| For a very high percentage of couples, their place of | | | | spreadsheet include the following: |
| worship is generally where they get married. However, | | | | 1. Hours available for a wedding? |
| for those who aren't associated with a church, or have | | | | 2. What hours are available for a rehearsal? How long |
| decided they'd like to get married elsewhere, one of | | | | can it be? |
| your first tasks you'll want to deal with in the wedding | | | | 3. What's included in the rental fee? |
| planning process is deciding upon a venue in which to | | | | 4. What's not included in the rental fee? |
| get married. | | | | 5. What type of package deals or discounts are |
| Regardless of the type of venue you wish to tie the | | | | offered? |
| knot, you are going to need to investigate things like | | | | 6. Deposit - Is one required, and if so, how much is it |
| availability, restrictions that may be in place and of | | | | and when is it due? |
| course, the cost. Don't take any of these things for | | | | 7. When is the balance due? |
| granted - even if you are getting married in a church. | | | | 8. What is the refund policy pertaining to deposits? |
| The sooner you start the process, the better off you'll | | | | 9. Is an on-site coordinator included in the cost? |
| be because many in demand venues book out 12-18 | | | | 10. Are there any restrictions for bringing in outside |
| months in advance. | | | | vendors? |
| This component of planning a wedding can become | | | | 11. How much parking is available for guests? |
| overwhelming if you let it! Not only do you need to | | | | 12. Are there restrooms, electrical service and trash |
| start this process early, you also need to remain | | | | receptacles available for the service? |
| focused and be extremely organized throughout the | | | | 13. Do they provide a written estimate and contract? |
| process. I'd highly recommend that you set up a | | | | 14. Is there a cancellation clause in the contract? |
| spreadsheet so that you can track all the various | | | | If a venue refuses to provide a written recap of rental |
| details from each venue that you speak with. By doing | | | | terms, cross them off your list! ALWAYS get the |
| this, you'll be able to compare all the various | | | | rental terms in writing, and be sure to add in any verbal |
| components for each venue without having to recall | | | | agreements that you come to with the venue |
| back to what you were told, or having to hunt down | | | | manager. Including these additional verbal agreements |
| scrap paper you may have written on. If you don't | | | | in the written agreement is critical because without |
| have a spreadsheet program, you can use | | | | them in writing, you won't have a leg to stand on on |
| GoogleDocs free of charge, or you could even use a | | | | your wedding day, should the venue manager forget |
| manual spreadsheet if you'd prefer. | | | | about the side agreement. |
| The things you'll want to keep track of in your | | | | |