Fairfield County Wedding Venues.

It's all about the location
First & foremost, congratulations on your engagement! The first step of course, will be establishing where & when you and your fiancé will be getting married. This can be a daunting task, especially in beautiful Fairfield County, where each wedding venue seems more magical than the next. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

• Before anything else, sit down with your fiancé & create a list of what you want, keeping in mind both of your personalities. What kind of vibe do you two want on your wedding day? Something rustic & natural, elegant & sophisticated, a garden wedding, or something more spiritual? This will make it much easier to not get swept away by something that you don't really want.
• Choose a few preferred dates that you might want for the wedding day. This will help you if you fall in love with a location but they are booked on your first choice date.
• Some wedding venues are better for winter events while others look most amazing in the summer months. Choose your venue with this in mind.
• Create a budget of how much you are willing to spend on a wedding venue.
• Try to figure out how many people you are going to invite to your wedding. Ensuring that everyone has enough space to mingle, dine, & dance is a top priority. Be sure to consider the venues ability to accomodate individuals you are inviting: can elderly & physically disabled folks be accommodated at the venue?
• Talk about whether or not you would like to make a weekend of it -- this is, in my opinion, the very best way to make the most out of a destination wedding in Fairfield. If you do decide to do this, consider renting a large house for the whole wedding party or family members..
• Stop by the local tourism center. They'll have loads of information about Fairfield and the surrounding towns that makeup the county & may be able to suggest some alternative wedding venues that you haven't considered.
• Walk through each & every venue you are interested in. Bring a camera & take photos of your favorite details at each location.
• Go to the venue, especially for outdoor weddings, at the time you plan to get married.
• Ask the other wedding vendors you have hired which venues they have liked the best. Most importantly, ask your wedding photographer this question. They will know which wedding venues are the best for wedding pictures.

Questions to Consider While Touring a Wedding Venue You don't want to fall prey to the beauty of the venue & forget to ask some very important questions. Keep these in mind while touring every venue & don't sign anything until you have answers to these questions.

• Do they have an in-house caterer? Can you bring your own?
• Do they have a coat check & ample bathroom facilities? What is the parking situation?
• Is there a reception package & what does it include?
• Do they have enough chairs, tables, utensils, glasses, etc for your guests or must you rent them from elsewhere?
• How long can you have the reception space for? Is there an overtime fee if you go over? Is there a minimum amount of time it must be rented?
• Is there a wedding coordinator at the venue or will you be responsible for coordinating & troubleshooting yourself? (You don't want that!)
• What is the payment schedule? What is the down payment? Are there any hidden costs?
• Will there be another wedding before/after yours?
• Are there kitchen & cooking facilities?
• Is there a dress code you must inform your guests of?
• Do they have their liquor license? Can you bring in our own alcohol? Do they have a bar? If not, can you set one up?
• Is smoking allowed?
• Is the place air conditioned/heated?
• Are there regulations about what kind of music can be played? Does the music need to end at a certain time? Is there a decibel restriction? Do they have their own sound system?
• Is there enough room for a band or DJ & dancing? Are there ample electrical outlets?
• Is there a place for the couple to change & relax?
• Where are the best places for photographs?
• Do they have an open flame policy?
• How much decorating will you have to do for this venue?
• If the reception is at a different site from the ceremony, what is the distance? Do they have the same style? Can they accommodate the same number of guests?