Photo: Sugar Branch Events 

Choosing a venue is one of the most important wedding planning decisions you’ll make as a couple. But, too often a bride will fall in love with the beauty of a place, sign the contract and forget that it should be custom-suited just like her dress.  Regardless of your guest list and budget, answering these questions before you book is a great place to start your search. Although it may be hard to find the perfect place that fits all your needs, you should look for a venue that suits your style from the beginning and not a venue that will cost thousands of dollars to make it what you want.

Everyone’s style is different, but we want to know what your venue’s style is. Which type of venue did you choose? Let us know in the poll below.

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Photo by Erin J. Photography

One of the first things you need to do after you get engaged is book your venue. This week on the blog, we’ll be discussing all things venues to help you find a wedding locale that’s just right for your style and budget. You should start by researching wedding venues in your area and visiting a few. While you’re touring venues, be sure to think about the following questions, and be sure you know the answers before booking.

Ceremony: If you were hoping to host your ceremony and reception in the same place, be sure to find out if that’s a possibility (some venues do not allow ceremonies on premises). If it’s not, are there sites nearby where hosting a ceremony would be possible?

Payment: You’ll want to be well-versed in the venue’s payment policies – obviously what their package includes, but also when payment is due, as well as any taxes or hidden fees (ask about corkage or cake-cutting fees as well). It’s also important to find out the venue’s cancellation policy.

Guests’ Comfort: Your guests’ comfort should be your primary concern. What is the venue’s capacity and will all of your guests be able to fit comfortably? The site should neither be too small nor too big for your guest count. Also, consider your elderly or disabled guests – are all parts of the venue accessible to those who are unable to climb stairs? Make sure that bathrooms are large enough and comfortable (the last thing your guests want is to spend the evening waiting in line for the restroom!), and that the venue has some form of climate control.

Decor: If you’re getting married in a space that’s already furnished, make sure you are comfortable with all of the venue’s permanent fixtures (lighting, carpeting, etc.). You’ll have to make sure that your color scheme and flowers mesh well with what’s already included with the venue. If the venue is more of a “blank slate,” find out exactly what rentals you’ll need to bring in on your wedding day – tables, chairs, dishes and flatware, lighting, etc.

Timing: Is there flexibility as to when your wedding could begin or end or are there set times? When would your vendors be able to enter the space to start setting up and how long will they have after the event for break down?

Vendors: Can you hire any vendors you want or must they be from an approved list? Be sure you’re comfortable with the answer before moving forward.

What questions did you ask your venue before booking? Let us know in the comments!

Justine Russo Photography

So, you just got engaged. You’ve probably been quite busy over the past few days staring at your ring, updating your Facebook status, and celebrating with family and friends. Now, it’s time to get down to the business of planning your wedding. It may seem overwhelming at first, but we promise, it’s completely manageable – and we’re here to help. So, where should you start? Here’s a list of the first five things you must do (in order!) to begin planning your wedding:

Photos (from left to right): Sugar(ed) Event Design & Planning and Christa Elyce Photography

Pantone revealed Emerald, “a lively, radiant, lush green,” as its Color of the Year for 2013 on Thursday.

“Green is the most abundant hue in nature–the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, in a press release. “As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today’s complex world. This powerful and universally appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors.”

Not only will Emerald translate into both fashion and home interiors but also weddings. We’ve already seen a few weddings incorporate this hue into their bridesmaid dresses, decor, tablescapes and florals, but will you incorporate this hue into your nuptials in 2013? Let us know in the poll below.

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Have you ever noticed how much food is left over from a cocktail hour or a wedding reception? There’s a lot—from leftover rolls, bread, butter, cheese, seafood, chicken, salad and desserts—that could be donated to your local soup kitchens or pantries to help those who are less fortunate.

A wedding is the perfect opportunity to give back to your community. Across America, one out of seven households is “food insecure.” That’s 17.2 million households, or 14.5 percent of all American households that are not sure when they might eat their next meal or where it will come from.

Let your event planner, caterer or venue know if you would like to donate to the hungry. Thanks to the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act passed in 1996, there are no liability issues in donating food to non-profits so long as the donation is in good faith, and the donor has not been negligent in appropriate care of the food. In fact, The New England National Association of Catering and Events’ Feeding Our Neighbors Initiative was one of the first event-industry based initiatives to encourage food donation from events.

Brides, grooms and parents should consider this option. Communication is key. Inform your caterer, venue and event planner of this information. You can even include this in your contract by adding, “leftover food will be donated to _______ and will be arranged to be picked up the following day.

However, you should contact a local food pantry or shelter at least two weeks prior to your wedding to coordinate pick-up and determine what kind of food the non-profit accepts. This will vary, with some shelters being more willing to come that night or the next day after your reception to take any leftover food, to other non-profits, who will have more limited availability and stringent regulations for what types of food are acceptable.

For more information on food donations and a list of food rescue centers in your area, please visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA.