It’s that time of year again when we have an onslaught of inquiries from couples who just got engaged. Between the holidays, New Years Eve and Valentines Day it seems that December, January and February may not necessarily be a time of year for weddings but the office is bustling with phone calls and emails about availability. So you may ask yourself “how much time do I need to plan for my wedding celebration?” The truth of the matter is that everyone is different. Some couples can do it in 3 months (which we wouldn’t advise) and others need a whole year depending on work/school schedules, how organized they are and if they are planning a wedding outside their area.

Honestly, we think one full year will do it. As a wedding entertainment company our wedding DJ/MCs and Bands can be booked on events as far as 2 years in advance. The earlier you book the better your chances are of getting the vendors you really want! More importantly it will eliminate an enormous amount of stress that really starts to build up as you get closer to the big day. The more you have finished ahead of time the less of a “to do list” you will have 3 weeks prior to your event when you really want to be enjoying the experience. You don’t want to be running around like a chicken with your head cut off, seriously. Each Month we will be sharing with you some very easy steps in planning your wedding reception as well as our favorite vendors we love to work with. So let’s get started!

Finding your Wedding Venue

First step is to find your venue and set the date. It’s much more difficult to hire your vendors without the date set in stone. Take some time to visit the places on your “fav” list. Usually they will all be in the same area so you can schedule a few tours in one day. Remember, if you can only do a tour on the weekends because of work schedules, plan on getting up bright and early Saturday morning and heading out the door as a venue may not be able do a tour in the afternoon. Most places are preparing for a wedding that evening. Make sure you bring lots of questions including…

1. Do they have your date available?
2. How many guests can the room (area) hold?
3. What does the site fee include?
4. Is there a sound ordinance?
5. How many hours does the package include and how late can the party go?
6. Is there an on sight coordinator and if not do they require you to hire a coordinator ?

After seeing a few venues and asking the important questions, you will be able to make a conscious decision on the property that best suites your needs. Here are a few of our favorite wedding venues in the Ventura and Los Angeles area!