BRONZE BUDGET BRIDE

When it comes to to choosing the perfect wedding ceremony and reception locations for your special day, there is a lot to consider. As a bridal consultant, people often ask me if I know of the “perfect spot” for their nuptials.

That fact is that I know of several “perfect spots”, but they may not be the right fit for your wedding! Many brides are shocked these days, when I explain that nearly one third of their wedding budget will be spent on the reception, and that amount will usually only include food, rental fees, and beverages. Also, if they choose to host an open bar, that figure will increase.

So, how do planners choose the right locations for their clients?

The first thing that I ask the couple is to tell me about their vision. If the bride mentions sunset on the beach, or the fragrance of a garden, then my job becomes quite easy. After all, how many beaches and public gardens exist in the greater Atlanta area? However, if she mentions a ballroom or a historic home, then I have my work cut out for me. There are several beautiful ballrooms and historic homes around Atlanta, and many of them offer similar packages.

So, we must start from the beginning. A good planner will have a working knowledge of the more well known ceremony and reception locations around the metro area, and will suggest about 4 of each type of location that will fit the bride’s vision.

Some things that I consider when giving my recommendations are the following:

Capacity: You can only fit so many guests into a ballroom, even if you use all of the sections available. The catering director can assist you, but remember that they are there to sell the space and work with you on your menu and beverage choices. Most of them are honest about their facility’s capacity, but I have seen a few occasions when they want to push the room and get a sale, and the reception looks too crowded to me.

Parking: We all know that parking can be a hassle in the metro area, especially if there is no parking garage and no valet service. So, if I realize that guests have to park on a street or cross a major road by foot in order to get to the venue, then I generally will pass it by. We can charter busses, but that involves a larger expense.

Set Up Timing: Several venues host more than one wedding in a day or a weekend, and most of our clients have extensive set-up with décor and rentals. If the rooms that we would be using have to be torn down from a prior event and reset in less than two hours for our event (including vendor set-up and access) then I keep looking. It is no fun to have the party before you run late and leave you with no time to relax and greet your vendors and get them where they need to be – all before the first guest arrives. Oh, and Atlanta guests seem to like to come at least 45 minutes early to wedding related activities.

End of Night Timing: A good hotel or ballroom will offer a bride at least four hours of reception time, and it takes about this long to work your way through the evening. It may even take longer if you are hosting a cocktail hour and a seated dinner. So, if I find that the venue wants to offer us three hours of rental space for a wedding reception of over 200 guests, then I will pass them by.

Cost: This one should be obvious, but not everyone stops to consider it. A common mistake that brides make is to not include the “little extras” that can make or break their wedding budget. These may include bar tender fees, cake cutting fees, room rental fees, sales tax and gratuities, etc. I am always careful to point out to a bride that her estimated budget of “X” dollars per person is really more like “X plus $7” per person – which can really add up when you multiple that new fee by 200 guests.

So, my advice to those of you out there who are looking for a perfect spot is to plan early, use a bridal consultant if you are able to, and have a couple of dates in mind so that you can seal the deal with the perfect spot on a date that will still be meaningful to you!