Basic checklist for venue

Writing this checklist just in case my brother asks for it. This is basically for Chinese wedding dinner since I'll be doing dinner

If you're looking for hotel (precedence does not weigh the importance here):

• Location

• Price per table

• What kind of decorations do they provide - Backdrop, flower deco, reception counter 

• Parking rate for guests

• Corkage fee

• Complimentary drinks

• Complimentary tidbits

• Special rate/complimentary accomodation

• What type of drink do they provide for champagne fountain

• Menu

• No. of complimentary invitation cards

• Min/max no. of guests the hall can fit

• LCD/PA system

I guess that's mainly it. Get the one within your liking and budget of course. 

Tips: It's really not a good idea to spend a fortune in wedding. I know it's just once in a lifetime thing. But you and your spouse is the real lifetime. Think about your future expenditure and spend wisely within your budget. 

JO

Pre-Wed photography and Venue

There are many ways to get information or to look for pre-wedding photography and venues. 

1. Typically, going bridal shop by bridal shop to get the best quotations or 

2. You can do research online to based on others' comments and reviews or 

3. If you're lazy like me, you can lookout for bridal fairs in your area so you'll get everyone in one place and just get the best offer you can get! (Besides, there could be special promotions prior to the event!)

There was a bridal fair in my area just few days ago. So being excited for the whole week before the event, I was happy to be there. There wasn't such a big crowd there, maybe because there were another bridal fair just a month ago. So if you have missed out on this, you can always wait for the next one soon. Just got to keep lookout for it. (I heard the next one is on July or August) 

I got my wedding venue and pre wedding photography from this fair! Here's some tips:

- Take your time through the fair. Get all the brochures and information you need. 

- Ask! Ask all the doubts you have.

- Weigh out between locations and shops. Price, special deals and maybe extra benefits they can offer. 

One thing we learned through this fair. We were "pulled" to many of bridal shop booths. Everyone told us to give them a chance to preach for 2 minutes. IT WAS A LIE! Once you sat down, they began to  show you their photo album after photo album. They wouldn't let you go even if you politely told them you will consider it and maybe return after you have gather enough information to compare. One of them aggressively selling her package to us and told us that if we walk out from the booth, we might not get this offer from her again. It feels like a threat. No, we did not sign up regardless from that bridal shop. I don't like their service. It was "My dream wedding". I've heard enough from googling their reviews and finally experiencing it. I was not surprised.

We then signed up with another bridal shop. Even though there bound to be hidden costs somewhere later but I like them for their honesty and price they offer for the amount of service given. I'm not naming the shop yet until I experience the photoshoot. If they're good, I'll recommend. Oh ya, make sure you brought enough money/credit card because they might have good deal if you sign up there and then for the bridal shop deal.

We gather information that night and went to scout the venue before returning to the fair the next day to seal the deal for our wedding location. It does help really to check out the venue with your own presence to see if you agree with the location or not before the final decision making.

So we have made some progress this week and next up, informing relatives and friends maybe. I'll probably post up some checklist to look for to decide on location. 

JO

Getting the number of tables

I've heard countless times from other brides or relatives ranting about this matter and now it finally happen to me. I thought it was easy. "Why? You should know the number of your guests roughly isn't it?" Well, technically yes but you need to take into account that the number of person you invite might or might not be the total number of seats taken on the wedding dinner itself! I'm already having headache who to invite.

It's good to have a list of names prepared in advance even though you already roughly know who or the number of guests you want to invite. This helps to identify whom you want to send your wedding invitation card to and to keep track of the number of guests in your list (in case you double counted). 

Work with your other half to get the total number of tables (if you're doing the shared wedding dinner) to include his/her side of guests. You need to estimate a rough number of tables before engaging your wedding dinner venue.

Here's some suggestions on the list: (technically my baseline)

• Family
• Relatives
• Friends - School, College, University
• Work - Colleagues, Ex-close-colleagues
• Neighbors (or your-parents-friends-that-you-may-or-may-not-know-of)

After that, of course, is to hunt for wedding venue. Have a list of venues prepared and send in your inquiries and to get their proposal. It's also good to send in the inquiries as early as possible (at least a year ahead) just so that you can get an early confirmation that your dinner venue is settled. Also, some of these venue might offer you some extras and packages that could save you time and effort looking for it elsewhere. Have a checklist to see what they could offer and compare with other venue before making the choice.

JO