Jade & Jasmine: {Advice} Part 3: Finding Your Venue

Your wedding venue is one of the most important aspects to consider when planning your wedding, and the good ones go fast! If you've already decided on a venue, great! Make a plan to visit the premises as soon as possible, if you haven't already - often something can look great in pictures, but in reality it may not be quite what you expected. On your visit also consider the atmosphere of the venue - remember, you will be spending the better part of a day there. Some venues may be too informal or too smart for your taste, or you may just not like the vibe. And it is imperitive that you do!

Valverde Country Hotel, Muldersdrift

If you're yet to decide on a venue, look around at potentials and send out for quotes to as many as possible. Don't just go for well-known places; look at smaller, lesser-known venues also. Not only will they likely be a lot less expensive, but hidden costs like pews, chairs, tables, linen, cutlery, crockery and glassware rental are usually built into the cost of the venue hire, and they may also offer great all-inclusive wedding packages (which cover things like decor, flowers, DJ, etc) at competitive prices. They are also often family-run, so you'll get great service!

Morrells Boutique Venue, Northcliff

Also take into account the area in which the venue is. Is it easy to get to? Are roads well-kept and safe? Is it near to any unsavoury part of town? Look very carefully at the surrounding areas and remember, if you are planning an afternoon wedding, your guests will be travelling home after dark, so you don't want them passing things such as road works, truck stops, etc. When planning our wedding we visited a venue that looked fantastic but, when we got there, we found it to be on an unlit road directly opposite a very large informal settlement! Not ideal.

Avianto, Muldersdrift

Your venue will also help decide the style of your wedding, be it traditional, modern, new vintage, informal, black tie, etc., so bear this in mind when searching. It is often easier to have an idea in mind of what you are looking for, but it is not necessary - a venue may speak to you and you can plan your wedding around it.

Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg

When emailing venues for quotes, always include:

your name
a contact number
your email address - yes, I know it will be on the email, but you'd be surprised how many people still ask for it!
your preferred wedding date - if you are not yet sure, give the month.
an estimated number of guests

Ask for a detailed quote for your wedding, including venue cost, catering, and enquire if things like furniture and linen are included. Also request any additional information on decor packages (if they are offered). Make an appointment to see the venue and, if you like it, book it as soon as possible! Like I said, the good ones go fast!