LP Education: Choosing Your Venue

You’re engaged! He flashed the ring, you said yes…now what?

One of the first major tasks you will need to decide as a couple is where you want to get married. The “where” can sometimes depend on the “when” if you’re looking at high traffic months or popular venues. It is something that you will both need to sit down and really think about how you want your wedding day to flow! Plus, you need a venue before you can start making those beautiful invitations!

There are tons and tons of wedding venues out there. But, if I’m being honest, not all of them will fit your vision, budget, and amount of guests. These are all key factors that need to be thought about before selecting your dream venue. This is a popular topic among the wedding industry and rightfully so. Your venue is a huge deal and deserves a well thought plan. So, lets dive into some venues and ways about selecting the perfect one for your wedding!

The Vision…and the Budget…

Once the confetti falls it will be time to really sit down and hammer out the details. It’s never too soon to start thinking about the major vendors. You both will need to sit down and think about what you both want in your ideal location. This is where the theme comes into play. And unless you’re well informed in the Pinterest world (guys) you’ll know that the theme of your wedding can really dictate the location and venue. During this time, make a budget. Get an idea of how much you’re wanting to spend for the venue. Remember that some venues have in house catering, chair rental, and some even have their own DJs. This will play a factor in the overall budget.

Figure Out a Date

I have spoken with numerous brides that have chosen their wedding date around certain venue’s availability. If you have a particular venue that you are desperately wanting, check with them first. Venues are one of the first things to book up!
Decide what time of year you’re wanting. Certain venues work better for different times of the year. You don’t want to book a barn venue with open air reception seating for January.
Find a date that works best for you as a couple. You don’t want to select a date in the middle of July if your groom likes to sweat it out.

The Guest List

The guest list, in my opinion, should be one of the first things you consider when booking your venue. Figure out how many people you’re wanting and go from there. Check with venues on seating max capacity vs seating comfortably. You don’t want your guests crammed in like sardines. Different venues cater to different needs. If you’re wanting more of an intimate wedding with around 50 people check with venues that can accommodate to that.

Private Family Owned Venues

My husband and I actually got married at my grandparent’s house. We decided we were going to have closer to 275 people and needed venue to seat that many people comfortably. In doing this we saved money on a ceremony venue and reception venue as it was all at the same location. However, we did need to book a tent, chairs, linens, tables, and portable restrooms for the guests.
If you are choosing to have an all outdoor wedding, be sure to have a backup plan in case inclement weather arrives.

Things to Consider While Touring a Venue

If possible, try to visit the venue at the time you plan to get married. I mean this seasonally and hourly. In doing this you will have a really close idea as to what it will look like when you say I do! This is especially important for outdoor weddings where seasonal weather can become a factor. Take note of where the sun is during the ceremony time to ensure you or your groom aren’t staring into the sun. You don’t want squinty eyes in your wedding pictures.
While visiting indoor ceremony locations, take note of the shape of the room. A strange shape may interrupt the flow of the party, especially if you have a large number of guests. Make sure there is enough room for tables and chairs, dance floor, food, and your wedding band/DJ.

Like I said, for every couple there is a perfect venue. It just takes a bit of research and planning to make it all come together. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to plan a wedding that YOU BOTH want. This is your wedding. Not your families or friends. It’s yours. Choose a venue that represents you as a couple! Like I always tell my brides, at the end of the day you’re the one in the big white dress.