If there was a chicken and egg question when it comes to wedding planning, it’s what you’re supposed to book first. Do you book the church first, or the venue? With such a high demand for nice churches and venues, which should you prioritize booking?
Dream churches for a Tagaytay wedding like the Caleruega Church, and one-stop destination wedding venues like the Hillcreek Gardens tend to get fully booked fairly quickly. Determining which one to book first can be nerve wracking or can even put you in decision paralysis—but fret not! We are here to help you find out the answer and make a decision that doesn’t compromise on your dream wedding.
What Kind of Wedding Are You Having?
While weddings are a loving couple’s dream come true, not all weddings follow the same rules. To know which to book first, ask yourself what kind of wedding you are having. If you’re going to have a civil wedding or a ceremony that isn’t Catholic, you can book a venue since a church might not be necessary for this kind of wedding. This is true for some Christian weddings where the pastor can marry a couple in the venue itself, with the guests seated at the reception table.
The same is also true for location weddings like beach weddings, or the garden weddings that we usually have here at Hillcreek. These celebrations tend to be more symbolic than they are ceremonial.
If you’re going for a traditional Catholic ceremony, it might be prudent to book a church first and follow through with a venue since, with a traditional Catholic wedding, the church ceremony is non-negotiable.
Do You Have a Dream Church/Venue?
The kind of wedding can help you determine which to book first, if you have to book both. However, what you’ve always wanted can also be a good determinant of which to book first. If you’ve always had a scenic dream church in your mind and getting married elsewhere is out of the question, go ahead and book that church. You can iron out the venue later! If you’re more concerned about the venue, like say a place where there’s plenty of greenery and open space for photos, a big banquet hall for the reception celebration, and a hotel where your guests can stay such as what Hillcreek Gardens have, then we’d recommend booking your venue before your ideal dates get snatched away.
Consider Dependencies & Technicalities
If you don’t have a church or venue in mind, then maybe it will help to think about the dependencies and technicalities of your wedding.
Aside from the reason for going for a traditional wedding, booking a church can be pretty tedious. There’s more steps to it than getting a reservation, like classes, seminars, and doing the necessary paperwork. With a church wedding, you also need to select a time that can accommodate your wedding. Some churches can only host your celebration on the time allotted to make way for other weddings or church celebrations like big baptisms. Lastly, for traditional weddings, the church is a dependency which means that without a church, there is no wedding.
If you are more keen on a wedding where all your loved ones can comfortably celebrate in one place, where the head count (even with their plus ones!) is not an issue, and if you have special provisions you like on your wedding (think circus acts, mini concerts, food trucks, etc.), then you have to find a place where you can make that vision happen.
If you really look at it, knowing which to book first isn’t really a chicken and egg paradox. It’s more of looking at two sides of the same coin. We’d recommend familiarizing yourself with the area, make inquiries on the churches and venues you like, ask which ones are available on the day(s) and time you want, and make decisions from there.