You may have the perfect place in mind. It may be your favorite restaurant with the absolutely delicious food. Maybe it's the most popular place in town. Could it be the biggest structure in the city with the absolutely fantastic view?

Here are some things to keep in mind if you're still looking for the perfect venue:

- Is it available on your preferred day? A really popular venue for weddings usually has to be booked months in advance to be sure of getting the place.

- How will they charge you for the use of their venue? Do you rent the room on a per hour basis or is the cost of the room waived if you order food from their in-house catering service? How many hours will you be able to use the venue at the fee they quote you? Is there a charge in excess of say, 3 hours?

- Do they have an in-house catering service? No problem if this place is a restaurant you specifically chose for their food. If not, you may end up having to find a caterer of your own.

- If the food will be handled by the property owners as well, check if they have a corkage fee if you bring in additional beverages and wines. Since the cakes are usually created by special bakeshops, will they charge you for the cake slicing?

- An often overlooked item is the temperature control of the place. Make sure that the venue has proper ventilation, sufficient fans or air-conditioning. The only thing that should be roasting at your event is the food.

- Parking is something you should check as well. This convenience is of primary importance to your guests who will drive. Valet service would be a plus.

Don't forget to get all their quotations, as well as the final agreement in writing. You want to be protected in case they don't deliver what you asked for. This will be the only way that you can prove if they met their promises or not.