Exploring Wedding Venue Mistakes To Avoid

Every year, an average of 2.4 million weddings are performed in the U.S. Deciding on venues and vendors is certainly one of the more difficult aspects of putting together your big day, but by steering clear of some major mistakes, you can seamlessly transition through the process and make sure that all parties involved are on the same page when it comes time for your wedding day.

It’s important to understand the full scope of mistakes that are entirely avoidable, and how taking the right steps can help the process progress smoothly and easily until the day approaches. Here are the most common wedding venue mistakes to avoid during the planning process.

Starting Your Search Too Late

This should come as no surprise, but normally it’s a good idea to book your wedding reception site as soon as possible once you’re engaged — at least a year to nine months before the wedding. If you wait too long, you could miss out on that adorable banquet hall or Miami wedding venue you’ve always dreamed of having your reception in. If you don’t start early enough, don’t be surprised if you’re severely limited by your choices because all of the most romantic wedding venues are reserved for the next year and a half.

Starting Too Early

On the other hand, starting your search too early can also come off the wrong way to wedding venue staff and event planners. They have more timely clients to work with, and if you’re calling them when your wedding date is still several years away, they’re limited in what they can do for you until the date approaches. Similarly, some couples seek out banquet halls or ballrooms before they’re even engaged, which is highly premature and unnecessary. Stick to the rule of nine to 12 months, and you should be good to go.

Not Considering an All-Inclusive Event Package

While it’s important for each couple to determine the specific details of their wedding as far as catering, location, and decor, many couples have benefited from investing in an all-inclusive event package to take a significant amount of stress away from the overall planning process. If this is something you’re interested in, talk to wedding planners who are familiar with the area.

Hiring Vendors Before Committing to a Planner

Not every couple chooses to hire an event planner, but those who do need to do it before hiring any significant vendor for their big day. Why? Because oftentimes, wedding planners have special connections and deals with vendors they personally recommend, which can save you some big bucks down the line. Plus, it’s your wedding planner’s job to do the legwork, so if you’re putting in all the work looking at and deciding on vendors, you aren’t really getting your money’s worth from the planner. Just relax and let the wedding planner handle the details!

Hiring Vendors Before Committing to Location

It’s certainly okay to start researching other vendors while still in the process of touring wedding ballrooms and other unique wedding places. In fact, nearly half (48%) of couples research reception venues online. However, you should never sign an agreement or put down a deposit on a DJ or caterer until you know where the wedding reception will be held. This reduces the chance for complications and miscommunications when the wedding approaches, and it can also help the vendor get a better idea of the area they’ll be working in, which in turn can help them to provide better service on the day of.

Not Considering the Season in Venue Reservation Timing

Finally, it’s important to keep the season in mind when considering when to reserve certain vendors. The most popular month to get married is June (accounting for 15% of all weddings), and if you’re getting married around this time, prepare to reserve earlier than usual. Off-season months, on the other hand, often offer more flexibility in terms of reservation times.

Ultimately, being aware of and avoiding these major venue mistakes is the key to making sure your big day flows seamlessly from the moment you enter the venue to the moment you say “I do.” For more information about wedding ballrooms and other wedding reception venues, contact Renaissance Miami.