Conservative Sites
Wedding bells are ringing! You've probably heard or read that phrase dozens of times on the television or in the newspapers. In the past (and sometimes even now), when a couple ties the knot in a church, the church bells are set off in celebration of the happy event, therefore the phrase.
Nowadays, one of the top dream places for couples to get married in would be a church, synagogue, mosque, or some other place of worship. In fact, even couples who are generally not religious may tend to wish for such a wedding, no doubt due to the image mass media has painted of weddings today. Needless to say, if the couple getting married is familiar with the person in charge of their desired religious site for the wedding, then arrangements can probably be made with a few phone calls or meetings.
What if, let's say, you are tasked by a couple to locate a church for their wedding when they are not really members of the church? Much has to be considered in this case. Remembering that a church is supposed to be first and foremost a place of worship and not a place of wild merriment, the planner will need to shortlist a number of churches that they can call up. Talk with the couple and ensure that they understand what are the dos and don'ts if they wish for the church's cooperation. Let the church authorities know that the couple is sincere in their request and will abide by any rules they set. It is important to remember one always needs to be polite when carrying out this task. Not all churches or places of worship may welcome calls of this nature, and a little courtesy goes a long way in getting a lot done.
Once approval is obtained, get a copy of the church's regulations, especially with regards to things like decoration, photography, music, dress code, and the like. Any vendors involved in the ceremony will need to know as well, so provide them with a copy too. Be discerning about the music you will choose to play during the ceremony. If the church only allows religious hymns, for example, then it will not be appropriate to play the couple's favourite heavy-metal rock band during their walk down the aisle.
Other Sites
If holding the ceremony in a religious place is not on your or the couple's minds, then there are many other fascinating venues to consider. Another popular spot is a hotel, where both the ceremony and the reception can be held together in different rooms, making the setup seamless and convenient for both the newlyweds and their guests.
Outdoor Sites
Some romantics may prefer to hold their ceremony while basking in the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. Certain questions immediately come to mind, which a wedding planner will do well to consider. What can or will be done about jarring sounds like noise from airplanes or passing vehicles that are out of the control of the site manager? Is there enough lighting for the whole site? Will there be microphones and amplifiers that can ampify your vows so that all the guests can hear you? If the sunlight is too strong, will there be shelters for the guests? And what if there is rain? What's the contingency plan?
Whether a couple chooses to have their ceremony indoors or outdoors, you as a wedding planner will probably need to have the following few things in mind:
1) How many guests are attending?
2) Will everyone have a seat? Or just some? Or are they all expected to stand?
3) Is the food served or will the guests have to help themselves?
4) Is there a room for smokers?
5) Is there a need to prepare alcohol or vegetarian food?
6) What decoration will be used on each of the tables?
Home Wedding
If the couple have a house that is large enough to accommodate all their guests, they may choose to hold the wedding at home. This can be one tough cookie, as you will need to make many serious decisions that will involve the personal property of the very people you are helping. Some points to note:
1) Cost of renting items like generators, chinaware, decorations, etc.
2) Parking space for guests and vendors. There may be a need to engage valets or traffic coordinators so that you do not disturb your neighbours and sour their day just to make your own.
3) Rental of portable toilets
4) Cleaners and gardeners to spruce up your house for the ceremony
5) Contingency plan in case of bad weather, especially if the couple intends to hold an outdoor reception
Club Wedding
If one of the couple is a member of a certain club, they may save quite a lot by renting a venue from the club instead. Considering how clubs nowadays generally have almost the same high standard of food and service as hotels, the choice may be obvious for some. However, checking the venue beforehand is of utmost importance as daily use by members may have worn out the furniture and fittings of the rooms the club offers for the ceremony. For non-members, some restrictions may be imposed.
A good wedding planner (see wedding planner singapore) will be able to utilise their experience and give the couple good advice about this. If you're planning your own wedding, well, common sense and a lot of research will be necessary, but trust me, it will effort well spent for ensuring that everything works out in the end!
To help you along, perhaps you can consider some of the following questions: What are the fees involved in renting a club location for the ceremony? Will they allow other club members who are not wedding guests into the location during the ceremony? What are the parking fees like, and are there enough spots for all guests?
Other Creative Wedding Venues
For those who want a unique and unforgettable wedding ceremony, they may wish to hold it on a romantic yatch or ship. For a wedding planner, this means you'll need to think of the safety of the guests and also whether there is enough room onboard for everyone. Keep in mind that once the ship sails off, there is no turning back until it makes its round and reaches its destination. Keeping in mind there may be some guests who do not get along well with ships and such, three hours or less is just about the ideal time for the ceremony to be held on such a location.
Other good places to consider may be venues like museums, vineyards, farms, castles, orchards, or anything historical or perhaps meaningful to the couple. A resourceful wedding planner should have many suggestions to offer and are equally good at arranging something to the couple's liking.
Don't be afraid of picking a strange site, if that's what the couple really want, but at the same time, have backups for everything - especially the weather! Be respectful when approaching the managers of venues, keep throwing suggestions back and forth with the couple, and soon, you'll have one more beautiful wedding to add to your long list of successes. And if you're doing this for your own wedding, well - this will be one of the most meaningful projects you could ever spend your time on!
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