What is on your must have list

KMA1327

I am maid of honour for my girlfriends wedding and she has asked me to take the lead in planning for her. I am more of a numbers and spread sheet kind of girl and my husband and I ended up eloping. I know what I would look for and her preferences as well but also wanted to hear what other brides are doing. So I was wondering what was on your priority list when budget isn’t a factor. What are your must haves for a venue? What are your deal breakers.

CrazyCatLady3

This is really going to depend on the individual couple and their personality. I did not want a very traditional-looking wedding so I nixed formal ballrooms, catering halls, country clubs etc. We are having our wedding at an upscale rooftop lounge. However other people dream of traditional ballroom weddings. I think you need some direction from your friend.

In general though, we wanted something modern, well-kept, top of the line catering and full service included.

alm&mdm

Our biggest priority was space. We have always known our wedding would be very large and when you get into our size range, even in Chicago, options are limited. We were lucky and our dream location could fit everyone and some.  You'd need her I estimate of guest list size. And does she want a simple garden wedding or an extravagant ballroom affair? Some brides don't like hotels for receptions. Does she need to plan a site near a specific church, etc?

Next for us was food and drink. But again this is super personal. You'll need more guidance from her. 

Maybe you could work on some inspiration boards or something together?

Jells2dot0

I agree with pps that a wedding is super personal and you should have some sort of initial planning discussion. What you or I may find to be important may be VERY different from the couple getting married. In fact, it will vary even between weddings for the same person! I am on my second marriage and my first and second weddings could not have been more different (traditional ballroom wedding with many guests and what one would consider to be a black tie event versus an elopment on a remote beach).

delujm0

You are a really awesome friend for agreeng to plan your friend's wedding.  Having planned my own wedding now, I can guarantee you I won't be planning anyone else's until my own currently unborn children are getting married.

 

You don't have to do this.  If this bride would outwardly ask you to plan her wedding for her, I'd be worried about other future demands coming down the pike.  But assuming you've considered that and are fine with it...

 

..make sure the venue has more than enough space for the full guest list (make sure everyone on the initial guest list has a SO or +1 added just to be safe).  The venue should ideally have max capacity of your total guest list plus 10-20% (to allow room for bars, dance floor, etc).  Make sure that the venue will allow cash or consumption bars (paid for by the host and not by the guests).  Make sure that the reception or cocktail hour can begin immediately after the ceremony ends (as soon as the first guests arrive at the reception venue from the ceremony, apps and drinks should be available). 

 

Make sure you know her priorities - for us, we are getting married in a city, and a skyline view was priority #1.  Though there are dozens of wedding venues in the city, many of them are first floor or windowless ballrooms.  There are only 3 venues that are large enough for our guest list with a skyline view.  So that's where we started - by visiting those 3 venues.

KatWAG

KMA1327 said:

I am maid of honour for my girlfriends wedding and she has asked me to take the lead in planning for her. I am more of a numbers and spread sheet kind of girl and my husband and I ended up eloping. I know what I would look for and her preferences as well but also wanted to hear what other brides are doing. So I was wondering what was on your priority list when budget isn’t a factor. What are your must haves for a venue? What are your deal breakers.

Why are you planning your friends wedding? Its one thing to help out but another to be calling vendors and dealing with budgets.

And FWIW, everyone is on some sort of budget, whether that be $5,000 or $500,000 or $5 mil.