Are you getting married soon? Getting married is exciting and full of decisions to make. At this stage in the game, why not life hack it? Want to wedding venue shop like a pro?

Consider all of your options.

When it comes to venues, makes sure that you’re keeping an open mind. Having your heart set on a certain venue is nice, but ultimately you want to appreciate every space for what it is. Some will not meet your wildest expectations but you will be able to have other options to fall back on if you’re open to multiple spaces.

See venues in person.

Give yourself permission to see as many venues in person as you feel comfortable doing. Sometimes you really need to just be in a space to see what it offers as pictures can mislead or do a space injustice. You definitely should visit any venue you’re considering before booking it– that is for sure!

Keep your budget in mind.

Always ask what a venue will cost to book up front. That way you know how it fits in your budget and potentially you can move on to looking at other venues and then figure out what you’d like to do. Having your budget in mind and sticking to it means less stress overall.

Consider what a venue does bring to the table as opposed to what it doesn’t.

Sometimes you’ve got to look at what a space really offers to appreciate it fully. If you have an endless list of what you want and what you don’t want, the likelihood that a venue will fulfill every single thing on your wish list is low.

What would you have to add (and pay for) to make the space suit your vision?

Staging a venue for a wedding or reception can be super expensive– often adding up to way more than couples originally bargained for. Picking a place that you can see yourself in without adding anything is going to be great for your peace of mind AND your wedding budget.

Ask about the deposit and book early.

The up front may be more than you want to pay. If you’re not loving the price but are open to the venue, ask if they are flexible in terms of negotiation in the future. Never hurts to have a venue in your back pocket. Be sure to book early in order to lock down a venue for a date that you KNOW you will be getting married on and works for you (if you can’t confirm that right away, don’t!).

Consider the day.

Saturday evenings are popular. If you pick any other day, you might get a better deal. Premium rates come with such popularity! Thursdays or even Fridays are a decent choice.

Choose according to how many are on your guest list and always ask total price.

Try to envision a space and what it requires to get married there. Envision everything about the day and make sure that it accommodates all of your guests! Always inquire about cost and cost with any fees or taxes added in, work within your budget!