One of the first things you will consider once you are engaged, besides spending the rest of your life with your bride or groom to-be, is where you want to get married.

Sports and social clubs, castles, mansions, farms, hotels, parks, gardens, pubs, restaurants - there are plenty of options available for happy couples, so make sure you nut out with your partner exactly what each of you wants out of a venue. Remember, the right venue can make your wedding dreams come true, so do not settle for second best. Even the tightest of budgets, with a bit of imagination can turn an ordinary venue into a fantasy scene.

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Things to consider:

Get in early as many venues book out years in advance. If you are set on a particular venue but cannot get the day you want, maybe even consider changing your wedding day from a Saturday to a Friday.

Many ACT venues provide special memories and you can feel good about giving back to the local economy. Also, most of your family and guests will thank you for choosing something close-by because they won’t have to travel far for your special day.

Unless you are 100 per cent set on a particular venue, if you cannot afford it, do not choose it. If a venue is a little out of budget, you may have to consider cutting back on the number of guests.

You need to decide whether you want the wedding and reception to be at the same location or not. If you decide on a different location you need to consider travel times and how you and your guests will get from one venue to another.

A lot of venues offer wedding packages that can include catering. This is a good way of cutting costs, as well as cutting out some of the hassle.

Ask around to find out other brides’ and grooms’ experience with different wedding venues; you may be swayed one way or another depending on a great or poor recommendation. Other couples will also give you insider tips on what to expect or how to get the most out of the venue.

So you do not waste valuable time and money, organise to see the venue before booking. The best way to do this is to organise a pre-arranged time with the venue’s wedding co-ordinator or owner so you have an uninterrupted tour.

This can include rental hours, a payment plan, and cancelation policies. Also, make sure both your names are spelled correctly on the contract, especially if the venue is making up signs and menu cards.