Ewelina Styczynska from Holiday Inn Wembley shares her top tips for finding the perfect Asian wedding venue
Are you planning your dream Shaadi with visions of colour, dancing and tradition, supported by all your relatives? Or perhaps you’re considering a more intimate affair, and would prefer to keep it simplistically modern.
Either way, getting the right venue for your Asian wedding will dictate the success of every wedding detail that follows. Before you get started, here are a few tips…
Know your timeline
Working out your timeline will shape the whole planning process of your venue search and beyond. If you have a tight deadline of eight weeks, for example, your criteria and itinerary will look very different to planning 18 months in advance.
READ MORE: Wedding venue questions – what to ask before you book
Part of your strategy should be drafting out a list of priorities to work out where the flexibility lies, i.e. if you have a meaningful date for the big day that is non-negotiable, having a shortlist of various venues will be helpful to ensure availability.
Draft your guest list
Before you fall in love with the perfect venue, brainstorm your must-have attendees to get an idea of the guest list size.
Allow leeway to account for overseas distant relatives that may not be able to make the journey, or new faces that you get to know along the way who deserve a last-minute invite. Perhaps choose a hotel venue that can accommodate guests overnight alongside the wedding to keep the party going.
Set the tone
Choosing your wedding’s theme and assessing its compatibility with potential venues will ensure there are no unwanted surprises down the line. If you intended on having an indoor firework display but the venue in question has regulations against it, you may not readily find this information straight away, unless you ask.
Ultimately, the biggest day of your life should reflect your personality as a couple, whether that’s through the traditional vibrancy of a sangeet night, or a sophisticated black-tie event. Even the smaller details like decoration of the mandap (should you wish to have one) play a big part in assessing whether the venue is a good match.
Showcase your culture through catering
Food is increasingly playing a significant part in determining the success of major life events. As it doesn’t get more important than your wedding day, nailing the spread is imperative.
You should find out from the prospective venue if they allow dry hire (this refers to outside catering), and if not, whether their in-house team are fully qualified in authentically cooking and presenting your preferred cuisine.
Choose a venue that understands your vision
When looking round a venue, be sure to do a lot of listening as well as talking. It’s easy for a wedding planner to smile and nod with every request you make, but try to take the time to really understand if they’ve bought into your vision and the significance of your culture (and/or religion).
READ MORE: How to make your dream wedding more affordable
Traditionally, in Indian culture, a marriage focuses on a new union of the whole family and your wedding hosts should appreciate that. When you’re on the same page, the projection of your dream will be achieved a lot more easily!
Find out more at hiwembley.co.uk.
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