Newly Engaged?
Exciting times! Tears and beaming smiles. Sometimes, a bit of a panic!
What to do first? Even before picking a specific date, check out the wedding venues you like and see what is available during your preferred time of year. The most highly sought venues book more than a year in advance. For unique dates (like 8-18-2018), they may book 2 years in advance!
If your first choice in date or venue is not available, consider Fridays and Sundays. Those days book after prime days and the rental often costs less than a Saturday. Most venues also have much lower rental costs if a weekday will work for you. Especially when many guests will be traveling to your wedding, a weekday can be a great choice – giving your guests extra time to do some sightseeing while in the NW.
In addition to looking for a venue that has dates available, consider some practicalities:
-are tables and chairs included in the rental?
-is there free and/or adequate parking?
-do you need wheelchair access?
-can you choose your vendors, or do you have to use those from the venue?
-can you provide your own alcoholic beverages?
-what are the costs for rental for additional hours?
Before booking any venue, be sure to check out their reviews on impartial websites like The Knot, Wedding Wire or Yelp.