Choosing the right venue is the most important wedding planning decision. Choose wisely and you will have an extraordinary event that will be treasured by you and your loved ones for years to come. Choose poorly and you could regret it for the rest of your life. For most couples, choosing a wedding venue is brand new to them, so educating yourself first is crucial to making the right decision. Avoid these 5 mistakes to quickly get up to speed with what you need to know and you will be well on your way to making a great choice for your venue.

Mistake # 1 – A La Carte Pricing

You may already have a budget finalized that you need to work within. Chances are, it’s slightly lower than what’s needed for the perfect wedding you have in your dreams. But, many wedding venues already know this and have developed a crafty way to get you locked in, without you having a full picture of what will end up being the total cost of your actual wedding. They list a low base price and then charge you “a la carte” additional fees for things like; chairs, tables, signage, decor and much, much more. In theory, it seems helpful to you because your brain begins to cross off all the things you don’t think you need. But in the real world, on the day of your wedding, you usually end up needing more than you thought and more of each item than you expected. So rather than the low base price and the “a la carte” providing you with savings, you end up needing to spend far more than you ever expected and by that time, its too late to turn back and change plans. The better pricing structure for you is Inclusive Pricing. You’ll know exactly what it is going to cost, with no hidden surprise fees that may pop up at the end, and although you may not use every amenity that that package has to offer, it will still save you much more money in the end.

To illustrate this point, here are two comparable Florida Wedding Venues, one priced a-la-carte, and the other with Inclusive pricing:

A La Carte Pricing

Base Fee:$7,000
+ Chair Rental: $2,000
+ Table Rental: $2,000
+ Table Cloths: $500
+ Décor Rental: $3,000
+ Wedding Signage: $500
+ Vintage Car Photo Opp: $500
+ Additional Cost Per a person over 100 guest count: $10 a person x 50 = $500
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Total: $16,000

Inclusive Pricing

Inclusive Fee: $9,000
Pricing includes use of a full range of ceremony and reception decor including chairs, tables, lanterns, votive candles, table cloths, centerpieces, table numbers, signage, and more. There are no hidden fees or additional charges per person.
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Total: $9,000

For more information, here’s a detailed explanation of how inclusive pricing saves you thousands over a-la-carte pricing.

Mistake # 2 – Disruptive Surroundings

One of the many compelling reasons for having a wedding on a farm is that you will whisked away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Quiet, scenic and secluded surroundings set the perfect backdrop for a wedding. Unfortunately, some venues are located next to train tracks, highways, other businesses or busy areas that are noisy and hectic. Imagine your Maid of Honor beginning her speech only to be interrupted by a huge train rumbling by for several minutes. Or Pachelbel’s Canon in D softly being played on the piano, but your guests can hardly hear it because of the roar from semi-tractor trailers rolling down the highway. Or the wedding officiant beginning the speech when all of a sudden, a fire truck blares it’s horns, police sirens erupt and the noise reverberates through your ceremony. Those are all very real examples of what has happened to other couples in the past that didn’t pay attention to the potential for disruptive surroundings, when they toured their venue for the first time. If you’re going to concert, the venue surroundings don’t matter. If you’re planning a wedding, choose a quiet, scenic and secluded location.

Mistake # 3 – No Decor Provided

Venues that don’t provide you with decor will not only cost you far more, but moreover, it will be a much bigger hassle and will be far more difficult to get it right. You’ll be forced to imagine what your ideas will look like without being able to lay them out in real life. You’ll be hoping and praying they look thew way you wanted but it’ll be a complete gamble. How do you know, for sure, that your colors will work with the venue unless you can already see what they look like, where you want them to go, at the venue you have selected beforehand?

Mistake # 4 – No Choice of Vendors

Some venues force you to hire their caterer or DJ or photographer and that leaves you with only one choice for those vendors, rather than being able to choose the best. While it is reasonable for venues to have some requirements related to outside vendors, such as with us, we ask our couples to choose from a few specific bartenders on our preferred vendor list for the safety of the guests and the community; not having any choice whatsoever is not good for you or your guests. The very best wedding vendors are not tied to one venue, but instead, provide their services wherever they are needed, at many different venues. This concentrates their efforts on pleasing the couple, not the venue. You want your vendors striving to serve you at the highest level. Plus, this allows you to select based on reviews and results. Avoid venues that force you to only use their vendors so that you have the choice to pick the best ones.

Mistake # 5 – Ignoring Guest Experience

While this is your big day and you are the most important person to please, ignoring the experience of your guests completely is a mistake too. Providing them with an unforgettable experience can be a tremendous gift and something that they will rave about for years to come. When our staff has an Ever After Farms shirt on while not on the job, we oftentimes have people in the community compliment us for how wonderful of an experience they had at a wedding at one of our venues. Be the couple that has the best of both worlds, a venue you love and a venue that your guests love too!

Choosing the Right Venue for You

Now that you know the seven most common mistakes couples make when selecting a venue, you’re ready to begin touring your favorites. Keep these 5 mistakes in mind, and your wedding is sure to be a huge success. Congratulations and best of luck on your wedding journey!