QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING YOUR VENUE:

LIGHTING

- Make a list of the photos that you absolutely want to have from your ceremony/reception. Do you want to have photos of your bridesmaids helping you get ready for the day? For the best images, make sure to choose a venue that has a bridal room with a window that will let in natural light at the time that you are getting ready.

- While natural light is the ideal, most indoor venues cannot be sufficiently lit by natural light alone. Try to choose a venue that is lit softly and avoid harsh overhead lights that would cast shadows on your face in your images. Something important to note: venues that have soft, yellow light and a lot of orange/yellow tones in furniture, flooring, paint, etc. tend to produce more "orange-y" images. This can be fixed somewhat with editing, but your photos will look more natural and timeless if you avoid this type of color scheme.

SOUND SYSTEM/OUTLETS

- LIVE MUSIC: If you are planning on having a live band play at your event, make sure that there is a sufficient number of electrical outlets for them to plug in their equipment in the area that you are wanting them to set up.

- PLAYLIST: If you are planning on playing music over loud speakers during your event, make sure that there is a surroud sound system available so that the atmosphere that your playlist sets can be felt throughout the whole venue. Some sound systems can only connect to phones with a headphone jack, so be sure to have an adapter with you at the event just in case. (An important note: even if your venue has WiFi, it is always a good idea to DOWNLOAD your playlist beforehand just in case.)

STAFF

- Does the cost of the venue include staff members to help take people's coats for the ceremony, bus tables during the reception, etc.? If not, little cousins or the kids that live down the street are usually ALLLL over this job, especially if you promise a special treat after the event!

RESTRICTIONS

- Do you have a dream send-off? Some venues restrict the use of sparklers, bubble machines, etc., so be sure to check with their policies before planning your grand escape.

THE FLOW

- CEREMONY: Picture the set up of your event as you walk through the venues that you are considering. How many people are you planning on inviting to your ceremony? Are they going to be sitting on benches or chairs? Be sure to ask the venue event coordinator if seating is included in the price of the event, if you are responsible for set up and take down, etc.

- RECEPTION: Go through the tentative schedule for your reception, mapping it out as you go. Are you planning on doing a greeting line at your reception? Picture where you will stand and where the line will naturally wrap. Will this interfere with any other aspect of the event (the band area, refreshment serving area, line for refreshments, etc.). Are you dancing at your reception? If so, where will the dance take place? Cake cutting? Send off?

PARKING

- The last, but definitely not the least, thing to consider when choosing your venue is the available parking. Many venues have a very spacious area for your event, but little room for parking. This can pose an issue for your guests, especially if you are hosting your event during the winter, so be sure to coordinate any necessary alternate means of transportation to the event, such as by providing a shuttle service, or to let the guests know of alternative parking lots nearby the venue.