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Be prepared on your big day

With all of the stress and preparation that goes hand in hand with planning a wedding, there is no such thing as too much advice.

With more than 10,000 weddings under her garter belt, Bridal Events Australia founder, Director and leading wedding specialist, Mary-Anne Lowe knows exactly what it takes to be a winning player in the cut-throat industry that is the Australian wedding market - by simply giving brides exactly what they want.

Luckily, Mary-Anne Lowe was kind enough to share with Yahoo!7 Travel some of the key things to consider when choosing a venue for your wedding reception. With her advice, you'll be sure to avoid any unpleasant surprises leading up to your big day

Time of Year
The time of year that you decide on your wedding will impact on the overall cost, and by choosing an off peak month, allows the budget conscious bride to save up to 50% of the cost of the reception.

Generally March & November are the busiest months of the years, so it is advisable that you book early, but keep in mind this is also "peak period" when process and demand for services are at an all time high.

By marrying in the shoulder season, April/May & September you will save up to 20% on the costs of the reception.

For the winter bride, and that doesn't have to mean a rainy day, some venues offer up to 50% off - saving you thousands of dollars.

Choosing a Friday or Sunday will also save money, but no doubt weddings Monday-Thursday are even better value!

Location
Consider the travel time from your house to the ceremony on the day, and also if it's an easy location for you to get to, and for guests to find. Many venues offer maps to include with your wedding invitations. This is a great idea and if your venue does not provide these, you can print your own!

If having your ceremony & reception in the one location, make sure that check that there are enough facilities onsite in case of wet weather, and so that you can have all your photos in the one location.

Facilities on Site
Consider the overall facilities onsite - chapel, gardens, photo oppourtunities, etc

Also consider things like: car parking (can my 100 guests all park onsite?), disabled access (wheelchairs, prams etc), bridal change room onsite?

Exclusive Use Venue
Is the venue you are considering an exclusive use property? Many venues guarantee that they only do one wedding at a time to ensure that their complete undivided attention is with your wedding!

With an exclusive use venue you are also not restricted with your ceremony or reception times, and no chance of running into another bride when you walk out of the chapel.

Inclusions
An all inclusive package is great for brides who want to stick to a budget and many venues offer variations or optional extras that can be added.

A wedding menu can range from a 2 course sit down with wedding cake as dessert, to a cocktail reception, but traditionally a wedding banquet would consist of pre dinner drinks and savouries, a 3 course meal served alternatively and a combination of beer, wine and softdrink.

Decorations can have a big impact on the overall look and concept of the day, as well as your wallet, so the more the venue provides the less additional expenses you will have.

Chair covers are a standard inclusion at a lot of venues, as is a standard centerpiece. Many brides choose to incorporate a combination of venue supplied and external decorations to create the look and feel they want for their special day.

Minimum number of guests
Minimum number of guests are set to ensure that there is a minimum amount spent on the function. Remember when discussing minimum numbers, you are better to go for a few less rather than a few more - once you lock in minimum 100, even if you have 91, you will still have to pay for 100. At most venues children are not included in minimum numbers unless you are paying full price for them.

Length of time for Receptions
A sit down reception would normally be for a 5 hour reception, where a cocktail or luncheon would be 4 hours in duration. For formal weddings, sometimes they can be extended to a 6 0r even 6.5 hour function, so remember to check what time the bar closes!

Flexibility in the way the room is presented
Every wedding is different, so you need to check if you can set the room up as you prefer, or if it is a certain set up. Ask the venue as many questions as possible.

For example, can you have a round, oval or square bridal table? Can you have an extra table for presents, can you have a childrens table set up with activites? No question is too small.

There is a great checklist available at www.nathaniasprings.com.au

Price
Whilst this is important in the overall planning of a wedding, you also need to consider inclusions and it is better to look for value for money rather than the cheapest or dearest reception.

Overall Ambience and Feeling
The most important aspect when considering a venue is your experience in dealing with a venue and receiving the information that you request.

If a venue takes 6 days to post out a wedding enquiry for a new potential booking, how long will they take to respond to a client who is already booked? Likewise, if a venue is helpful, friendly and welcomes you from the beginning, this can be a great indication of the overall service within the business.

For more information, visit www.bridalexpos.com.au

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