Adventures in Event Coordination: Location, Location, Location

One of the most important things about planning a wedding is the location. Once you've found an ideal location, half of the planning is done.

But how does one choose a location? It all depends on what your preferences are. For example, are you envisioning an outdoor or indoor wedding? Or maybe the ceremony outdoors but the reception indoors? Do you want a place with a view? If so, is it city lights/ skyline view, mountain view, or ocean view? Will it be a day time or night time wedding? Which day of the week? Of course, the space you choose needs to match the number of guests you have. Just like buying a house, you should also consider locations within your budget so you don't break the bank.

Once you've narrowed down what you want, then the search for that ideal location is easier. It's much harder to do the search when the bride doesn't know what she wants.

So for Hye's wedding, the location search was pretty easy, because she was getting married at her now husband Gerardo's church.

Ceremony location, done.

The reception location obviously should be close to where the ceremony was going to be held, so it's easier for the guests to travel from one location to another.

Here are the three locations for reception that I took Hye to see:

Facility # 1 - about 5 miles from the church

Pros: most affordable reception with an inclusive package except for service charges; mountain view
Cons: Only the club house was available. The layout of the room was a little odd. The room was also undergoing some remodeling, and it's hard to picture the space before the remodeling is done.

Facility # 2 - about 7 miles from the church

Pros: room has large bay windows that goes from floor to ceiling with an amazing view. Package is almost all inclusive, except for alcohol. Complimentary one-night hotel stay.
Cons: located in the residential area, valet parking is required. Many events at the facility that day, can't set up before 5pm.

Facility # 3 - about 8 miles from the church

Pros: Beautiful historic grounds. Very grand. Lots of potential for creativity.
Cons: Too expensive. Cost of site rental alone without food is $5,000! The location is so big that it's confusing where to park and where the event is taking place.