Picking the wedding venue

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WVBT) - It's wedding week on the Hampton Roads Show!

One of the hardest parts about planning the big day is figuring out where to have it.

Here to help you make the decision, Amy Musick, Director of the Smithfield Center.

Need to know information before shopping for a venue:
-- Ceremony Site. Is the church the same site as the reception? If not, use a church within a 30 minute driving distance from reception venue.
-- Think about the preferable time of year you would like to get married. If you are planning to get married in less than 12 months, be flexible! Selecting a venue before nailing down your date is very important
-- Draft a guest list from both sides of the family so you know your venue can accommodate it
-- If you have a lot of out of town guests, you want to make sure there are suitable overnight accommodations in the area

Once you find the venue, these are the questions you need to ask:
-- Discuss the time requirements. What time must the event end by? How much time is there for setup? Can setup be done on the day before?
-- Discuss deposits and rescheduling policies. What accommodations does the venue provide? Is there an extra charge?

You can stop by the Smithfield Center on 220 North Church Street, Monday - Friday or call: 757-365-9939