Trust us - we completely understand but here's the thing... Our team, our owners and our hearts are to keep all our cards on the table. What it really comes down to most of the time is not that the venues you are looking at are "hiding" costs but that you just don't know what to ask to get all the information. How would you know though? This planning world is a whole new ball game, so we're here and prepped both this blog post and our podcast episode (you can listen in over here) to help you navigate this new world of planning and skip those pesky little surprises from the start. 

If you’ve been following along with us then you know we are on the final part of our tea on trends. We could not wrap it up without talking about some unique and untraditional touches couples do.

Anyways, let’s get to it. 

Just a recap, we’ve discussed the what’s in the venue guide, how to prepare for touring these venue, narrowing down your list to only 3-6 venues, and so much more (take a peek at the previous blog for more info). 

It’s always hard to think of questions to ask while you’re on these tours, which is why we got you covered not only with all the questions but also why you should be asking them. No, you don’t need to ask all of them, but its good to pick your 3-5 faves and have them ready to get those answers.
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Why are they important? A lot of the questions are to help your future team experience and understanding what your day could look like. Let’s jump in and take a peak at what some of the podcast co-hosts would say are our favorites and why.

Amanda’s favorite question for couples to ask:

• “What is the venue suggestion for [us] while [we] are planning?”
  • Why it’s a good one: it shows if they’ve been “listening” to you. Hearing your concerns and worries to make you feel better and help planning go smoothly. It also let’s their passion, experience and knowledge shine! ​​

Eylin’s favorite questions for couples to ask:

• “What does cleaning after the event look like?”
  • Why you want to ask: You don’t want to have your guests doing all the cleaning and dirty work. So what are you responsible for or what does the venue take care of? It could mean putting up chairs, sweeping, linens or simply packing your own belongings and enjoying your evening. It’s also important to know what’s allowed in the trash, etc. These should be in contract but always a good thing to ask beforehand.
• “How close together will chairs and tables be?”
  • Why it’s a favorite question: We cap our guest count lower than it technically needs to be, so we can allow room for a dance floor, buffet areas, etc. You want to make sure you will have plenty of room to sit, walk around, and of course dance the night away!

​It’s important to make sure you ask these questions before you sign that contract and ask for clarity on any part you’re not sure about. Your venue representative will be ready and happy to assist in answering those questions.

Next podcast episode we will be getting into more of the good stuff… Tour stories!
​SO get your tea, its time to pour it out (;

WELCOME to our little corner of the internet friends!

Why We Created The Guide

​​So here’s where we come in. We’ve done this, like hundreds of times and can navigate this in our sleep - but don’t worry we are showing up FULLY caffeinated and ready to help you because that is what you deserve. Between this first series (Episode 1 - 4 and the free guide you downloaded - and if you haven’t you totally need to jump over and grab that) you will know everything you need to to rock this first stage of planning. It’s a big stage, we know, and a HUGE check off your list for planning. Let’s do it!

Rather listen in? Skip over to the Behind the Party Podcast HERE to listen in now.

I’m not going to overwhelm you with my spreadsheets - organizing is my happy place guys, but instead I am going to give you all the questions and checklists you need to ask to narrow it down. Over in that guide we’ve also included worksheets to keep organized, as well as to print and take with you on tours so you don’t forget a question and have to go back to ask again. 

On top of all the options though, venues do not make it easy - they each have different amenities, services and rules to guide your experience. It’s what makes them unique, what shows off their priorities and what they are known for and lets you get to know their personality but it’s also a huge pain to compare costs. This is when being prepared, feeling comfortable and confident in what you are looking for and keeping your eye on your priorities BEFORE you get too deep in planning is really important. It’s why we suggest you start with a little homework before submitting all those contact forms and information requests online.

​Either way - you need to know what you are comfortable with and what your max amount is. Once you start getting a better understanding of real costs for services in your area this may adjust and that is okay. For now, give yourself the grace to come back and change your budget, but have a conversation of what this means for you. Really not sure where to start? Do a quick search and find costs of 3 venues, 3 caterers, 3 DJs, and 3 photographers in your area. You’ll see that 1) it definitely varies and 2) what is unrealistic and realistic for the type of wedding you envision. ​

• Head count - should you really be making a guest list from the start? YES. At least list out your “must invite” list, and then start a 2nd page of maybes. If you’re going to have any extended family invited you will need to talk to both sides to get a list as well. We’ll talk more about guests lists in another episode. For now you just need an idea of that must invite list - there is a big difference between 30 people and 170 people. Having a range is completely normal and expected by venues - none should pressure you to have a hard count at this phase. You want to target a range no more than 50 count difference. For example 100 - 150 people. Any more than that and you two need to sit down and go over that list again.
• Style - This is actually one of my favorite topics. I can get a little too excited and go on and on about wedding style, so I will keep it short and sweet here. When you close your eyes what do you see? Rustic wooden accents with farm animals in the background? Manicured estate with elegant chandeliers that require a black tie dress code? Remember that you want to feel comfortable and true to yourselves during your wedding so if that is a stylish modern city setting then we want to stay away from the industrial vintage railroad venue that is an hour drive away. 
  • For more on your style check out Episode #09
• Priorities - this one is the most important. Knowing your priorities will help you both navigate what will make you excited and stay away from what would trigger any stress/anxiety. If budget is important then it needs to be one of the top 3. If your guest experience is a priority then you want to choose a venue that will enhance that. Another example might be an outdoor ceremony, because you two love nature and spending the day at the lake or hiking together. Or perhaps you have to have a place with overnight accommodations onsite. Having your priorities listed out will help you not get distracted by the excitement of touring venues. 

Now that you have your homework done, use those 10 questions in the guide to field through venues and narrow down your top choices. Those are the ones we are going to focus on in Episode 2 - and get you ready to know exactly what to ask when you’re visiting.

Get the FREE GUIDE by clicking HERE
Listen in to the podcast Episode #01: Engaged, Now What? HERE