Venue Shopping: A How To...

Once you've aced that all-important search for the perfect mate, and the two of you have agreed to spending forever together...it's time to find a place to host your party! In other words, you will need to find a venue. But, how will you know when you've found the right one? A simple adherence to the following venue search tips will insure a simpler search for the perfect location.

*Roomy Fit- Make sure the place is large enough to accommodate all the guests on your list. Sure, the room might look big enough now, but imagine it with tables, chairs, dj booth and a dance floor...quite different! The way to make sure your space is going to be big enough is to check it out when another wedding is being set up. Of course, if you're more committed to the venue than the guest list, you can always trim the latter.

*A great View-- What are your guests going to be focused on? I mean, besides the incredible vision of you in your bridal gown of course. When they look outside your venue, will they see the skyline of the city, mountains, a beautiful garden or forest? Will they be enraptured at the site of the architecture or the paintings on the walls? You want to make sure and find a place with a visual ambiance that enhances wedding experience.

*A place to Park-- Make sure the venue is near a large parking lot, or has ample space for parking. If not, is there another way to get everyone to and from the party such as a shuttle service or bus?

*Good Vibrations-- If a place is creepy, no one's gonna want to stick around to see the bridal bouquet get tossed. That said, watch out for venues with little to no natural lighting, echo-ey rooms (this could be the cause for reverb from the band) and a color scheme that will match the one you have planned for your wedding. All of these elements if combined correctly will give your venue a warm, celebratory feel. Guests won't want to leave!

For a look at some awesome Texas venues check out these sites: www.thevineyardsofwaverlymanor.com, www.ashelynnmanor.com, and www.silversycamore.com