Tips to Choose the Perfect Wedding Venue
You’re excited that he proposed, and a date has been set! Now what? The last thing you want is unnecessary stress during this exciting time with the hassle and confusion of logistics and accommodations. Trust us when we say, “Work with Professionals!” On your wedding day, you don’t want to be worrying about anything besides walking down the aisle. Here are some helpful tips you should think about when choosing that perfect venue.
Priorities Your priorities should be Budget, Location, Dates and Guests. Once you have all the four stated above, sit down with your fiancée’ and talk about your wedding day. What do you both envision for your special day? Talk about the ceremony. What are your “must haves?” It’s important as you want to make sure that both of your needs are being met as each person’s must haves/priorities may be different. Now you can begin finding the Perfect Venue for your Perfect Day! Finding the right professional will help you navigate through the complexities of finding the perfect venue and hotel accommodations for you and your guest and will alleviate unnecessary stress for you over the coming months. They are experienced and do this on a day-to-day basis, they will have more information to provide in addition to saving you time and money. They know your needs and have your best interest in mind along with your budget. When starting a search for your venue you will need to develop an RFP to send out to several venues within the location. Keep in mind, looking at only one venue may limit the amount of choices you have as far as dates, space availability, room availability, etc. If you are looking at a destination and not familiar with the venue options, ask your professional. They can provide you with the best options in any destination. Reviewing the responses from the RFP that was sent out will provide you with all the details you need to go to the next step. It will contain the dates available, capacity, F&B minimums, etc. From this list you may be able to discount certain venues according to the information they provided. After close review and conversations with your fiancée and professional you will have developed a list of possible venues. Your professional will arrange for you to visit each of the venues so that you can ensure the space you saw on their website photos looks the same in person. You’ll get a feeling of how the space can be transformed, you’ll have the opportunity to taste their food, look at their accommodations and ensure they have enough rooms for your guests, ensure they have enough parking for your guests. It’s easy to fall in love with each venue, however, make a list of the pros and cons so at the end you have everything in front of you to make the best decision. Now you are ready to request a contract. Your professional will negotiate with the venue on your behalf. If you don’t understand a portion of the contract, ask for clarification. Make sure you understand what the payment/deposit schedule is, make sure that it’s stated in the contract. Don’t be afraid to ask for revisions to be made for the contract. Don’t sign the contract until it is exactly what you want. Make sure that you receive a final countersigned copy of the contract. Make note of all the deadlines that will be outlined within it. Missing a deadline with a venue can cost you thousands of dollars. Now the fun begins. Go dress shopping, taste lots of cakes, etc. Enjoy it all, before you know it, Your Special Day will be here! |
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About The Author Loretta Champion Johnson and Kimberly Reckert provide Venue Sourcing/Hotel Accommodations with HelmsBriscoe. Since 1992, HelmsBriscoe has earned the reputation as the global leader in venue site selection. They work diligently to match clients with the best venue at the best value based on their specific requirements. Whether you are a wedding planner working for a couple, or coordinating your own event, they can help secure a venue and block at the hotel that best accommodates your needs, budget and location! Email KReckert@HelmsBriscoe.com and LChampJohn@HelmsBriscoe.com for more information. |
Venue Vendor Guide | ||||||||
The following is not an extensive list, but a list of venues that participated in the Desh Videsh Media Group survey. | ||||||||
Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center Hotel
Contact: Regenia McLean 770-730-3720 |
Hilton Orlando – Altamonte Springs
Contact: Jim Donovan 407-830-1985 |
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Gaylord Palms Resort
Contact: Pam Becker 407-586-2248 |
Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
Contact: 407-597-3600 |
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Bonaventure Resort & Spa
Contact: Giselle Roach 954-349-5606 |
Innisbrook Golf and Spa Resort
Contact: Melissa Davidson 727-942-5541 |
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Coral Springs Marriott
Contact: Jeri-Ann Hart 954-227-4119 |
Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort
Contact: Barry Rubin 305-949-1300 |
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Doubletree by Hilton Sunrise/Sawgrass
Contact: Karima Barnes 954-835-3605 |
Novare Events
Contact: Hope Nudelman 404-962-8700 |
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Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay
Contact: Caitlin Schmedeke 813-207-6630 |
Palm Beach Gardens Marriott
Contact: Morgan Smith 561-630-1304 |
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Gulf Stream Park
Contact: Ray Briels 954-475-6957 |
Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley
Contact: Vanessa Jackson 919-571-5345 |
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Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Contact: Kia Guilford 954-766-6128 |
Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel
Contact: Tammie Guthrie 770-953-4500Where: 2450 Galleria Pkwy Se, Atlanta, GA 30339-3130Guest Rooms: 522Banquet Hall Capacity: 16,000 Sq FtEmail: tammie.guthrie@renaissancehotels.comWeb: www.renaissancewaverly.com |
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Hilton Charlotte Center City
Contact: Tracy Suit 704-331-4380 |
St. Augustine Renaissance
Contact: Emiliana Mes 904-940-8635Where: 500 S Legacy Trl, St Augustine, FL 32092-2719Email: emiliana.mes@atriumhospitality.comWeb: www.marriott.com/JAXBR |
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Hilton Daytona Beach
Contact: Tiler Theisen 386-254-8200 |
Waldorf Astoria Orlando
Contact: Daniele Spano 407-597-5500 |
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Hilton Orlando
Contact: Teresa Bernstein 407-313-8458 |
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