Location seems to be the theme to my life at the moment...not only am I trying to plan my wedding among 10 others, but my fiancé and I are also looking to buy a home. We are struggling with the price we can afford and being in the location that we know is good for us. Where in the world do you cut corners when buying a house? This is the place where you are going to spend the majority of your time, isn't it? I am sure the same applies when finding the perfect office space, and I KNOW it applies when planning a wedding.

Most couples have a "vision" of their day, a feel that they want their guests to have when walking into a room. They want it to be uniquely them and not just a random room with flowers and bows, but rather a home for the next 6+ hours! There is a lot of pressure when it comes to selecting a venue, and a lot of different factors that play a part.

Photographer: Michelle Lindsay | Venue: Historic London Town & Gardens

For most, the biggest factor is the price (totally understandable). When looking at the price of a venue, make sure you have a good grasp on what that rental fee includes and what will be executed by that venue before signing on the dotted line. Make a priority list before going to look at the spaces to determine even before you walk in what is a must have and a breaking point. If you would like a venue & site tour checklist, shoot me an email and I would be happy to share! Until then, here are just a few of the many questions to ask yourself when going on your search:

• What is the capacity of both the ceremony and reception spaces?
• What services does the site rental fee include?
• If outside, is there an acceptable rain plan?
• What is the demeanor of service personnel you encountered during your visit?
• What is the parking situation?
• Will my event be the only on the site that day?
• Is there on-site catering? If so, what is the average cost per head?
• Are there any restrictions as far a decorations, sparklers, etc.?
• Are there any scheduled renovations in the near future?

Since I've seen my fair share of venues, my fiancé and I selected our venue right away. Most people are NOT like this and it takes a great amount of time to find the perfect fit for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions and be very specific with the person whom you are working with. There are often fees that are later added that you are not aware of when signing the contract such as gratuity and tax. This is all very dependent on the venue you are interested in and what all is included such as catering and labor. Make sure to get down to the nitty gritty and find out exactly what your per person and final cost would be when all is said and done.

Photographer: Shawn Hubbard | Venue: Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

Keep in mind that there is always going to be something that pops up, no matter how well logistics are planned or how organized you are. Weddings are all unpredictable! Whether it be an added fee to the venue for some reason or something gets left behind at the end of the night by a vendor and cannot be found... make sure you can leave at least 5-10% of your budget for unexpected expenses, just in case. In saying that, try not to let your venue be the only thing you can afford. Make sure you have room for the pretty things and not just the space; it is a wedding after all, a girl's gotta have her dream come to life!

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Adriana Del Sesto is head Event Coordinator at 2hands Studios & Director of Events at Historic London Town and Gardens in Annapolis, MD. In addition to planning 80+ weddings a year she is a total foodie, lover of painting, & dancing, and is engaged to her middle school sweetheart! She now gets to be her own bride as well as plan many other weddings in the middle of it all! Adriana graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Sports/Entertainment/Event Management.