Hey, it’s Gevin from Forever Party Rentals in Surrey, and today I’m going to share with you how I found the perfect wedding venue for my wedding in 3 easy steps. And no, I’m not talking about some generic tips like “set a budget” or “check the reviews”. I’m talking about the exact process I used to find a venue that matched my vision, personality, and budget.

But before I get into that, let me tell you why finding a wedding venue is so important. Your wedding venue is more than just a place to host your ceremony and reception. It’s the backdrop of your memories, the setting of your story, and the vibe of your celebration. It’s where you and your partner will exchange your vows, where you’ll dance with your friends and family, and where you’ll toast to your future.

That’s why finding a wedding venue is not something you want to leave to chance. You want to find a venue that reflects who you are as a couple, that suits your style and theme, and that fits your budget and needs. And trust me, it’s not as easy as it sounds. There are so many options out there, from hotels and ballrooms to barns and vineyards, that it can be overwhelming to narrow down your choices.

That’s why I decided to use a simple 3-step process to find my wedding venue. And guess what? It worked like a charm. I found a venue that was exactly what I was looking for, and I booked it in less than a week. And the best part is, you can use this process too. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Define Your Criteria

The first step is to define your criteria for your wedding venue. This means figuring out what you want and what you don’t want in a venue. This will help you filter out the venues that don’t meet your standards, and focus on the ones that do.

To define your criteria, you need to answer some questions, such as:

• How many guests are you inviting?

• What is your budget range?

• What is your preferred location?

• What is your preferred style or theme?

• What are some must-have features or amenities?

• What are some deal-breakers or red flags?

For example, when I was looking for my wedding venue, I answered these questions like this:

• I’m inviting about 150 guests.

• My budget range is $10,000-$15,000.

• My preferred location is within an hour drive from Surrey, British Columbia.

• My preferred style or theme is rustic chic.

• Some must-have features or amenities are outdoor ceremony space, indoor reception space, catering and bar service, and parking.

• Some deal-breakers or red flags are hidden fees, poor reviews, or lack of availability.

Once you have your criteria defined, you can use them to search for venues online or offline. You can use websites like WeddingWire or The Knot to find venues by location, price, style, and features. You can also ask for recommendations from your friends, family, or vendors.

Step 2: Create a Shortlist

The second step is to create a shortlist of venues that match your criteria. This means narrowing down your options to the ones that you are most interested in and want to learn more about.

To create a shortlist, you need to do some research on each venue that meets your criteria. You need to check their website, social media, photos, videos, reviews, and testimonials. You need to look for information such as:

• What is their capacity and layout?

• What is their pricing and package?

• What is their availability and booking policy?

• What is their cancellation and refund policy?

• What are their services and amenities?

• What are their rules and restrictions?

For example, when I was creating my shortlist of venues, I did some research on each venue that matched my criteria. I looked for information like this:

• Their capacity and layout were suitable for my guest list and preferred seating arrangement.

• Their pricing and package were within my budget range and included everything I needed.

• Their availability and booking policy were flexible and convenient for my preferred date and time.

• Their cancellation and refund policy were reasonable and fair in case of any changes or emergencies.

• Their services and amenities were high-quality and comprehensive, covering everything from catering and bar service to décor and entertainment.

• Their rules and restrictions were clear and acceptable, respecting my preferences and needs.

Once you have done your research on each venue that meets your criteria, you can compare them side by side and rank them according to your preferences. You can use a spreadsheet or a tool like Airtable to organize and visualize your data. You can also use a scoring system or a pros and cons list to evaluate each venue.

For example, when I was comparing and ranking my venues, I used a spreadsheet to organize and visualize my data. I also used a scoring system to evaluate each venue based on my criteria. Here’s what it looked like:

Based on my spreadsheet and scoring system, I decided to create a shortlist of three venues: Venue A, Venue B, and Venue C. These were the venues that I was most interested in and wanted to learn more about.

Step 3: Visit and Book

The third and final step is to visit and book your wedding venue. This means scheduling a site visit with each venue on your shortlist, touring the venue in person, asking questions, and making a decision.

To visit and book your wedding venue, you need to prepare some questions to ask the venue coordinator or manager during your site visit. You need to ask questions such as:

• Can I see the contract and read the fine print?

• Can I meet the staff and vendors who will be working on my wedding day?

• Can I see some samples of the food, drinks, décor, and entertainment?

• Can I do a taste test, a sound check, and a lighting test?

• Can I bring my own vendors or items if I want to?

• Can I make any changes or adjustments after booking?

For example, when I was visiting and booking my wedding venue, I prepared some questions to ask the venue coordinator during my site visit. I asked questions like this:

• Can I see the contract and read the fine print?

• Can I meet the chef, the bartender, the DJ, and the florist who will be working on my wedding day?

• Can I see some samples of the menu, the drinks list, the centerpieces, and the playlist?

• Can I do a taste test, a sound check, and a lighting test?

• Can I bring my own cake or photographer if I want to?

• Can I make any changes or adjustments after booking?

Once you have visited each venue on your shortlist, you can compare your impressions and feelings and make a final decision. You can use your intuition and gut feeling to choose the venue that feels right for you. You can also use feedback from your partner or trusted friends or family to help you decide.

For example, when I was making my final decision on my wedding venue, I compared my impressions and feelings from each site visit. I also used feedback from my fiancée and my best friend to help me decide. Here’s what it looked like:

Based on my impressions, feelings, and feedback, I decided to book Venue A for my wedding. It was the venue that matched my vision, personality, and budget. It was the venue that made me feel excited, happy, and comfortable. It was the venue that my fiancée and my best friend loved too. It was the perfect venue for me.

And that’s how I found the perfect wedding venue for my wedding in 3 easy steps. And you can too. All you need to do is:

• Define your criteria for your wedding venue.

• Create a shortlist of venues that match your criteria.

• Visit and book your wedding venue.

I hope this blog post has helped you get closer to finding your dream wedding venue. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email us. If you need any tables or chairs for your venue we can easily supply your wedding with what you need!

Thanks for reading, and happy planning!