Deciding on the which venue to have your wedding or wedding reception is the most critical decision you will make. The is where all of you guests will gather to celebrate your day and you are expected to provide them with a good time. The right venue means good food, good drink, enough room for people to sit, and of course a place for dancing.
Some thing to be aware of when you go o visit the halls. Most halls will intimidate you into booking a date and signing a contract on the spot by putting the fear of losing the date in your head. If you are flexible with your date this process becomes a lot easier and give you a bit more power. The day of the week will determine your price since Saturday is by far the most expensive, Friday is a close second, and Thursday is now the new Friday. Don’t be afraid to ask every question that pops into your mind and if they give you an answer you want make sure it goes into the contract. You would be amazed at how many empty promises are made by salesman trying to close a deal.
Without fail this will be an area of the wedding where the bride will have more input than the groom. The groom to be will usually have some feedback, but it will usually include the phrases “I guess”, “Looks fine to me”, and the always enjoyable “If that’s what you want it’s fine with me.” Now ladies don’t let this get you upset or thinking he doesn’t care. Most men just don’t see flowers as being as important to the wedding day as you do. To make this process easier and cost effective find centerpieces you feel fit your style, find flowers that are local and in season, and pick a centerpiece that fits your wedding hall.
Your personal style should help you in getting started, but don’t let that lock you into one design. Use
your style as a guide to work with and build on. Selecting flowers that have to be imported, colored, or are a tougher color to find can run you hundreds or thousands of dollars. I had picked out a white flower and decided i wanted to go with a red and the price difference was $20 per flower. So you will learn to adjust.
Your wedding hall will play a role in your selection for several reasons. What kind of lighting does your hall have? Do they offer and spotlights on the tables to emphasize your centerpieces. If so this can make a small full centerpiece standout and seem much more impressive. What kind of tableswill you be using? You don’t want the centerpiece to be in the way of people and blocking views. I have attended wedding where people actually removed the centerpiece from the table because the couldn’t see other people at their table. Don’t be afraid to accentuate your flowers with the use of votive candles, pedals, or using unique vases with a nice interior design.
All florists will design a sample piece for you before you actually decide to go forward with your choice. Remember to ask how many free samples they will make for you. Many will only give you one shot before charging you for additional work. Clear this before you sign anything because this will be an argument you will usually lose. Verify that the florist has a relationship with your venue because you don’t want to deal with any confusion the day of your event. The tradition of giving the centerpiece away during the wedding just takes up time and most people find it disrupts the flow of the event. Your guests will take the flowers at the end of the night without you telling them…they will take everything that isn’t bolted down actually!
Picking a photographer is probably the most important and difficult decision you will have to make. The photographer is the person that will make sure your wedding day is captured just the way you imagined. The pictures will be what you have to remember all the wonderful moments you were to wired to focus on during your day. Just because a photographer comes will recommended or reviewed doesn’t mean that they are the right fit for you. You will be amazed at how many options you have with your wedding book and finding the right fit is critical. Don’t sign anything that locks you in to any one vendor until you can meet the person or persons that will be working your event. Just because you click with the sales person doesn’t mean you will click with the actual photographer.
Getting your questions in order before signing a contract is critical in this process. Find out the prices 
for the number of pictures in your albums, if you get to keep your proofs, with you get a CD of all your pictures, how many people will work the event, how long will they stay, how many pictures will be taken during the course of the day, and what kind o extras can be added. You will want to make sure that engagement photos are included. This is an important step because you will get to work with your photographer prior to your wedding.
Another important step that takes time is looking through each vendors sample books. These should be the best of the best so if you aren’t impressed by these move on right away. Look for originality in the books and a personal touch that will set your day apart from your friends. I can’t tell you how many cookie cutter books we saw with the same poses in the same areas. This shows a lack of thought and understanding of the couple. Make sure the book reflects you and your day not what they feel is easy for them to work with.
Overall be willing to spend a little extra on your pictures because 40 years from now when you look back on your event surrounded by family you don’t ant to think about the vendor you should have gone with. Remember that with all of your vendors you are the boss and if you get a bad feeling don’t feel obligated to say yes because they spent a lot of tie with you or your just tired of hearing the same sales pitch over and over. Take your time and pick the vendor that will make your dream into a reality and have fun!
