Any newlywed or bride to be will tell you that when planning a wedding, the first thing you do is book the reception venue.
There are many beautiful luxury hotels to choose from, but waiting lists can still be long so it's best to start looking early to avoid disappointment.
After the excitement of your engagement settles down, thoughts will turn to the venue - maybe you want to eat, drink and dance your wedding day away at a luxury hotel near to your home, or maybe you want to go further afield.
There are a number of key decisions to make - how many guests will you need to cater for, do you need a hotel with a chapel or are you getting married in a church and if you are is the church close enough to be practical? These are just some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you start looking for your perfect hotel venue.
Deluxe Hotel Weddings You wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and no matter how much your husband to be moans about how many reception venues you are dragging him around, it's important to be sure you are picking the correct deluxe hotel for your day.
Make sure you book an appointment with the wedding coordinator who will take you on a guided tour of the premises - most luxury hotels have a dedicated wedding planner on hand to help you with the arrangements - don't just assume you can turn up and look around.
Try to book an appointment for a Friday or a Saturday when the hotel is likely to be setting up for a wedding, as you can see how it is likely to look for your wedding day.
You may walk into a luxurious hotel and fall in love with it straight away, but make sure you keep your practical head on before your heart runs off with the decision.
Ask to see the honeymoon suite if you plan on staying at the hotel the night of the wedding, and if you can, negotiate a tasting session into the package - even the most opulent hotel may not serve exactly the cuisine you are looking for and it's vital to taste the wine you will be offering your guests.
Book Your Venue With Confidence It's all too easy to panic and jump in feet first when booking your wedding venue, as you hear stories of brides having to wait years to get that perfect mid-summers day.
However, with so many luxury hotels to choose from it's definitely worth taking some time to visit as many as possible.
You will look back on the photo's in years to come and be grateful you researched and found the perfect venue.