A wedding venue that leaves you hanging in the planning process will leave you hanging on the actual day. That’s not to say they literally won’t respond to you, but their response may be slow or unsatisfactory. LuckEleven Events owner and wedding planner, Melanie Levin, explains, “If the venue event manager is quick to reply, there is a better chance that he or she will solve problems as they arise. Those that are slow to respond either do not prioritize their customers and may be an issue if there are last-minute concerns.”

Plenty of people will try a new restaurant or airline without checking the reviews first, but you don’t want to be that laid-back when it comes to your wedding. Thoroughly check the venue’s reviews before booking anything. Aced Events founder and owner, Ashley Czaplicki, explains, “Sales venue reps will make it sound like a dream—that’s their job. Do your research and hear from honest couples.” Wedding planner Hovik Harutyunyan echoed, “If [a venue’s team is] rude, unpleasant, or disagreeable, make sure you take note of that. You can’t always trust online reviews, especially if your direct experience is contrary to how they act or treat you. During tours and booking is when they should be the nicest, so the experience will only get worse if it starts off on a bad note.”

Different venues have different policies in place regarding when vendors can start setting up for the event. It’s important to coordinate with everyone involved and make sure that the timeline works for you. Czaplicki says, “If it’s a two-hour window, run! You want a venue that gives your vendors ample time to set up. There is nothing worse for your vendor team, execution and design-wise if they are rushed. It reflects poorly on the entire team and that’s when mistakes happen!” Levin also noted you should pay attention to when the bride and groom are allowed into the venue. She said, “One red flag to look out for is what time the [bridal] suite is available. Hair and makeup for the whole bridal party often takes hours and begins early in the morning. The last thing brides will want to do is gather everyone halfway through the hair and makeup process and move to a new location.”

A good wedding venue will always have a plan B in place, just in case something goes wrong. For example, if it’s an outdoor venue, they should have a backup plan just in case it rains.

Levin explains, “Venues without a backup plan are definitely red flags. Whether it is inclement weather or a natural disaster, venues need to have a backup plan in place better than ‘you’re on your own.’”

While dreaming of the wedding is common, pondering over what married life would look like is another deal altogether. Most often, we hear that the first few years after marriage are the honeymoon years. Life after that, however, becomes less dreamy. This is because while many have ideas about how to successfully course through marriage, the practical side of things is quite different. So, expert Dr. Viviana Coles elaborates on the tips she believes can help couples better sail through the ups and downs of married life.

Talk to your partner. While this seems quite obvious, it is easier said than done. Dr. Coles explains that open communication is the key to any relationship, not just marriage. Most of us, unfortunately, aren’t mind-readers like Professor X. So, we need to tell the other person about the challenges we are facing. An important indicator of trust within couples is whether they are able to open up to you. If they aren’t, it’s probably because they don’t trust you enough or they fear hurting you by opening up.

While disagreements are part of a relationship, arguments are not. Dr. Coles recommends noticing if arguments or disagreements are frequent. Disagreements are normal and actually healthy, but arguments aren’t. If you guys argue very frequently, it might be time to reconsider things and sit down for some deep evaluations.

Share your views about the future. Talking of the future gives a sense of security to the relationship. If nothing else, it clears things up. If none of you mention the future in your conversations, whether it includes your partner or not, that is a bad sign, Dr. Coles explains.

Honesty is something that can have a huge impact on any given relationship. So much so that it can make or break it. So, it’s generally better to refrain from lying about anything. Whether it is a little white lie or about something very important. So, Dr. Coles advises couples to come clean about anything that might become an issue if not clarified. Even if you come out to be the bad guy, it builds trust and transparency.

Most people think prioritizing your partner in the relationship is good. While it may seem romantic, it is not healthy. Considering your own feelings about the relationship is equally important. This is because while on the surface you may be fine, things might bug you subconsciously.