How To Choose A Wedding Venue
How To Choose A Wedding Venue
From Saving The Date & Saying “I Do”
One of the first things you will do once you are engaged is book a wedding venue! This is the first step to the wedding planning process (view a helpful wedding planning timeline HERE) and sets the stage for your wedding. There may be some brides who have been dreaming about having their wedding at a certain venue forever. And if you are this person, then great! You will want to make sure you check to see if your dream venue is available on your wedding day and if it is, then book it ASAP! Most venues book a year to two years in advance, so it is important to save your date right away!
If you aren’t quite sure where to have your wedding at, then you and your fiancé need to sit down together and think about your dream wedding venue. Some things to think about are:
Location
What city and state do you want it to be in? Will you be getting married in your hometown or your current residence?
Guest Count
Approximately how many people could be there comfortably? Is there enough space to accommodate a large guest list or do you want a smaller space to make your wedding more intimate?
Theme
Are you wanting a more rustic barn or something more modern and a city vibe? Think about your personalities, if you aren’t really country people then it probably doesn’t make sense for you to have your reception in a barn. Do you want a more modern feel, look at a hotel overlooking the city!
Time Of Year
Also, consider the time of year! Some venues are can accommodate weddings throughout all the seasons while others cannot. Is AC a priority? Does the venue have bathrooms?
Reception
Something else that you need to consider is the distance from your ceremony to your reception. Will your ceremony and reception at the same place? If so, that makes it a little easier. If not, consider the distance from the ceremony to the reception venue. You won’t want to have all of your guests traveling too far between the two places. If it is a far distance then there may be some guests that end up not showing up to the reception.
After considering all of these things, one of the most important things to remember is that this is YOUR day! Visit the venues, ask questions, and most of all love the venue you choose!
Helpful questions to ask a venue:
- What dates are available in the month I am considering?
- How many people can this location accommodate?
- What is the rental fee and what is included in that price? Is there a discount for booking on a weekday or off-season?
- How much is the deposit, when is it due, is it refundable?
- Can I hold my ceremony here too?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- What is your weather contingency plan for outdoor spaces?
- How long will I have use of the event space(s)?
- Can I move things around and decorate? Are there any decoration restrictions?
- Can I do a special exit like sparklers here?
If you have any questions about selecting a wedding venue I am always happy to help answer any questions you may have. Contact me HERE.
From Saving The Date & Saying “I Do”
One of the first things you will do once you are engaged is book a wedding venue! This is the first step to the wedding planning process (view a helpful wedding planning timeline HERE) and sets the stage for your wedding. There may be some brides who have been dreaming about having their wedding at a certain venue forever. And if you are this person, then great! You will want to make sure you check to see if your dream venue is available on your wedding day and if it is, then book it ASAP! Most venues book a year to two years in advance, so it is important to save your date right away!
If you aren’t quite sure where to have your wedding at, then you and your fiancé need to sit down together and think about your dream wedding venue. Some things to think about are:
Location
What city and state do you want it to be in? Will you be getting married in your hometown or your current residence?
Guest Count
Approximately how many people could be there comfortably? Is there enough space to accommodate a large guest list or do you want a smaller space to make your wedding more intimate?
Theme
Are you wanting a more rustic barn or something more modern and a city vibe? Think about your personalities, if you aren’t really country people then it probably doesn’t make sense for you to have your reception in a barn. Do you want a more modern feel, look at a hotel overlooking the city!
Time Of Year
Also, consider the time of year! Some venues are can accommodate weddings throughout all the seasons while others cannot. Is AC a priority? Does the venue have bathrooms?
Reception
Something else that you need to consider is the distance from your ceremony to your reception. Will your ceremony and reception at the same place? If so, that makes it a little easier. If not, consider the distance from the ceremony to the reception venue. You won’t want to have all of your guests traveling too far between the two places. If it is a far distance then there may be some guests that end up not showing up to the reception.
After considering all of these things, one of the most important things to remember is that this is YOUR day! Visit the venues, ask questions, and most of all love the venue you choose!
Helpful questions to ask a venue:
- What dates are available in the month I am considering?
- How many people can this location accommodate?
- What is the rental fee and what is included in that price? Is there a discount for booking on a weekday or off-season?
- How much is the deposit, when is it due, is it refundable?
- Can I hold my ceremony here too?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- What is your weather contingency plan for outdoor spaces?
- How long will I have use of the event space(s)?
- Can I move things around and decorate? Are there any decoration restrictions?
- Can I do a special exit like sparklers here?
If you have any questions about selecting a wedding venue I am always happy to help answer any questions you may have. Contact me HERE.
