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Its that single most important event of your lifetime – and you want everything to be perfect. Choosing a wedding venue is a very important and first step to a great wedding plan. It sets the tone, and dictates terms to all other areas of the event – number of guests, theme and decor, caterers, etc. In India, where most wedding times are fixed on cultural practices, the venue or marriage hall forms a vital backdrop for the celebration and festivities, and specifically for south India, a venue that agrees with the weather (read hot, hotter, hottest) is crucial. You wouldn’t want the guests makeup running and them panting in their gorgeous Kanjivarams or heavy lehengas, in case you have a day ‘muhurtham’. The internet is full of advice on choosing the best High-end wedding Convention Hall in Hyderabad, but we have curated the 7 most common mistakes you should avoid while choosing the venue of your lifetime.
Let’s get real
So you have dreamt of the wedding setting ever since you have known and have been saving ideas, mood boards and pictures about it, or are a bride/groom who wants just a quiet intimate ceremony – be realistic about what you want. You cannot hope for a beach wedding in Hyderabad, and be disappointed about it! Always take into count the blessings of the weather gods. If you want a outdoor wedding, always choose a venue which has a Plan B indoor setting, in case the rain god plays naughty.
If you are planning a destination wedding, and are heading to an island, or that palace in Rajasthan, or a vineyard wedding, or even a rustic wedding in your native village to stay true to your roots – be sure of what you are going to have, and what you may need. Most destination weddings need a great deal of planning, because you may have to actually carry every single thing along, and need careful logistical coordination on all fronts.
Having a realistic expectation from the wedding venue after you consider the number of guests, budget, time of the year and cultural sensibilities, will save a lot of stress – it makes sense not to fret over an imaginary banquet hall for a dream wedding that is not viable.
The big, fat Indian Wedding guest list
In India, weddings are more than just ceremonies and celebrations. They are grand social events where people travel thousands of miles, buy new clothes to attend the wedding of their grand aunt’s-daughter’s-brother in law’s-sister’s-niece’s wedding – and it is somehow a magical, happy affair.
So even before you set out venue hunting, get a firm grip on the number of expected guests. Get a clear understand from the venue manager, of the maximum capacity of the venue. There are peak times like around the lunch or the muhurtham, where even the biggest Wedding Banquet Hall in Hyderabad can seem crowded.
Ensure you choose a venue where your full guest list can be seated comfortably. It is after all not just your wedding – it is a place where new relationships between everyone are fostered, friendships formed, and cousins catch up!
Pay attention to the design aesthetic
While most venues come with a neutral landscape that can be decorated with any design that you think would make for great Instagram pictures – photo booths and props included, remember that every space has its own limitations. If you are choosing a ballroom in a upscale hotel, there is not much that you can do with colour schemes or theme decor but scores high on comfort and food. On the other hand, a convention hall that doubles up as a wedding venue could offer great scope for decoration.
Also Read: HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOULD I INVITE TO MY WEDDING
Now is the time to evaluate your personality as a bride, and make a choice – what colour scheme would you like the setting to be? Will it match or contrast with your saree and other outfits? Should you have a colour coordinated dressing theme for your closest friends and cousins? If you love planning every detail – great! Even if you don’t, do not worry for most venues have all inclusive packages – they suggest everything and recommend all vendors from flower decorators to caterers to photographers – they have got you and your budget covered.
Keep in mind ‘Budget busters’
Oh yes, the wedding is important, but you would not want to be saddled with debt just because of it, would you? While comparing probable venues, always make sure you are looking at all inclusive rates. Many venues these days charge per person – but clarify if it includes the furniture, food and drink, electricity, valet parking and anything else that you can think of.
You can fix a budget for a venue and narrow down the options you have to consider. Beware of choosing venues that might seem a steal deal, only to find out after the wedding that you have been separately charged for every chair a guest has sat on, or water by the litre.
Now, don’t we know by now how wedding in our land are – Some dates, and some months have at least a thousand marriage ceremonies happening in the city. So always book in advance.
Think different
It is also a great idea to have a small intimate traditional ceremony for just close family and friends, and then host a lavish reception or post wedding party, where you can just let your hair down, and invite the whole world. Consider old temples, the family home, a tent in the middle of fields, a fruit orchard, or even the local museum for the traditional ceremony – it helps not being surrounded by a million people while you exchange your vows, and later you can tell the world how happy you are with the man or woman of your dreams.
But above all, just enjoy your day! It is solely yours, and is marking a lbeginning into a new phase of life.
