Congratulations on your engagement! If the excitement has already given way to a few questions about where to begin, that’s completely normal. Wedding planning is a big undertaking, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed before you’ve made a single decision.
The good news is that you don’t have to figure it all out at once. You just need to know where to start — and if you’re planning a 2027 wedding, our team at Catering St. Louis Events is here to help.
Give Yourself Time Before You Plan Anything
Before you open a spreadsheet or start saving venue photos, take a few weeks to simply enjoy being engaged. Tell the people you love, celebrate with your families and let the moment breathe.
You’ll approach the planning process with more clarity and intention when you’re not rushing straight from the proposal into logistics, and your decisions will be better for it.
Start With the Big Picture, Not the Details
When you’re ready to begin planning, start with the questions that shape everything else instead of the details that will fall into place later.
What kind of wedding do you want? Intimate and personal, or a full celebration with everyone you know? Indoor elegance, or something more relaxed and outdoor? A single-day event, or a full wedding weekend? There are no wrong answers, but having this conversation early makes every decision that follows much clearer.
When do you want to get married? Planning for 2027 gives you a full runway, which is a real advantage. Popular wedding dates, particularly Saturdays in May, September and October, tend to book 12 to 18 months in advance. If you have a season or timeframe in mind, keep that in mind as you begin looking at venues.
How many guests are you imagining? You don’t need a final guest list yet, but a general sense of scale helps you have more productive early conversations with venues and vendors. Thinking in broad terms — intimate (under 75), mid-size (75 to 150), or larger (150 and above) — is enough to get started.
Book Your Venue Early
Your venue is the most important early decision in the planning process. It determines your date, shapes the aesthetic of your wedding and directly influences your catering options. For 2027 weddings, now is a good time to start visiting venues — not because you’re behind, but because the best spaces and dates fill faster than most couples expect.
At Catering St. Louis Events, we offer 14 boutique venues across the St. Louis area, each with its own character, capacity and setting. A few worth knowing about as you begin exploring:
The Whittemore House at Washington University is one of St. Louis’ most beloved intimate wedding venues. Its warm residential interiors, garden terrace and history that traces back to a wedding gift commissioned in 1912 makes it a natural fit for couples who want their reception to feel personal and gracious.
The Jewel Box in St. Louis is an iconic Forest Park landmark — a stunning Art Deco glass conservatory that creates an unforgettable backdrop for ceremonies and receptions.
La Verona at the Marketplace brings dramatic energy to a wedding reception, with soaring ceilings, an open floor plan and a bold architectural presence that photographs beautifully.
City Cottage on Chouteau is a French-inspired venue in Midtown St. Louis with exposed wooden beams, wrought iron accents and a charming garden patio. It’s a warm, intimate setting that accommodates up to 150 guests and works beautifully for couples who want European character in an urban St. Louis location.
The World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park is one of the most recognizable event venues in the city, with sweeping views, grand architecture and a deeply local sense of history.
Not sure where to start? Our Wedding Venue Quiz can help you find the right fit based on your style, guest count and vision.
Understand What Your Venue Includes
It’s worth understanding early on what’s included with a given venue and what requires bringing in additional vendors. Some venues are spaces only, meaning you coordinate catering, rentals and staffing separately. Others are full-service, with catering, staffing, dinnerware and coordination handled by one team.
At Catering St. Louis Events, our venues come with full-service catering led by our culinary team. Our chefs work directly with each couple to create a customized menu built around their tastes, the season and their guests. Whether you’re envisioning a beautifully plated seated dinner, a relaxed family-style gathering or an elevated cocktail reception, the menu is designed for your event specifically.
Our event coordinators are also with you throughout the planning process, not just on the wedding day itself. That continuity matters. When the team that helped you plan the event is the same team executing it, the day runs more smoothly and you can actually be present for it.
A Few Things That Can Wait
Not everything needs to be decided now. Photography, florals, music, invitations and attire are all important, but none of them need to happen before you’ve secured your venue and developed a general sense of your vision.
Planning in layers makes the process more enjoyable and leads to better decisions. Lay the foundation first, then let the details follow.
Ready to Start Exploring?
At Catering St. Louis Events, we love meeting newly engaged couples at the very beginning of their planning journey. There’s no pressure and no obligation, just a conversation about your vision and a look at what’s possible.
Reach out to our team or take our Wedding Venue Quiz to find your match. We’d love to be part of your story.