He popped the question . . . and you said a resounding “YES” and now you are about to embark on the wedding planning adventure – finding the perfect wedding venue.
The Number One task on your list will be finding the perfect wedding venue. As exciting as it may sound, we know it can also be overwhelming when you start searching as there are so many things to consider. Style of venue, size, location, cost and capacity are just a few of the things that you’ll need to think about. But with so many venues out there, it’s often difficult to know where to possibly even begin with the search.
To help with the process, we want to share a few practical tips for finding the perfect wedding venue. You will need to patient with the search, as it sometimes it takes time to find the right one for you. But the perfect one is out there, we promise!!
OUTLINE YOUR VISION
The first step in finding your perfect place is to outline your vision and think about what your ideal wedding venue would look like. Pull out the Pinterest wedding board you have started and imagine what you and your partner want your day to be and what’s most important to you.
- What vibe and style are you looking for
- What would be your ideal location
- Whether you’d rather a traditional ballroom style, or something more rustic and casual
- How many guests are you planning to have
- Whether you want an indoor or outdoor wedding
- If you have a season or date in mind
- What are your non-negotiable are and your “must haves” Asking yourself these kinds of questions will help you to narrow down the search. There are many venues out there, so outlining your vision first helps you to figure out what’s important and what you want.
ASK QUESTIONS!!
One of our biggest pieces of advice we can offer is to ask questions! Couples often don’t ask enough questions and take the info on the venues websites at face value. Often times couples don’t know the right questions to ask. It’s not like you have done this before – right? This is where enlisting the help of a wedding planner/coordinator comes becomes an invaluable resource. They know to ask ALL the right questions which will save the couple money as well as a lot of stress and disapointment down the road.
CONSIDER YOUR BUDGET
Your budget dictates a lot when planning a wedding. Although in a perfect world we’d all have an unlimited wedding budget, unfortunately, it doesn’t always work like that. Your venue will take up a huge chunk of your budget, so you want to make sure you’re spending your money wisely and that you can afford it.
Wedding Season usually runs from March- October so expect to pay a premium during these months. Saturdays are usually the most popular and expensive day, followed by Sunday and Friday, and mid-week is usually a lot cheaper (sometimes by a few thousand dollars)
Think about what’s included in the venue cost too. Some venues include things like catering, food, tables & chairs and decor in their fee, so if that’s the case, you can justify spending more on that bulk venue cost because you won’t have to source those things elsewhere.
KEEPING AN OPEN MIND
You want to strike a balance between being firm on the things you absolutely 100% want, and being flexible on things that are less important. Inevitably, you may have to make sacrifices somewhere in order to keep in line with your budget as the costs quickly rack up. If you’ve have always dreamed of having a fall wedding, but it’s too expensive, you may want to consider a summer or early winter wedding. The weather is still beautiful but the price may be less, If you’re struggling to find a venue you love, you should consider broadening your search and look at museums, art galleries, wineries or private self-catered rentals. It definitely helps to keep an open mind, and you may even come across gems that you otherwise wouldn’t have found!
THINK ABOUT THE LOGISTICS
Logistics are important and you want your day to run as smoothly as possible while also creating the best experience for you and your guests. If you’ve picked a barn in the middle of the countryside for example, is there accommodation close by for you and your guests? And if you’re planning an outdoor wedding, what is the venues backup plan in case of bad weather? These are all questions you would ask once you’ve narrowed down a few venues, but it’s still important to consider these issues as you don’t want to run into these roadblocks once later down the line once you’ve got your heart set on a place.
MAKE IT YOURS & STAY TRUE TO YOU!
It’s very easy and normal to feel the anxiety when you’re planning your wedding. You suddenly get all these voices in your head, either from the people around you or from the expectation that’s been set from other weddings you’ve attended and the standard way that weddings are done. But it’s so important to remember that this is YOUR DAY. This is the one day that you and your partner will have that’s 1000% yours and that you get to fully create. So make sure you stay true to what you want. Keep in mind the big picture, what’s most important to you and keep reminding yourself that you can envision your day however you please!
But Most of All . . . Have Fun with Planning!!
Photo Credit: Board & Batten Events, Lexington NC – 2020
