of the Representative
of the Facility:
- A business card of each person
you may work with within
the facility.
- A brochure that explains what
is offered and any exclusions,
rules,
regulations and options.
- References
- A tour of the facility so
you may check their amenities.
Questions
For The Representative of the
Facility:
Please note that
not all questions
apply to all. Each question
will indicate
what venue(s)
it is directed
to.
fs = full service - rb = rental
basis - ps = public site
- Are
there bathrooms
on the
premises? ps
- Are
there garbage recepticles
on the premises? ps
- Are
rhere electric
outlets on
the premises?
ps
- What
are the hours available
for
a wedding?
ps
(Most public sites
are available only
on certain
days and
certain hours.)
- Is
there a parking
area close by?
ps
- How
long have you been
accomodating
wedding
parties ? fs
- rb
- How
many wedding clients
have
you served?
fs
- rb
- Do
you offer any guarantees?
fs
- rb
- Do
you have an in-house
wedding
coordinator?
fs -
rb
- Do
you offer a bridal
package?
fs
- What
are your
rates for
the different
packages
and
what are the
options
available?
fs
- Can
you recommend
wedding vendors
and
service
providers your
customers had
a good experience
with?
fs -
rb
- Do
you offer
any discounts?
fs
- rb
- What
additional
expenses may
be
charged? fs
-
rb
- Do you provide
an insured and bonded
babysitting
service?*
fs
- How
much and
by when
will we
need to
put down
the deposit?
fs -
rb
- What
is the
latest time
frame for
making changes?
fs -
rb
- Will
you provide
us with
a written
contract?
fs
- rb
- ps
- Does
the contract
include a
3 day
cancellation
clause?
fs -
rb -
ps
* If you plan not to include children
in your reception, do not alienate
guests who'd rather bring children
than miss your wedding. You should
provide a babysitting service for
such guests.
Once
you made your choice, you need
to receive a written contract signed
by the person in charge, and dated.
The contract must include all of
your responsibilities and all of
the responsibilities, warranties
and guarantees offered by the facility.
Caveat Emptor—Buyer beware! Read
each contract very carefully, on,
under and above the line. Be sure
that you understand it fully and
agree with all the terms. If you
have questions, concerns, or are
uncertain, contact them for clarification.
In most parts of the USA you have
3 days to examin the contract and
if you need to, cancel with no penalties.
Copyrights©2004
All Rights Reserved Nily Glaser
Nily Glaser is the founder
of A-Wedding
Day a very
popular Wedding Resource
and Information Center, and a discount
shopping mall for wedding gifts,
supplies and bridal accessories.
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