Planning the perfect wedding day largely comes down to picking the right venue. The right venue should accommodate all of your needs, from providing the essentials like bathrooms and a dancefloor to hitting everything on your checklists such as style and ambiance.
However, as any bride (past, present, or future) will tell you, finding the perfect place is easier said than done. You may have to compromise here and there or realize when you’re being unrealistic.
But don’t worry, finding the right wedding venue is possible. Take a look at our top 11 tips to find the perfect place for you and your loved one to tie the knot!
1. Do You Want an Indoor or Outdoor Wedding?
First, you need to decide if you want an indoor or outdoor wedding. This includes both the ceremony and the reception. This can be used to determine your wedding date.
Additionally, if you choose an outdoor wedding, remember that the weather can be unpredictable. If you’re booking a venue for several months in advance, you have no way of knowing what the weather will be like that day. Make sure there’s a backup plan or shelter for people to run to should it start raining, storming, etc.
Finally, if you’re having an outdoor wedding ceremony in the summer, it would be a good idea to provide plenty of shade for your guests. Otherwise, they’re likely to get antsy, uncomfortable, and cranky.
2. How Many Guests Do You Want to Accommodate?
Next, to find the best wedding venue for your needs, you need to consider how many guests you want to attend your wedding. As beautiful and ideal as any particular venue might be, if it’s too small it won’t work.
You need to make sure your venue has a large enough capacity to accommodate all of your prospective guests.
3. What Feel or Theme Are You Looking For?
The perfect wedding venue will facilitate your needs in terms of style. For example, if you want a rustic theme, there are loads of ranch-style venues that cater to weddings.
Alternatively, if you want a woodsy or nature theme, you likely won’t find what you’re looking for renting out a hotel ballroom. Figure out how you want your wedding day to feel, then start your venue search from there.
4. How Much Do You Want to Spend?
Your budget is one of the most important factors to consider when looking for a wedding venue. How much can you afford to spend on the venue? Are you including catering, a DJ, and other accommodations?
Some couples are fortunate enough to have their weddings paid for by their parents. However, if you’re funding the wedding yourself, you may have to be more conservative.
5. What Amenities Do You Want Included/Available?
Facilities and companies that offer wedding venues often come with package deals. For example, some locations offer their own catering, entertainment, and transportation services. This can help you budget all of your costs.
On the other hand, having a wedding in a remote location may mean you have less access to certain amenities. In this case, the music, catering, and entertainment may all fall on your shoulders.
6. How Long Do You Need to Book in Advance?
When it comes to weddings, timing is vital to pulling everything together. Booking the right wedding venue may come down to when it’s available.
You might have to pick between what’s more important – the right wedding date or the right wedding venue, you may not get both.
However, you can often avoid this problem if you plan your wedding far enough in advance. Just make sure you book your venue as soon as possible.
7. How Importance Is Convenience?
You also need to consider how convenient the wedding venue is. For example, if you want an amazing nature scene next to a lake, high up in the mountains, don’t expect a lot of people to make it to your wedding.
If attendance is one of your top priorities, you’ll want to pick a wedding venue that’s conveniently located and easy for most of your guests to get to. This can also make other aspects of your wedding easier, such as catering and entertainment.
8. Is There a Curfew at the Venue?
If you and your friends and family are all about the party life (dancing, drinking, having a good time), make sure there isn’t an early curfew at the wedding venue you’re considering. If so, you may have to pick one with more liberal curfews.
9. Does the Venue Have any Restrictions?
Depending on the venue, you may have to worry about certain restrictions the owners enforce. We already talked about curfews. However, some venues may also have noise restrictions which can really inhibit you and your guest from having a good time.
Additionally, some wedding venues have decorating restrictions, such as hanging things on walls, putting up lights, using candles, etc. Most of these restrictions are for a reasonable cause, though they may seriously conflict with your vision of what you want your wedding to look like.
10. Have You Looked at the Venue’s Reviews?
We always recommend doing your research before investing in any product or service, including wedding venues. When perusing your options online, make sure you’re looking at reviews and testimonies from people who have previously used their services. This may tell you all you need to know about how accommodating they were and whether or not they’re the right fit.
11. Have You Visited the Venue in Person?
Finally, remember that pictures can be deceiving. While most wedding venues aren’t purposely trying to be deceptive, they will all put their best foot forward in terms of advertising. Never book a wedding venue site-unseen.
Pictures can be edited and enhanced. They can also naturally make an area look bigger. To be sure of what you’re investing in, make sure you visit any prospective wedding venues in person.
Looking for a Wedding Venue?
If you’re in the market for a wedding venue or any other service, be sure to check out the rest of our articles. We have reviews on everything from pet products to dining locations. Good luck with your wedding!
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