Finding the Perfect Place for your Big Day!

So you’re engaged, now what? First things first…where are you going to get married? Finding the perfect venue is usually the first step in the planning process, and then the rest of the wedding details will easily fall into place! When you are looking for a venue, there are a few things to keep in mind:

·         A Roomy Fit. This may seem like such a logical concept, but having a room that is large enough to hold your guests is essential!  It’s important to keep in mind that a space looks much larger empty. All of the wedding details- dance floor, bar, tables, chairs, cake tables, etc-take up a lot of space, and you want to allow the guests to have some extra room to move around. The best way to judge the size of a room is to see it set up for an event similar in size in the same room. Many times venues will allow you to stop by early on the day of a wedding to see how it looks all set up.

·         Areas for eating, drinking, and dancing. There should always be separate places for these activities to take place. When you’re standing in the space, try to imagine where each activity would take place. You want the party to flow. If the room is a strange shape, or it is just too small, the wedding will feel cramped! Try to think of what would block guest’s views, or what activity should be located next to another.

·         Privacy. This is something that is more important to some people than to others. If you would like to have your wedding in a public park or on the public beaches, it is important to keep in mind that people may be walking through during your wedding. If you prefer something more private, opt for a private beach or pay for a venue that is exclusive for events.  Some restaurants and smaller venues may allow you to buy-them out, to accommodate guests only. Also, make sure to ask about the security they provide, if any. Some venues hold more than one event at a time, and you may hear them. If this is something that you prefer to avoid, try to schedule your big day when there isn’t something else going on next door!

·         Lighting. This may seem to be a very miniscule detail, but lighting can make or break your wedding! If you’re getting married during the day, make sure that the venue has lots of windows. If it is taking place in the evening, make sure that the room isn’t too dim and check to see if the lighting can be controlled for the big entrance, dancing, and dinner. If the wedding is outdoors, are candles allowed? Where can you put them? Always be sure to visit the site the same time of day as your wedding. You want to make sure that you are pleased with how it appears visually to both you and your guests.

·         A Great View. It is always a plus to have a beautiful backdrop. Guests will love it, and it makes for beautiful pictures to remember your special day! If there isn’t a view necessarily, look at the place’s décor or architectural details- all of these things give the venue a little something special.

·         Ample Outlets. Be sure that you do a walkthrough of the room to make sure that there are plenty of places to plug things into. The entertainment will use the majority of the outlets, so make sure that their area of the venue has plenty of places for them to hook up. If the venue doesn’t host many weddings, be sure to find out their policy on bringing it outside electricity!    

·         Good Acoustics. Make sure the venue doesn’t echo too much. That could cause the band to sound funky, and it could also make it difficult for the guests to hear each other speaking! It’s good to remember that a tile or wood floor tends to amplify sounds, whereas thick carpet will muffle them.

·         Plenty of Parking. Make sure the site is near a parking lot, garage, or big empty street that allows parking. If parking is a problem, look for other ways to get everyone to the party. Can a shuttle bus or vans take guests from the ceremony to the reception?

Good Luck Venue Hunting! Have fun with it. This is where you'll spend the most important day of your life :)

Introducing: Honeymoon Pixie

Besides the joy of seeing the bride walk down the aisle, the anticipation of waiting for the couple’s first dance, and eating unhealthy amounts of cake, one of the most traditional parts of wedding preparation is selecting and giving a gift to the new bride and groom. These gifts normally center around household accessories and kitchen gadgets. Something we seldom think about, however, is this: Unless it's something the couple has expressed really needing, chances are they already have it or have no need for it. 
Many brides I know are still trying to find room for the plethora of wedding gifts they received. 

So let us ask you this: Why not give something they bride and groom can cherish forever? 
...how about an awesome honeymoon? Yes please.  

Introducing Honeymoon Pixie, a honeymoon gift registry. 

Honeymoon Pixie is just like any gift registry, however instead of registering for household items, you register for gifts to go towards your honeymoon. These can include things like a bottle of champagne, a romantic dinner for two at a restaurant on site, or even resort activities like parasailing or snorkeling. The list goes on. 

Your wedding guests visit your unique registry website and purchase gifts for your honeymoon. If you choose not to use a gift you receive, you can request to have the gift funds be sent to you at any time! 

When Honeymoon Pixie's founders, Andrew and Gina Marino, got married, they said they decided on a local honeymoon to help keep costs down and to stay within their budget.  While this was romantic and memorable, they wished they could have splurged on a more exotic honeymoon. 

Looking back, they say they would have preferred a monetary gift to take that honeymoon that they always dreamed about instead of receiving gifts they didn't really need. From there, the Marinos decided they wanted to ensure that other couples had an easy solution to this common dilemma-and Honeymoon Pixie was born!

We love love love this idea! Visit Honeymoon Pixie today to start your very own registry. Soon, you can be on your way to the honeymoon of your dreams.
http://www.honeymoonpixie.com

Happy planning :)