Planning a wedding can at times, seem and overwhelming and daunting task. However, it needn't and shouldn't be—although it is one of the most important days of your life, it is also a joyous occasion, and planners should always try to keep this one thing in mind. Provided that you are organized and give yourself lots of time to get everything in order, wedding planning can be a great deal of fun.

Arguably the most important aspect of planning a wedding, and one thing you will want to decide on early, is where you are going to have your wedding. This guide is designed to offer you tips and instruct you on how to pick a wedding venue.

Where you decide to have your wedding will, at least in part, determine many other aspects of your special day, including what food you will serve, how many guests you invite to your wedding and the specific date of your wedding. The venue will also be one of the most expensive aspects of your wedding, so you should be certain to choose a venue that you are truly happy with and suits all your needs.http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/weddingslookwe_smdt.htm

Although hiring a wedding planner can alleviate some of the stress of choosing a venue, as they will be able to advise you on potential sites that suit your needs, you should still take the time to visit each venue to ensure it is up to your standards. Putting in some time to research, visit, and speak with the people employed at each venue will pay off in spades, as this will help you select the perfect site for your special day.

Before you start visiting potential wedding venues, take the time to sit down with your spouse to be and ask yourself the questions listed below. This will help you determine exactly what you are looking for in a wedding venue, and allow you to exclude those spaces that do not fit your needs before you waste your time visiting them in person.

1. Are you looking for a venue at which you will be able to hold both the ceremony and wedding reception? If so, be sure to look for venues that can accommodate both. If you will be holding the two events at separate places, be sure that they are not too far away from each other.http://www.ehow.com/how_2028930_choose-perfect-wedding-venue.html
2. How much are you willing to spend on the wedding venue?
3. How many guests are you planning on inviting? Although you may not have finalized your wedding guest list, you should have a good idea of relatively how many people will be attending, and ensure that you choose a location that will comfortably accommodate them all.http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/weddingslookwe_smdt.htm
4. Are there sufficient facilities—parking, washrooms, wheelchair ramps, tents or awnings (if you are planning an outdoor wedding), to suit your needs?http://weddings.about.com/cs/weddinglocations/a/venuequestions.htm
5. if you have a specific date in mind, is the venue available on that date?http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/weddingslookwe_smdt.htm

Once you have answered the above questions, as well as any more that may arise while you are discussing your plans, do some research and make a short list of potential venues that meet your needs.

Once you have a short list of wedding venues that you are considering, make a plan to visit them. When you head out for your investigation, you may want to bring a camera with you to take photos that will help you remember certain aspects of each space. You should also plan to bring a pen and notepad with you to jot down notes and questions that arise, since you may get mixed up as to specific details, especially if you visit several venues in the same day or a short time span.http://www.ehow.com/how_2028930_choose-perfect-wedding-venue.html

Some professional wedding planners advise that you visit the venues as a regular patron. This will allow you to not only view the venue at your own leisure, but also evaluate how the employees act and the level of service they provide when a large amount of money (such as that involved in a wedding) is not at stake. This may allow you to rule out some venues that offer poor service or are not up to your standards.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTsHBW1W8Q

After performing your initial investigation, look over your notes and pictures, consider the level of service you observed at the venues you visited, and scale down your list further.

Your next step should be to make an appointment to speak with the wedding or special events coordinator at each venue on your short list. Again, be sure to bring a pen and notepad with you to write down any notes or questions that arise. You may also want to compile a list of questions to ask him or her, such as:

1. Will the wedding coordinator be working the day of your wedding? If not, be aware that therein lies the potentiality for difficulty or lack of communication between the employees that are working and what you had discussed with the coordinator.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKTsHBW1W8Q
2. Is there a restaurant on site, or will you have to arrange for an outside caterer?
3. Are there any limits on the type and amount of decorations you can set up?
4. Will staff look after the clean-up, or will you have to do it yourself?
5. Is the venue licensed, or will you have to arrange for a liquor license?http://weddings.about.com/cs/weddinglocations/a/venuequestions.htm

Also ensure that you discuss any and all costs with the wedding coordinator at each venue. For example, in addition to the rental fee, you may also be asked to pay for:

1. Set-up and/or cleanup services
2. Bartenders and wait staff
3. Valet parking
4. Food and drinks

After speaking with the special events coordinator at each of your potential venues, it is likely that you will have a few, or, if you're lucky, just one, site that you feel would make a great setting for your wedding. If you're having trouble deciding, try making a list of pros and cons for each venue, or rating each on a scale of 1-10 and compare how they stack up. Choosing your wedding venue is not a decision to be entered into lightly, so make sure you're truly happy with your choice before putting down that deposit.