Your reception site sets the stage for the entire party. Think about your planned budget, wedding style, your guest list size, and the general mood you want to set as you tour venues you had carefully shortlisted. In order to make the most of your trip to Croatia, make sure to check a few key points on what to keep in mind when visiting a venue, especially if you had scheduled site inspection abroad and have limited time.
In case you haven’t booked a wedding planner beforehand, here is how you can avoid beginner’s mistakes:

1. Write down the questions

Interested in pro tip? Know what questions to ask. Make sure to write those down before you go on your site tours. There are plenty of guides online that you can use but don’t forget and try to find out about local regulations and policies that may affect your decision. Working hours, music limitations, firework limitations, heritage site regulations, guest’s capacity, additional permissions to obtain, fixed vs variable parts of the offer, and contract sample just to name a few.

2. Make an appointment

Some venues are open and you can visit during their working hours, per example the restaurants. However, many of the owners withhold the addresses of their privately-owned properties or occupied with guests. Should you happen to know where any of these facilities are located, we urge you to respect the owner’s or manager’s privacy and make an appointment instead of stopping by. You could end up looking at the closed door and not being able to visit during your short trip abroad.

Plus, getting escorted around a property for a private tour is a great perk of wedding planning!

Schedule at least an hour per venue visit and leave ample driving time. You want to be efficient, but don’t over-schedule yourself. It’s best to view places when you’re fresh and your judgment isn’t clouded by fatigue.

3. Take pictures

Don’t be shy and please do take photos of each part of the venue you feel can stand out. Don’t look solely for the focal points that will amaze, but also hidden corners. Don’t forget to check the toilets, lounge area, bar, a dancing area, and the main entrance. Video is particularly useful for narrating your likes, dislikes, and any other observations while you’re shooting a venue. If your list of venues is long, make share to carefully classify photos in previously named folders.

4. Get organized

If you prearrange a meeting at the venue, you will most likely be handed out brochures and rate charts. Keep all of those in one place, preferably labeled and sorted for later comparison.

5. Fast response

Some of the most attractive venues in Croatia get booked 2 years in advance, especially with the postponements we faced last year. If your favourite wedding venue in Croatia is available on a preferred date, pencil it immediately and kindly asks for a contract and the deposit invoice with at least a week’s due date. We’ve seen love at first sight, and “wedding venue crush” is real. This will “buy time” in making the final decision.

6. Feel the city

Take your time to absorb the location and the area where you had decided to hold your destination wedding in Croatia. Even for just a couple of days, you can experience a bit of culture, indulge the local gastronomy offer and feel the vibe of the people living here. Make sure to investigate all close up cultural sights and natural wonders every region in Croatia has to offer and include that “must visit list” into a complete experience that your destination wedding will bring to your guests. Prepare to expand the list of those who want to come!

7. Details

Upon your return home, talk about your overall budget. Very often, couples don’t know how much a wedding in Croatia costs, and after your site inspection, you should be able to get a better perspective. In case you haven’t already started with wedding planning, make sure to check what you will need for the wedding day and if it’s in your budget, hire a local wedding planner in Croatia. Venues often recommend wedding planners they had worked successfully with before and a wedding planner can offer professional recommendations of all other vendors you require.

8. Sign a contract

Now’s the time to think business-like and forget about the emotions for a moment. Remember all those notes you took when you first visited the site? Compare those to the contract and make sure everything you had confirmed with the site coordinator is actually confirmed in writing in your contract. Read the small letters. I know it’s boring and you just want that part cleared, but make sure you are on the right track. Don’t hesitate to ask for help in case you are not good with legalities.

9. Make it official

Now is the time to announce your wedding date with the world. Let the journey begin!

Photography DT Studio