If you are starting out on your wedding planning journey then it’s an exciting time, but, it can also be a confusing one… not least because most wedding venues in France do not offer an ‘all-in’ package.

‘GREAT!’ I hear you cry, ‘we can have our day, our way’, and yes, that is of part of the joy of a wedding in France.

Before you get out your iPad and start searching for venues, have you considered what venues you can afford AFTER you have calculated your wedding day costs?

“I thought the venue would do that!”

or

‘I’ve over spent on my venue so have to make the rest of my budget stretch further.”

The reality is that there is a huge choice of wedding venues in France to suit all tastes and budgets, if you know where to look for them, but the cost of hiring a venue can vary vastly from one venue to another.

The cost of your wedding day, however, generally varies little from venue to venue (assuming you are comparing apples with apples!).

So, to avoid disappointment and to get a fabulous wedding venue AND the wedding day of your dreams, follow these 5 steps.

1. Fix your overall budget

Decide on a total figure that you both feel comfortable spending, taking into account any family contributions.

2. Work out what your ideal day will cost

Talk through your ‘ideal’ wedding day and research the average cost that each service required will be.  Don’t forget support services such as staff, delivery charges and equipment hire, for example. DON’T ASSUME ANYTHING!!!  This is perhaps one of the hardest areas of your budgeting as it will take time and research, but make the effort, take advice and you are setting yourself up for a lot less hassle and potential heartache.

3. Allow contingency

It may be impossible to know all costs before you know your venue or exactly which suppliers you are using.  Also, things often have a bad habit of coming up unexpectedly, so, add a contingency:  5-10% is usually good depending on your number of guests.

4. Work out your venue budget

Take your wedding day costs from your overall wedding budget and see what you come out with.  Don’t be too upset if your venue budget comes out less that you thought, you won’t be the first!  It is at this stage you can then add in any accommodation costs you are hoping to recoup from guests, as this will boost your venue hire spend.

5. Find your venue

Before despairing that you can’t afford anywhere or the venue of your dreams, do take a look around.  With over 8000 wedding venues in France there are sure to be some options for you.  If not, then this is when you need to decide where you might be happy to compromise.  Prioritise on-the-day services, identify where you might be prepared to shave some money off to increase your venue budget… and get expert help!

…get yourself in a position where you fall in love with or even commit to a venue but can’t afford to hold the wedding day you had dreamed of.  You’ll end up resenting the fact that you had to squeeze other areas so tightly or spend the whole planning process and even on the day, stressing about it.

If it all feels a bit overwhelming, why not contact French Wedding Company about our Venue-Finding Service.

We know how to find a broad spectrum of venues, understand site logistics and their impacts on costs.  We also thrive on getting creative… thinking of different ways of doing things to achieve your dream wedding.  The service includes helping you to understand your options and set your wedding day budget.

For more help with your venue search see ‘Your Wedding Venue’