THE EXAMINER/THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009
PAGE 3
Perfect plan
for weddings for other reasons.
Often religious locations are denomina-
tion-specific, and even if it’s the exact
look and feel you want for your wedding,
you may not be able to get married there.
Sometimes you also have to be a parish-
ioner or member of the location, and that
Know your budget before you start
takes time.
Planners regularly advise couples to
start attending services at the church of
researching locations and circling dates
their choice in order to have their wed-
ding there.
A final consideration when it comes to
No wonder finding a date and a location tion at the same location because it’s con-
houses of worship is the length of service.
for a wedding is so difficult. venient and cost-effective.
Most people want a short ceremony that
Approximately 2.3 million weddings
lasts 20 to 30 minutes. But in a church,
will occur in 2008, according to industry
Courting a Date
for example, it’s a religious service, too, so
tracker The Wedding Report. In August
If you have your heart set on a date,
it’s going to be longer.
2007, 243,000 couples got married –
having a budget will help you look for a
that’s an average of more than 7,800 a
practical location.
Countless Choices
day!
Other important factors when choosing
If you want a secular location, the
But before you start circling dates or
a date are your personal schedule and
options are limitless. You can get married
scrambling to find a location and beat the
any high-traffic events that might be
at a park, a local landmark or even at
crowd, the first thing to know is your
occurring in your area at that time. In
your house. This also is a good time to
budget. There’s no point in researching
some places, summer tourists can make
make use of any alumni or country club
locations and possible dates if you aren’t
booking difficult, and if you are planning you can have a Friday wedding and still
memberships as members often get spe-
sure you can afford the place to begin
on a lot of out-of-town guests, make sure have great wedding.
cial consideration for bookings.
with.
you will be able to reserve a block of hotel
Get stuck with a place that’s out of your
rooms.
The Waiting Game
Make sure the location fits the style
and scale of your wedding. If you’re think-
budget, and things can easily go downhill
Also consider avoiding major holidays. If the date is less important and you’re
ing casual, maybe the reception shouldn’t
from there.
Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day and the set on that perfect wedding site, just
be under crystal chandeliers. If you’re
If you spend too much on your location
Fourth of July are particularly bad, as remember it’s OK to take your time. The
inviting a large number of guests, don’t
you won’t have money for other vendors,
the price of flowers skyrockets and event average engagement in 2007 lasted for 17
cram them into a tiny room, and if you’re
according to wedding planners. It can
planners are swamped with work. months, according to The Wedding
planning a small party, don’t let it get lost
throw off the whole wedding and stress
Saturdays are the most popular days Report, and having more than a year of
in a large space.
you out by making you feel like can’t have
for weddings. Opting for a Friday or prenup time is especially important if
Visit locations at the time of day your
the wedding of your dreams.
Sunday means you not only will have a you’ve decided on a religious location.
wedding is planned to get a better feel
Some planners suggest coming up with
better chance of snagging the location you Getting married in a house of worship
and keep your personal style in mind
a total budget and then allocating 50 per
want, but you also will probably save sometimes takes precedence because
After all, it’s your wedding, and the loca-
cent of it to location. That includes food,
money by opting for a nonprime day. You churches are hard to get into and book in
tion is the foundation of it all. Without
alcohol and the place itself. Planners also
can save 20 per cent on your location advance.
just the right place to say, “I do,” all you
say clients have their wedding and recep-
budget by not going for a Saturday. And Not only that, but churches, syna-
would have is flowers and a cake.
gogues and mosques can be tricky places
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