DAY 1
These days, you can get married just about anywhere. If you are not having a religious ceremony in place of worship, there are so many possibilities to consider: Is there an art gallery in your neighborhood that you have always loved? A favorite restaurant or antique store? How about garden or historic house?
It is very important to find a venue that you won’t have to completely transform, which can put a serious dent in your budget and never feels truly authentic.
Instead, try to find a place where many of the décor elements are built in (for example, a garden path as an aisle, a mountain or ocean backdrop or a beautiful picture window to frame the setting) and where, ideally, you would just need to bring in a few florals to enhance the setting.
Factors like guest count, budget and time of year will all weigh heavily in your choice of venue (or venues) so make sure to look at the big picture.
You may be confronted with the decision of holding the ceremony and the reception in two different locations. While this might be less convenient, it is mean your ceremony will be more beautiful in a more meaningful space, then it might be worth it. For more on reception samples visit us.
DAY 2
Meadow
While there are many pros to tying the knot in a verdant meadow or field (low venue and floral costs, beautiful vistas, a unique setting, and an abundance of space) there are also a few big cons (unpredictable weather, the need for bathrooms facilities, lighting, and transportation, accessibility, insects).
If you are using public space the first order of business is handling permitting issues (take this up with the local parks and recreation bureau) Find out the restrictions on filming, photography, noise, bathroom trailers, and curfew.
The embrace your setting with design elements that blend in with the surrounding landscape (think week accents foliage, berry branches, and native flowers.
DAY 3
Ocean front wedding
Wherever you stage your beach wedding, there are a few things to look out for when you do a site visit, tide time, wind, sound (chasing waves can drown out voice) and other beachgoers- if you are getting married on a private beach, you will have more control over who is around, otherwise you may want to have planner and assistant on the perimeter asking people to keep away (Unwilling strangers can usually be bribed with a few bucks) if you are setting up right on the sand make sure you alert your guest so they can dress appropriately.
Day 4
Backyard
If you are lucky enough to live in a place that can accommodate your guest count, start by getting estimates from rental companies, caters, and valet companies. Consider if you will need or want to move out your furniture and put down additional protective flooring, because this will add to the cost.
You may also need to pull permit from the town if it is a large party, and keep in mind that being on-site (being home while everything is happening) can add to your wedding day anxiety.
Now the positives, there is so much of your personality already built in, and you can relive the wedding every day. Plus having an at home wedding is a great excuse to fix up your house, whether you are repainting a few rooms or improving the landscaping.
Some couples, if they are short on space, opt to have just the ceremony at home, them host the reception at nearby restaurant or event space.
There are a few alternative if your own home won’t work, the home of a close friend or family member or a rental (many historical properties are often available for events.
Day 5
Getting hitched at a hotel is often a very practical choice from a financial and logistical perspective, since so much is already on-site (furniture, catering, security, and parking. A small, boutique hotel will make your wedding feel more intimate than a larger venue, especially if your wedding guests happen to rent out the whole place.
Thy to find a hotel with plenty or architectural charm so you don’t have to spend a small fortune transforming a sterile ballroom- or ask if you can get married on a ground of the property.