4 IMPORTANT FACTORS BEFORE FINALIZING A WEDDING VENUE

One of the first big decisions that many wedding planners help their clients make is choosing a venue. All wedding planners have a list of their favorite wedding locations, but sometimes your clients are looking for something different. Identifying potential problems before your client signs the contract reduces the stress and headache a lot during the wedding planning process. If you find yourself travelling to new places to finalize a venue, look for some of these common red flags by wedding planners Atlanta.

À la carte pricing: When reviewing venue prices with clients, note what the total cost of the venue is. If each product is a separate cost, the total can be much higher than your customer’s expectation. Many places have a standard fee with some extras, including overtime or a cleaning fee. If the site has a separate fee for each item, dig deeper. Although this type of pricing seems like it allows your customers to pay only for what they need, it can cost more than a fixed fee. Often, these additional costs can add up on the day of the wedding resulting in a higher-than-expected post-wedding bill. Separate pricing can make items like tables and chairs cost per piece higher. If your client ends up at venues with a la carte pricing, make sure you have a clear understanding of which authorities must approve wedding day surcharges so there are no surprises the next day.
High staff turnover: It's always a good idea to look at the longevity of the on-site staff. This information is often found in online reviews and surveys of previous couples. Working with new hires on-site can result in a learning curve as it can be difficult to facilitate communication between outgoing and incoming staff. Documenting every conversation is always a good idea. This way, if the venue changes staff, you have a paper trail. If most of your communication is in person or over the phone, send a follow-up email with all details discussed and ask for confirmation.
Negative reviews: The number of negative online reviews about the location immediately raises doubts. If your customers like the site but the reviews are bad, ask the site representative if they have any past customers you can contact about their experiences. A professional wedding venue should always have a list of happy customers ready to sing their praises.
Complicated or one-sided contracts: COVID-19 has taught the wedding industry to always pay attention to the contract to protect the site and make sure the site agreement is not one-sided. A good agreement should clearly state what happens if the couple separates or unexpected circumstances arise. While the contracts have certainly been tightened since 2020, they shouldn't be too difficult. A site contract that you or your client don't understand is a red flag. If the couple wants to move forward with the place, advise them to consult a lawyer to make sure the contract covers their rights as a tenant.

Remember that your clients are counting on you to help them make the best possible decisions when choosing a wedding venue. Regardless of where they end up, the best advice photo booth Atlanta give is to get event insurance. Many places require this, but even if it's not part of the contract, it is always a good idea to have extra protection.