What we would look for in a wedding venue

At the centre of wedding planning is the venue. In fact much time is lost by couples going to and fro failing to decide on a venue. This is understandable simply because a venue is more than just a place you want to have your guests gathered. It's place that you will identify with for a greater part of your lives. You will always say 'our wedding which we had at so and so in that so and so year'.

So when we personally consider wedding venues, there are few key factors we carefully take into account in the context of the type of wedding we have in mind. However, many things are common for all venues but some are determined by the type of wedding you would like to have. The following is a list we think will help you settle for venue that suits your needs;

1. Accessibilty - is your venue accessible? The answer to this question can both be in the negative or in the positive. If your wedding is for the invited few, then a venue out of town like Mbizi Game Park or Borrowdale Brooke or Pandhari Lodge is ideal. In this case, you are expecting your guests to be driving or at least having access to private transportation. If your wedding involves busing-in the whole village, then a venue like Old Mutual Sports Club in Emerald Hill will do just fine. Public transport can get your guests there with little inconvinience.

2. Garden - are you into well kept gardens? Venues with gardens (we mean well kept gardens) are ideal if you plan to have both your ceremony (including photos) and your reception at the same place. This will serve you much needed time to get your ceremony done and photos taken at the same venue with reception. So a venue with a beautiful or at least well kept garden like the Rainbow Towers (formerly Sheraton hotel) would do provided you don't mind the human traffic!

3. Bathrooms - Please ensure that you take a personal physical inspection of the bathrooms or ablutions. Most guests who talk about your wedding afterwards amongst the top of their agenda is your cake, the food, the bridal team and the bathrooms. If there is anything you should ensure is that your venue is got reasonably well kept bathrooms. As a foot note, ensure that the cubucles have toilet rolls!

4. Friendly staff - Unfortunately, the attitude of the staff at your venue is usually summed up together with your wedding perfomance. Chat with the venue staff and check them out in as far as their attitude is concerned. Also make it known to management at the venue that you are counting in their staff as part and parcel of your wedding planning team so that you get their best cooperation. Further just being generally friendly and appreciative of their service during the planning days will reap you sweet rewards on the wedding day. So try by all means not to alianate venue staff. You need them, at least for that day. Letting them know in advance that there will be a thank you bowl going around will sure motivate them in these difficult times! You may further consider instructing your MC to give them a special appreciative mention at the begining on the programme.

So there you have it, we think these few tips will make a great difference on your wedding day!

To Your Special Day!