Choosing your wedding venue is one of the most important and
difficult aspects of the wedding planning process. After all, it sets the tone,
theme, and mood of your wedding. Not only do you want to ensure that the venue
matches the vision in your dreams, but that it meets the requirements of the
not-so-fun wedding logistics, from your budget to your available dates to be
wed. Behold eight aspects to consider when making sure that your venue meets
your demands on the big day.
1. Choose your Guest
List
First and foremost, you need to roughly estimate how many
people you want to invite. Without this, you won’t be able to confidently pick
a venue. You don’t want to cram 200 guests into a barn, do you? While a firm
count isn’t needed, venues often ask how many guests you’ll be hosting and
usually have a minimum guest count.
2. Set a Budget
Decide with your fiancé how much you want to spend. This
will help you avoid the disappointment of falling in love with a place that’s
well out of your price range. A good rule of thumb is to not spend more than 50
percent of your wedding budget on the venue. Once you talk with the venue,
become acquainted with their rental fee, what’s included in that price, and what
the refund policy is, as well as the deposit, when it’s due, and if it’s
refundable. Don’t be afraid to inquire as to a discount if you’re booking for a
day or season that’s not as popular!
3. Select a Wedding Date
This is one of the trickier parts of venue shopping, as
dates can book up quickly at more popular venues. If your heart is set on a
certain date or even a certain month, your dream venue may not have an opening
for that time until the following year. If you’re more concerned about your
venue than your wedding date, then this can be flexible — choose a date that
best fits with your venue’s openings. Make sure to call ahead to check date
availability before going to see the venue in person. Keep in mind your date
isn’t officially reserved until you sign your contract and, generally speaking,
make a deposit.
4. Keep the Season in
Mind
On a related note, consider the season if you’re undecided
on an indoor or outdoor venue. While it’s fairly obvious that getting married
outside in Florida during July will probably be a sweat-fest or in Michigan
during December might be a tad too cold, also consider unexpected weather, such
as rain, which might be more common during certain months. But don’t let Mother
Nature deter you from an outdoor wedding — talk to your venue about your
concerns. They may have tips to address them or a back-up plan in case it
rains. On the other hand, if you’re choosing an indoor venue, make sure the
space has heat or air conditioning depending on the season.
5. Consider the
Ambiance
Are you a rustic glam or shabby chic bride? Have a soft spot
for all things vintage or a modern, yet traditional wedding? Whether you want
an elegant barn, a quirky chapel, or a romantic vineyard, take into account
your wedding style and have a vision of what you want for the big day. The
venue will play a huge role in setting the ambiance for the wedding. A venue well-suited to your wedding style or with a natural landscape that
provides a stunning backdrop, such as a beachfront resort or enchanted garden, might
save you money on decorations.
6. Check Lighting and
Sound
You want to be seen and heard on your wedding day, right?
Good lighting helps set the ambiance and mood. If a venue is too dark, it can
be difficult for a photographer to snap photos of the details you obsessed over.
Check the fixed lighting and find out if you can add more. Also pay attention
to how many electrical outlets there are and where they are — your band or DJ
will need them. If your wedding is outdoors, you’ll probably need a generator
for the music. Find out if your venue offers them or if you need to rent one.
7. Think Location
Are you okay with you, your groom, and all your guests traveling
a distance to the venue? If so, roam the states for your favorite spot or have
a destination wedding if you wish! If not, keep your search local.
On another note, find out how close — or far away —
overnight accommodations are. You don’t want to book a venue only to discover
there are no hotels nearby. Figure out how guests will get from point A to
point B and make sure there’s ample parking. If accommodations aren’t as close
as you'd like, or if there’s not enough parking there or at the venue, find
alternatives. See if there’s additional nearby parking or ask the venue if they
have a shuttle service or if there are valet options (it might be an extra fee). And
once you do find accommodations, call the hotel and ask if they can provide a
room block and special rate for your guests.
8. Find Out Any
Restrictions
This can range from noise restrictions to hours of
operation. If you want to celebrate under the stars, make sure the venue
allows that. Find out if your venue has set hours and if you get charged for
going past them. Also consider vendor restrictions, as some venues have a
preferred list of vendors they want you to use. This can be advantageous if the
vendors know the ins and outs of the space, but not so much if the venue’s list
is short or if you’ve already booked some vendors.
