9 Things To Consider When Selecting Your Wedding Venue
Visiting wedding exhibitions one after another, comparing venues on wedding platforms and going back and forth evaluating your options, you simply can’t shake off that antsy sensation when needing to choose a venue for your wedding day. No doubt, it is one of the most important decisions you will have to make as part of your planning, for it is the fundamental element for a successful wedding.
The team at Precious Moments sat together and narrowed down 9 important factors for you to consider before signing on the dotted line of the contract for the wedding venue:
1. Size of Hall and Layout
With the number of invitees in mind, size of the hall should be on top of the considering factors. You wouldn’t want to squeeze everyone into a small hall nor having a ballroom that is too spacious for an intimate wedding. Including an entrance runway carpet and a stage with dance floor, choosing a hall approximately 1 quarter bigger than your required size would be the ideal arrangement.
The layout of the hall comes second after its size, a standard square shape without pillars would be the friendliest environment for you and your wedding planner to decorate the place.
2. Availability
This is certainly crucial. You’ve juggled through everyone’s schedule and more importantly found that one auspicious day both families have agreed upon, so the chosen venue must be available for you to begin with! An ideal lead time to book a venue is approximately 8 months to 1 year, so set your date and work backwards to your own benefit.
3. Colors of The Hall’s Carpet and Walls
This is not a huge factor but if you have already set the theme and decoration layout of your wedding before deciding on the venue, it would be wise to take a moment to reflect the compatibility of the designs. If you don’t have a theme, best to go for a hall with neutral tones so your wedding planner can easily blend in any ideas and aspirations you might have.
4. Accessibility
Big cities in Malaysia are notoriously famous for their traffic congestions, having a wedding venue that is accessible to your guests will take off some pressure from the organizing anxiety. Knowing your guests will not be lost on their way to celebrate with you and not having to receive calls after calls to provide driving directions will give you peace of mind. Having said so, don’t forget to check with your venue owner to prepare ample parking space for your guests. With so, you will be able to truly focus on enjoying the evening!
5. Catering Options
Once you have narrowed down top 3 or top 5 of your favorite venues, take a dive into their culinary capacities. The best comparison you can make is by looking at their standard wedding menus and how extensive they are willing to customize to your request.
Are the food offerings providing a creative vibe at the same time able to please the elderlies in the room? Are the chefs experienced in wedding events, especially when you are hosting a big banquet? Do they have various dietary options for your guests such as vegetarian, dairy free and allergen free? These are the questions you want your venue owner to confidently say yes to.
6. Package Inclusions and Special Promotions
Due to the high competition in the market, you can often find hotels and event spaces offering lucrative promotions and unique inclusions in the wedding packages. This is especially so during low seasons and wedding exhibition periods. Do not feel shy to ask them what they can offer and negotiate from there. Naturally, don’t forget to make full use of your wedding planner’s relationships with these market players and make the best of your wedding funds!
7. Hotel Room Rates and Hotels In The Vicinity
If you are signing up a hotel as your wedding venue, do inquire about special room rates for your friends and family who are required to stay the night. Hotels are generally happy to extend the favor to the wedding couple as a good will gesture to ensure you have a worry-less event. If you opted for an independent event space, do look out for hotels nearby too so your friends and relatives from out of state will be accommodated comfortably.
8. Your Planner’s Exposure To The Venue and Connections
If you have a wedding planner – and we strongly suggests you to engage one (winks), check with them on how comfortable or frequent have they worked with the venues you are considering. Their connections with the associates of the establishment and familiarity of the venue would greatly improve the ease of organization and arrangement of the wedding.
9. Reviews From Past Customers
We wouldn’t advice you to trust everything that is written about the wedding venue on review platforms, but briefly scrolling through would allow you to have a broad idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the establishment. Using the comments constructively and communicate ahead with your planner and venue manager to avoid disappointments. Who knows, through the comments it might sparks some organizational ideas for your own wedding!
Here you go, tick all the boxes above when considering a venue and you will be covered. After all, you have us as your professional wedding planner assisting you by your side, one step at a time!
This post is jointly brought to you by Precious Moments, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur and Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur Managed by Banyan Tree. Gowns and fashion accessories are sponsored Carven Ong Couture.
