Choosing the Wedding Venue - 5 Things the Groom Should Expect

Hannah’s Grandmother: “I remember when they were just called 'places' now they're called 'venues' what does venue even mean anyway?"

Me: "It means they can charge you a lot more."

It’s five months until the big day and so far, the greatest stress relief has been finalizing the venue.  After the venue is chosen,everything else just seems to fall into place--food, colors, attire, everything.  Hannah and I both live in Tampa, but with the wedding in Jacksonville, venue visits could only be done on weekends when we were both available for travel.  If your fiancé hasn’t booked a place, be ready to take this project head on!

When starting your search, you can expect:

1. All Nighters with Google
There are millions of links and pages, be sure keep a list of the venues you've visited online, otherwise you'll feel like you're starting over every time you search.

2. Unreadable Price Sheets
I've received e-mails with vendor lists, menu options, pricing structures and strict policies and still feel like I didn't learn a thing.  My advice, skim the documents and get specific information on the phone or in person.

3. Unreturned Venue Voicemails
In my experience the wedding contact will often reply to e-mails, but not return calls.  Leave a voicemail, but if you're having trouble scheduling an appointment, visit anyway to get the ball rolling.

4. Venue Imperfections
There is something wrong with every venue.  It's either too hot,  doesn't include chairs, or too expensive. Try to stay positive and focus on what you DO like.

5. Rewards for your hard work
There are more then enough great locations out there. No matter how confusing or intimidating it seems, making the final decision will feel good.