Finding the Perfect Venue isn’t easy. There are so many options to choose from, whether you’re looking for a laid-back country barn, an elegant ballroom, a timeless estate or country club. So, as wedding planners, we want to share our top tips for finding your dream venue.
Talk to a Planner First
Yes, talk to us before you start looking at possible venues. As Planners we are much more familiar with the capabilities of a space and the layout, and if it will meet the aesthetics you want.
Choose a Venue That Aligns with Your Vision
Seek out venues that fit the aesthetic you are looking for. If you’re planning a modern wedding, look at art galleries, and industrial/warehouse spaces. On the other hand, a wedding including more natural elements works well with outdoor venues such as parks, farms and backyards. Choosing a venue that fits in with (and enhances) your overall theme will enable your wedding to feel more connected to the space.
Your Guest List
Knowing how many guests you’re expecting to invite before you go looking at venues will help save you from headaches and heartaches down the road. If you choose a venue that is too small for your guest list and more guests RSVP with a ‘yes’ than you can fit in the space, you may be in a tough spot. Couples sometimes underestimate how many people they will invite, so have that conversation early to know what you’re really working with. This will also help you break down your budget as some costs are very dependent on the number of people you’re inviting.
Consider Your Budget
When choosing a venue, it’s more than just how much renting the space will cost, since venues with in-house catering (like hotels and country clubs) will charge a price-per-plate. Décor and floral design will also drive your costs up. Know how much your total budget is, as well as approximately what your design and decor will cost to execute. If adding that on top of the cost of using the space will make it impossible to stay on budget, you’ll either need to scale back your design or look for more affordable spaces. Here is a Break down your overall budget by category, prioritizing more funds for vendors that are a higher priority. If you select your venue first, and then realize it’s more than you should have allocated, it will be very difficult and stressful to stay within your budget when you still have many more vendors to hire.
Consider Your Guests’ Experience
If you’re inviting a lot of out-of-town guests, look for a venue that’s near a hotel, and remember their comfort within the venue, as well. The maximum capacity of a room may not be a comfortable amount of space, so ask the venue how many people they can fit comfortably.
Ask the Venue What Is Included
If you’re looking at some venues that are full-service, and somewhere you can bring in your own vendors and décor, be sure to price everything out. A venue that provides tables, chairs, and linens included may cost more upfront than a venue where you need to rent your own, but you should get an estimate from a rental company to see how they compare when you’ve added on the price of renting things for yourself. Keep in mind that the included rental items may be more basic (white linens, standard flatware, banquet chairs, etc.), so you may still pay more to rent items that fit your style better.
Stay True to Yourselves
With the arrival of Pinterest weddings and other sites like this, many couples choose venues based on the style of a wedding they fell in love with online. It’s important to ask yourselves what feels authentic to you as a couple and to choose a space and a design that best represents who you are. It’s important to remember that a venue may have looked gorgeous with a different aesthetic or design scheme, but it may not be the perfect canvas for yours.
