Touring Venues - Simple Steps

3 Steps to No Stress When Touring Venues 

From the moment you said yes and started sharing with friends and family things have been a dream! It's only month two of your engagement and you're flipping through bridal magazines, taking photos with friends celebrating your new piece of jewelry and now it's time to plan that dream wedding! Exciting and simple right? Many brides feel apprehensive and overwhelmed when they start planning - don't feel alone. Things start piling up on your to do list; colors, linens, short or long dresses, invitations, who is going on the invite list and where on earth will you have this wedding-of-the-century?? 

Just stop. Take a step back - you've got this! Can you imagine all the brides who have sat down and looked at the same list? You've probably been to a few of those and had an amazing time. If they can do it you can too! Okay, now back to the important stuff...

​Everyone has a dream wedding that is unique and beautiful as each couple. For some that means inviting everyone they know to come and celebrate and for others it means an intimate brunch with those that mean the most. Regardless of what your vision is, we believe you deserve it it is your day to celebrate and remember for the rest of your life. When touring a venue there are so many things to see, to ask and to plan for. Here are some tips that will make your tours go smoothly and bring you some peace of mind.

Choose your style. Pinterest is a blessing and a curse. If you meet an engaged woman who tells you she has not looked on pinterest for hours on end she is not to be trusted. If you can get an idea of what you do or do not like it will quickly help to shape your plans and leave you with less maybes along the way. Indoors or outdoors? Food truck or plated meals? Does the thought of guests arriving in jeans make you cringe? If your dream wedding includes a gelato fondue dessert bar then you may not want to choose a South Texas outdoor venue in July. Having an idea what you are envisioning will make visiting venues more exciting- can you picture the strung garden lights and area for that elegant vintage seating area?
​
Decide what is most important. Inviting everyone you know may not be realistic, especially if your parents want to do the same. Having an idea of a head count is important when choosing your venue but there's more that goes into it then most think. Do you want a photo-booth? Oh or what about a giant wheel of fortune Bob Barker would be proud of? If you don't have a list of your must haves before you start signing contracts you may end up disappointed when your venue does not allow you to hang strung lights or serve mixed cocktails. Trust us, the venue does not want to throw a wrench in your plans or cause you sleepless nights. & it is not their fault if you did not realize you could not live without Grandma's secret martini recipe being served at your wedding before booking a venue that has a no alcohol policy. Tell them up front what your must haves are so they can be honest with you and you can rest easy knowing you made your decision with all the important facts.

​Remember to enjoy. Your engagement is not just a planning phase it is a time to celebrate. Live in the moment, be silly and nauseatingly in love. Eat too much cake and buy a dress that will make you feel gorgeous without fasting. Planning a wedding is a lot but no one said you had to rush it and please for the love of your fiance put down the bridal magazines and eat some of those tacos and queso! Choose your vendors not only based upon their price tag and what they are selling but who they are. Working with professionals you trust and that make you feel comfortable is one of the best decisions you can make. They will go the extra mile to make your dreams become a reality so you can breath easy and enjoy this amazing time! We are lucky to have some amazing vendors in the DFW and North Texas area, some even right down the road here in Denton. If you are looking for someone don't hesitate to request Hawthorn Hills Ranch's preferred list or checkout our Spotlight Vendors on the blog.


Looking for a basic checklist of the standard questions to ask on your venue visit? Take a peek below!

---

venue_tour_check_list.pdf
File Size:	46 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

---