Planning a wedding can be a daunting proposition, even for the most on-the-ball couple. After all, you only get one occasion to make your day of love a roaring success. From wedding décor to invitations, seating and the menu, there’s so much to account for that you’d be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed.
Thankfully, the long wait for same-sex marriage in Australia has afforded LGBT individuals ample time to envision the big occasion. When it comes to making preparations, one of the first things gay guys and girls will want to nail down is the location. While there’s a lot of improvisation that comes with wedding planning, one of the only aspects you don’t want to be confirming at the last moment is the venue. But how do you go about finding a truly fitting site for your ceremony? Fret not, we have some tips that can help make the decision a breeze.
Make Sure the Venue Supports Gay Marriage
This is perhaps the most important consideration before you make your selection. Don’t put your hard-earned money into any business that discriminates based on sexual orientation, no matter how scenic the location is.
Talk to the venue owners beforehand to get a sense of their attitude towards your union. Make sure that rates and services match up to those advertised on their website. If you notice reluctance, ignorance or a straightforward refusal of service, immediately start looking for alternative places. Your wedding is an opportunity to celebrate love and freedom and anybody looking to put a damper on that sentiment doesn’t deserve a part in the nuptials.
Plan Out the Particulars
There are a few important factors that need to be taken into account before you can start scouting out suitable wedding locations.
First priority has to be the budget. Remember you’re not just paying for a venue here; you need enough money left over for music, food, decorations and other associated costs. Once you’ve settled on an estimate for each of these aspects of the ceremony, you can figure out how much you’ll have to spend on the venue.
Make Sure the Venue Fits the Guest List
If you’re planning on a small intimate affair, the last thing you want is to sink your budget into a cavernous wedding hall. Similarly, you don’t want to be packing hundreds of guests into a tiny, private patio. Formulating your guest list beforehand will save you major logistical headaches down the road.
Settle on a Theme
While you don’t need to be too precise about the aesthetic for your wedding, you should have a broad vision about the type of ceremony you’d like. If you’re aiming for a more casual atmosphere, then an outdoor beach location or even a home wedding might be suitable. If you and your partner are a couple of romantics, then a gay-friendly church or a scenic national park may be more your style. If you want to be unique, you might consider creative indoor locations, such as a beloved art gallery or museum.
Figure Out How Much You Can Do
Will the venue provide tables and chairs? Will you need to arrange your own catering? Is there pre-arranged parking at the site? Are you allowed to serve alcohol? These are all simple, practical questions that need answering before you can pick a location.
While a unique, quirky wedding ceremony might sound great in theory, picking a difficult to access location that requires an inordinate amount of set-up will only create more frustration than fun in the long-run