CHOOSING WEDDING VENUE - Wedding planning guide

Finding the right wedding venue is a crucial stage of your wedding planning journey as the location and space configuration would potentially define your further costs for transportation, decoration, kitchen and even wedding day timeline. But before headlong rushing to scout the wedding venue please sit back and reflect on your desired style, the overall concept of celebration: should it be indoor or outdoor, more casual or preferable classy style, independent venue space or facilitating conventional banquet format of the reception.

Please mind what functions will you do on the day itself – civil ceremony or ROM followed by a reception or only wedding dinner with an after-party. Thought of the most appealing wedding day scenario and write it down. Examine your every next step referring to the scenario and designing it smoothly, logically and comfortably. Try to integrate every part of the timeline in the same or neighbouring location. Unless you want it totally different style.

Seriously think about the compatibility of your overall concept/style with the venue you are considering. If you are envisioning a more rustic, natural and organic style wedding, influenced neo-boho concept please do not put it in one row with a hotel ballroom. It is absolutely contrary ideas that do not benefit each other and generate a cacophony of the overall wedding atmosphere. Better look into outdoor or terrace alike, back yard or barn style or at least blank canvas democratic space to set up the latter style (though better get a wedding planner or stylist consultation).

Most of the brides are not versed in how styles and design concepts coordinate between each other and it is absolutely okay as a bride doesn’t have to. There are people of that competence to make things work best together. Personally, I feel very sad seeing a lot of disproportional and incoherent wedding styling in Malaysia. Most of that caused by the wrong venue consideration in the first place.

TOP 10 QUESTIONS to ask YOUR WEDDING VENUE

Here are the key questions you need to ask your potential venue before considering in order to build the right understanding of the concept and policy as well as secure yourself from unexpected costs.

1. What is your comfortable capacity for ceremony/ reception/ cocktail?

2. What is your rental rate/ minimum spend?

3. What is included?

4. Do you specialised in hosting weddings?

5. What are the payment policy and security deposit?

6. Will an agreement be signed?

7. What is your operation hours? Any surcharge for overtime?

8. How many restrooms do you have and where are they located?

9. What are your alcohol policy and corkage charge?

10. Do you have any other event on the date?

I have my personal more detailed questionnaire I use to examine any venue and that helps to reveal all hidden stones on the early stage and define what positions and conditions must be further stipulated in the agreement.

I would like to draw your attention to that venues normally have very vague and only solely beneficial agreement. Therefore, it is highly advisable to engage your own solicitor to produce a more thorough agreement between the parties. As you may remember venue and reception are the largest investment out of all wedding budget and I would encourage you to protect yourself to do not regret later.

TYPES OF VENUES in Kuala Lumpur

As you may know nowadays the pool of event venues are emerging faster than ever before as the modern generation of newlyweds is demanding a greater experience and set up for the celebration that ballrooms and dewan can’t longer facilitate.

The biggest issue here is in the race for clients and sales pushing they produce multipurpose spaces that don’t have essential atmosphere and comfort. You need to do expertise research before booking a brand new venue in KL or throughout Klang Valley.

Having said, that here in Midsummer Events we regularly monitor new locations and examine them in conformity to our standards we are glad to share our list of recommendations:

TOP 5 OUTDOOR VENUE Kuala Lumpur / Klang Valley

• Tamarind Springs

• The Seavoy House

• Rama V

• The lawn & Deck @ KL Pac

• The Sphere @ Bangsar South

TOP 5 OUTDOOR VENUE OUTSKIRT KL

• Telang

• Tiarasa Clamping

• Villa Nadia

• Banjaran Hot Springs

• Gita Bayu, Seri Kembagan

TOP 5 INDOOR VENUE KL

• Colony @ Star Boulevard

• De.Wan 1958 @ The Linc KL

• Pampas Old Malaya

• Fook

• Conservatory @ EQ

TOP 5 INTIMATE VENUE KL

• Pokok

• Villa Samadhi

• Garden in Majestic

• The Orchid Conservatory

• The Private Dining Room @ Ritz Carlton KL

TOP 5 GLASSHOUSE VENUE KL

• Glasshouse Le Meridien

• Glasshouse Forest Valley

• Glasshouse Ampang

• GlassBox @ Tamarind Square

• WH3 Warehouse @ Depot

TOP 5 LARGE SCALE VENUE KL (500+ GUESTS)

• Depot Sentul

• Bayswater KLCC

• Glasshouse @ Forest Valley

• REX KL

• Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

TOP 5 NON-CONVENTIONAL EVEN SPACES KL

• The Godown

• Port Commune

• Brick Studio

• GM Hall @ GMBB

• Indicine @ KL Pac

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TOP 7 THINGS COUPLES MISS OUT CHOOSING WEDDING VENUE

The venue seems to be your dream one, the site inspection brings more impression and presentation by the sales manager is just firming your intention to go and seal the deal. The package brochure seems to cover all aspects and T&C. At the end of the day, there are no the same suitable options and it’s better to decide until it’s too late. All the factors give the pressure and settling this milestone promising you to move on with the next wedding planning stages. BUT whatever clear the venue proposal sounded couples are still missioned out some crucial aspects just because they are not experts (do not have to be by right) and can’t foresee all miscellaneous required to guarantee every vendor service execution. Not their fault at all! Just they don’t know all the behind scene procedures of vendors. That can turn into extra costs enforced afterwards.

We would like to list the TOP 7 CRUCIAL OVERSIGHTS:

1. booking venue before hiring planner

2. booking venue before submitting the entire wedding budget

3. booking venue before submitting wedding concept/design

4. optimal guest capacity

5. setup & dismantle time

6. overestimated PA system & lighting facilities

7. loading/unloading bays and lifts for vendors

Asking yourself why the above missing can result in the big issue? Click here for an explanation.

HOTEL BALLROOM vs WEDDING / EVENT VENUE vs BLANC CANVA VENUE

Admittedly, the final eventual wedding venue selection will impact the overall concept and ambience of your wedding day. In the search for the ideal one you should remember that perfections are weak and may never end up in one place, every venue has got certain disadvantages and its unique benefits. Set your priorities, consult with your wedding planner, discuss with your fiancé and surely coordinate with your budget. You will find your type for sure. We have made our own cross-analysis of pro & cons for wedding venues in Kuala Lumpur that may help you with shortlisting. We did our cross-check at many parameters such as accessibility, price range, policy, staff expertise, offer availability and many more. You may find the pro-cons table here.

All the best in your wedding venue scouting and confirmation!