Surely you’ve heard the old saying that the more bad luck you have on your wedding day the more good luck you’ll have in the marriage itself. Despite this saying, every couple wants their special day to be one to remember–in a non-negative way. There are plenty of things you can’t predict, and plenty of factors that are simply out of your control, which is why it’s so important to put a lot of research into all of the things that you can control.
Finding The Right Venue
Once the guest list has been finalized, the venue is typically the first thing that you decide on to start planning your wedding, since so many other things are reliant on knowing when and where you’re going to get married. The majority of wedding venues in Decatur, IL are indoor event halls, but if you do find a space that hosts outdoor weddings, make sure they have a backup plan in case of weather, something that still makes your big day feel just as special. It can be disappointing when plans change due to something as unpredictable as rain, but just remember that a wet knot is harder to untie!
Arguably the most important thing to consider when selecting a venue, other than price, is the structure of the space. Do they have a designated spot for the wedding party to get ready before the ceremony? Are there separate spaces for both sides of the party? You have to keep in mind the size of your wedding and the type of guests you’re inviting. There has to be enough on-site parking for all of your guests and your reception hall has to be big enough to seat everyone for dinner, with a large enough dance floor for the amount of partying your guests will be doing, and the proper accessibility for any of your older guests. It’s also very important for your more impaired guests (whether they’re just older and have a harder time moving or have gotten into the spirit of love and had one too many drinks) that all hazards are properly marked and blocked off. The last thing you want to be worrying about on your wedding day is contacting a premises liability lawyer.
Another thing to consider when looking for a wedding venue is whether or not they have a wedding planner on staff as well as vendors that they commonly partner with. For some couples who are more laid back with their wedding planning, this is the ideal situation, while others who prefer to be more hands-on throughout the entire process might try to avoid this. Just keep in mind that having someone else to coordinate with all of the vendors and oversee setup on your big day to make sure everything runs smoothly might help to alleviate some of your stress, especially since you’ll already be fairly busy that day.
Finding The Right Photographer
Your wedding day goes by in a flash, so it’s important to have photographs to look back on of your big day. This is why finding the right photographer is such an important step in your wedding planning process. It’s important to do thorough research. Plenty of wedding websites will advertise different wedding photographers, giving you rates, reviews, and galleries of their work. While it’s important to find someone who is friendly and flexible who matches the vibe of your wedding, it’s also crucial that they have proper editing skills, that way they can touch up any tan lines or stray hairs. So, make sure you really comb through those photo galleries before you decide on your photographer.
Finding the Right Band or DJ
The entertainment is the heart of the reception and decides how much fun your guests will have at your wedding. While bands are a classic option, DJ’s allow you much more freedom and leave less room for error–you don’t want a guitar string breaking in the middle of your first dance. Still, DJ’s are not guaranteed to be perfect either. It’s important to vet them just as you would with a photographer. Read reviews, get recommendations from friends, and even reach out to them so you can talk and get a sense of how they would be as an emcee. If you don’t take the time to do all of this, you could end up with a DJ who ignores your song requests, hits on your bridesmaids, and plays acoustic covers of metal songs during the best man and maid of honor speeches.
