Each decision you make about your wedding party plays a part in crafting your big day. It would help if you were careful about your decisions because every small decision is crucial for your big event. One of the main and big decisions is selecting a perfect venue for your big day within your budget. To set the perfect wedding vibe and tone for the wedding, you must choose your venue carefully. Ink Charleston is the perfect venue for all types of wedding after-parties.
Venue Questions You Should Be Asking
- Pricing and Availability
Is my date of choice available? If not, are there any surrounding dates available? Or do you have a waitlist for dates? Ideally, you’ll want to be the only event on-site on your wedding day, as having other events happening can result in less setup time, limited venue access, and confusion for your guests. If you’re not guaranteed to be the only event that day, find out how much it would cost to do a complete buyout and ask how the staff handles having multiple events at once. You can search for event venues near me if the venue is unavailable.
- Payment
How much is the deposit? How do you structure the payment schedule? If your venue doesn’t require you to use their vendors, ask if there are any they recommend most highly. A vendor who is familiar with your venue will already know the quirks and challenges of the space, which will make your planning process that much easier.
- Logistics
Is the site handicap accessible? Are there noise restrictions? How many bathrooms are there? Sometimes the use of parking is included in your site rental fee; sometimes, it isn’t. If there is a fee and your rental doesn’t cover it, ask how much it would cost for you to pay for your guests’ parking for the evening.
- Event Specifics
A venue like a hotel will usually have staff available to help arrange and set the tables, then help pack up any rented glassware, flatware, and dishes at the night’s end. Confirm exactly what the venue’s staff will do so you can pass that information on to your other vendors.
- Food and Drinks
- Do you have an in-house caterer? If so, are food and beverages included in the venue rental fee?
- If there is no in-house caterer, do we have to choose from a list of approved options, or can we hire our caterer?
- Do you have a food and beverage minimum? What are the consequences if we don’t meet it?
- Do we have to purchase liquor through you, or can we source liquor elsewhere?
If your venue does allow you to buy your alcohol, they may charge a fee to serve it on the property, which is still often much less than the price of ordering straight through the venue.
Wedding After-Party Etiquette
From who should host to day-of logistics, here are answers to the most commonly asked questions about the wedding after-parties. This is a matter of both personal preference and venue restrictions. The after-party can take place in event venues near you or in a setting totally different from the reception to ensure that guests understand where one ends and the other begins. This can either be at the same venue, in different vicinity, or in an entirely new location. Or, the party can continue in the same room as the reception where “the music changes, the lighting gets lower, shoes go off,” says Weiss. The timing of the after-party usually depends on the band, if the newlyweds choose to have one.
This is possibly the biggest party you’re going to throw for yourself, so you might as well really get to enjoy it. Be selfish with your big day, and drag the fun out for as long as possible and with any theme that excites your heart. We guarantee guests won’t mind celebrating your love for a little longer.
