Local wedding professionals give their advice on choosing your wedding venue from starting early to fun and worry free to questions to ask when looking at the many choices available.
Book Now!
Once you and your groom have chosen a date, it’s best to reserve your reception site immediately, even if it’s one to two years in advance. With this done, you will have alleviated a lot of stress for yourself. The particular details of your reception can be done later, but getting the place and date you want is now accomplished! Realize that many venues require a small deposit to hold the date. Check with your venue events coordinator about this when you call.
Nancy Perkins – Diamondhead Country Club – Diamondhead, MS – www.diamondheadms.org
What Type of Wedding You Want Makes a Difference
Deciding on what type of wedding you want is a very important choice to make. Have you always dreamed of an elaborate formal reception, or a more relaxed atmosphere with a beach as your background? Making this decision first helps everything in your planning process fall into place. Once you have decided on the type of wedding reception you want, the next step is booking a venue. Be sure to select a location that will set the tone for your special day. Do not wait too long though, because great venues tend to book fast!
Dixie Krauss – King Edward Hotel at the Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown – Jackson, MS – www.jacksondowntown.hgi.com and www.kingedwardhoteljackson.com
Special Occasions Should be Fun and Worry Free
When planning your wedding, the most important part of the process is finding someone who understands how important this day is to the Bride, Groom and their families. Choose a venue with years of experience in planning events, weddings, rehearsal dinners and bridal luncheons. Special occasions should be fun and worry free. Also look at the venue’s surroundings and its ambiance. Is it atop a building with a view? Is it part of a resort? Is it historical? All this helps make your wedding unique and special.
Jeff Hall – Great Southern Club – Gulfport, MS – www.greatsouthernclub.com
Wedding Specialist Will Make Your Life Easy
Weddings, although one of life’s most happy occasions can sometimes be very stressful. A wedding specialist will handle all the details to make certain that your day is one to remember for all the right reasons. Helpful hints for the bride to be include: be realistic about your priorities, budget and time. Have an idea of the number of guests, the location of engagement parties, ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner and showers.
Let you wedding specialist know the feel of your event whether it be casual or formal, sit-down dinner or buffet, alcohol or alcohol free. Have some ideas for the menu, their expertise will help to guide you. Think about special services that you may want: audio visual and sound services, dance floor, lighting, special draping, and custom linens. Finally, when making plans with your wedding specialist, discuss accommodations for your out of town guests and your wedding night as part of your overall plan.
Martha Bennett – Hilton- Jackson – Jackson, MS – www.hiltonjackson.com
Questions to Ask when Choosing a Venue
Your wedding venue is a reflection of your personality and charm! When choosing a venue, it is important to ask the following questions at potential venues: Will there be an event planner who will guide me through my dreams of the perfect wedding and reception flow? How many people will the ceremony venue hold? How many people will the reception venue hold? May I have a rehearsal dinner at the venue as well? Are the tables, chairs and linens included in the reception or rehearsal dinner price? Am I responsible for set-up, break-down & clean-up? Do you have an in-house caterer or may I bring in a caterer? How long does my rental last? Do you have overnight accommodations for my guests?
A venue that offers a wedding ceremony site as well as reception site could ensure that your guests will attend both. Also, an in-house caterer takes the logistics headache away. Wedding venues that offer overnight accommodations are key when you have numerous out of town guests. Most importantly, there should be a natural “fit” with your perfect dream wedding and the setting in which it will be held.
Joni McClain – McClain Lodge & Heat of Pines – Both in Brandon, MS – www.mcclainlodge.com and www.heartofpines.com
Want more tips? Pick up your free copy of Premier Bride of Mississippi. Go to www.premierbridems.com to find where to get your copy.