WEDDING VENUES
by Rev. Ray Cross
http://brideschoiceofficiant.com

When planning a wedding you will need a place for the ceremony and usually a place for the reception (perhaps using the same room for both). The reception might involve a banquet or light refreshments. If you are not being married in a church, using its facilities and hall, a number of excellent resources for finding a wide variety of venues is available below.

Choose a wedding venue appropriate to your wedding theme and tone 
The theme and tone of your wedding should conform to your personalities and budget as well as be comfortable for your guests. So early in your wedding planning you should consider the atmosphere most appropriate to you and your wedding. On this basis you move forward to book the Officiant, the ceremony and reception locations and the wedding planning team appropriate to this theme. You are limited only by your imagination, from traditional to adventuresome.

Choose a venue appropriate to the size of your wedding and the needs of your guests
A crucial aspect of bringing the vision of your wedding to fruition is the venue you choose, whether to accommodate an intimate gathering for a few close friends or a blockbuster celebration for all members of your extended family and everyone you and your family have ever met, or perhaps something in between these. Whatever, it is important that you agree on the size of the wedding and that you choose a venue to accommodate the number of guests and the services necessary to the style and theme you have chosen. (And book it early as they tend to fill quickly.) While viewing prospective venues exercise your imagination—picture how you can transform it into the unforgettable location of your dreams.

Many grand wedding venues are available
Grand hotels, opulent banquet halls, ornate gardens, beautifully restored historic sites infuse wedding celebrations with awesome ambiance. Clubs and lodges rent halls which can be decorated tastefully to your theme. Golf courses usually have specially designed wedding venues blessed with spacious views of rolling hills and greens. 

Wedding venues on a budget 
A limited budget may call for more ingenuity as more elaborate venues elude your financial grasp. Don't despair. I've officiated some really beautiful weddings in backyards, public parks, gazebos, restaurants, community centers, bed and breakfasts. 

Perhaps there are large homes with substantial garden lots that might be available if you ask. You could possibly approach the owner concerning how much they would charge for the use of their grounds for a wedding with your number of guests, at your time, for a specified period of time. The worst that could happen is that they say, "No", which would leave you no farther back than you were when you started. Best case scenario, they might ask little or no compensation for its use and even be complimented that you asked. Having invested time and money into the beauty of their residence, owners of gardens are generally pleased that their efforts are appreciated by others. Thinking outside the box might prove less expensive than venues designed for weddings. If you choose an outdoor venue, however, it would be wise to have an alternative in your plans should it be necessary. 

Be creative. If your funds are limited, stay within your means. You can even enlist friends and family to assist with preparations and catering. 

It's your wedding. Do it your way.

Paul's Halls

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