Without a doubt, venue search is an important step in wedding planning. After determining a workable budget, a couple should spend some time to carefully pick the venue(s) where they want to have their wedding.
I have seen many newly engaged women rushed out to get that dream wedding dress before they even decide where the wedding ceremony/reception is going to be. However, when they finally booked their venue(s), they realized their "dream dress" is not suitable. Maybe it is too casual for that evening affair, maybe it is not suitable for outdoor.....whatever the factors maybe, the girl is left holding a dress that they now don't think is suitable based on their venue choice and has to start the process all over.
Depending on the length of the engagement, you maybe limited in your choice of venues available for the date you want as many venues book months in advance. However, sometimes you can also get a very good deal with a venue if you book your wedding last minute (3 months or less) because it is less likely for the venue to book an event that close to the date.
Sometimes I also see the newly engaged couples starting to look for venues without determining the guest list first. While developing the wedding guest list may not be the most pleasant task, it is important for the couple to at least determine their best estimate of the guest list size before booking any venues. What if you think you will only have 100 guests but end up with 250 but you already book a venue that can only accommodate 150 total guests? Do you really hope that 100 of your invited guests will say no?
Clearly the huge discrepancy in the guest counts will create a huge problem but sometimes even small discrepancy can become a problem. For example, I have been to weddings where the guest list exeeded only 20-30 more than the original estimate but the space booked was so small that it made for a very crowded event. On the other hand, a space that is too huge for your guest list will look very empty (as if half of your guests decide to boycott the wedding!).
In my experience, the venue normally lists the maximum capacity when they put "total capacity" but that maximum capacity may not be the most comfortable level. Therefore, it is very important to ask to take a look at the floor plan to determine how it will work for your guest list size.
It may seem obvious but please go to look at a venue before booking. Do not dismiss a venue or book a venue based on pictures posted online. The overall feel of the venue is something you can only experience when you go to the venue itself to take a look.
With that say, I think it is important to decide on how much you can realistically spend on you venue. Otherwise, you may "fall in love" with a venue that you see but cannot really afford and you may have to start the search process from the beginning.
There are definitely many wonderful wedding venues in Atlanta but it can be overwhelming for engaged couples who just start looking. I hope these few tips will be helpful in your search for the perfect venue for your wedding. Happy planning!!!
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