Choosing a wedding venue is a challenging but exciting task for most couples. They are always looking for the perfect venue. Of course, this means different things to different people: a romantic wedding venue in the city of Budapest, a waterfront wedding venue or a tented one by Lake Balaton. Whichever you choose, here are the main factors to bear in mind.
Looking for the perfect wedding venue? Consider your options! How far are you willing to travel from where you live? And your guests? Is Budapest the only option? Or are wedding venues in Pest County also of interest? Maybe Lake Balaton is still possible? Would you travel more for a truly stunning venue?
Hint for wedding planners:
We don’t want to discourage anyone from going further afield, but please consider your options. The distance of the wedding venue can add a number of extra tasks to the wedding planning process. Venue visits require much more conscious planning with your suppliers than usual: you probably don’t have unlimited freedom and time to visit the venue with everyone and talk through your ideas. It is harder to compete with one provider against another if you need to travel several hours to get an accurate quote. You need to think about travel and accommodation for your guests, even if you’re not paying for it. Will you be able to get everyone you want to come? Don’t forget about travel costs and possible accommodation for wedding suppliers. It’s a good idea to research local restaurants/caterers, bakeries, decorators so that you don’t have to order food, cakes, wedding cakes and flowers from hundreds of miles away. These are just a few examples to think about.
Take it for granted, it’s more of an extra task than choosing a location closer to home, but most of the time it’s worth the hassle: you can find real treasures away from the busy areas.
Looking for a wedding for how many people? What are some of the events you would organize on site? Can you arrange an outdoor civil ceremony and an indoor civil ceremony in case of bad weather? Will you be able to accommodate your guests? What style of venue are you looking for?
Hint for wedding planners:
Whether your dream wedding venue is elegant, bohemian, rustic, romantic or modern, in Budapest, in the countryside or on the waterfront, be sure to visit the TOP 3 in person. Sometimes the pictures can be deceiving, the room didn’t look that big/small, I’m not looking for that atmosphere etc. We have heard these comments many times.
During the site visit, ask how many weddings are held on a given day! Consider the distance between the areas you want to use including any common areas (entrance, toilets).
Inquire about accommodation and double check availability!
When considering an outdoor on-site civil ceremony, make sure there is shade from the sun available in good weather, and a covered, cozy alternative available in bad weather.
The location of the dinner and party is also very important. For most wedding venues this is possible indoors. If you are planning a larger wedding, ask about the capacity of the venue, ask for pictures of weddings with a similar number of people. If you’re still not sure if you’ll fit comfortably, do the math!
For 150 people, you can calculate with 1.5 – 2 m2 per person for seating (225 – 300 m2). Add to that the space needed for dining, dancing, and further activities: for 150 people, I suggest an extra 100 m2 at least. If you are inviting 150 guests, you should look for a wedding venue or hall of at least between 325 – 400 m2.
How much does it cost to rent the venue? What services are included in the price? What is not included? Are the prices gross or net?
Hint for wedding planners:
In most cases, the first round of site recommendations are templates from which you need to filter out the information that is relevant to you. It’s not easy. Sometimes it’s not even easy for us. We have to ask back several times, check with some venues by phone.
Ask the wedding venues you like which services are exclusive. Check out all the available exclusive services! Ask about content and prices! Quite often, when the venue hire seems cheaper, the couple almost sign a contract, and then they realize that the other costs (catering, decoration) are much higher than with other providers, so the venue they thought affordable is quite the opposite, and it turns out to be more expensive overall.
If you don’t want to deal with all of this on your own and want to save time for yourself, contact us! We wish you a stress-free wedding planning!
Author: Kinga
