Make Sure You Can Answer These 11 Questions Before Booking Your Wedding Venue

Get the Full Story"This is the one!" I texted my father. You would've thought I was talking about my future life mate - but he was actually helping my dad to park the car. I was referring to my dream wedding venue.

The moment I stepped into The Garrison, a country club that is anything but stuffy, I decided I would get married there. I loved the life-size window views of New York's Hudson River Valley mountains, the natural light, and the clean white decor mixed with a few rustic farm tables. My parents, then-fianc , and I went to look at venues one week after he popped the question. Because planning a wedding in New York is just as competitive as everything else, the desired dates at hot venues go fast.

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We visited four places: a castle, an inn, a country club, and a warehouse. I didn't expect to find something so quickly. But it met all of my needs: stunning landscape, farm-to-table food, flexible price options. Check, check, check. While the decision was fairly easy for me, I've had friends agonize over where and when to host their big day. It can cause epic fights. You need to consider everything from layout to food to price to season. It's a dizzying amount of information to process; and for most couples, it's the hardest decision of the planning process.

If you just got a rock on your left hand and are feeling overwhelmed, let me make your journey to discovering your spot easier. Here, I am sharing the questions you need to ask the pros at your venue before handing over a deposit. I even enlisted Todd Smith, the wedding coordinator at The Garrison who helped me along my planning journey, for his pro tips. Keep reading to discover savvy ways to save money, snag your dream venue, and host one kickass party!

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