Choosing your wedding venue is one of the most fun (and biggest!) decisions you’ll make planning your wedding. It sets the tone for your day and can affect a lot of the other pieces of your big day. Keep reading to see our top 5 things to keep in mind when choosing your wedding venue.
Prioritize Your “Must-Haves:
Before you pick your venue, you and your fiancé should think about the things that are most important for you to have for your wedding day. Some things you might want to consider are:
- An in-house catering company
- Premium liquor, wine and beer options
- The option to hold your ceremony and reception at the same venue
- Being able to choose your own vendors or having a preferred list to choose from
- Personalized menus for your event
Understand Your Total Venue Budget
Most couples spend the majority of their wedding budget on their venue. Venue pricing isn’t always straightforward, though. In addition to the room rental fee, you may also have to pay additional fees for tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, drinkware—even cake cutting! It’s important to consider service charges in your overall budget as well.
This is why we recommend considering the total cost (not just the cost of the venue itself!) before booking—knowing exactly what is included with your venue will help you know what additional vendors you need to look for, and you won’t run into any surprises during the wedding planning process.
Choosing Your Location
You want your wedding venue to be somewhere important to you and your fiancé, but you also probably don’t want to make your guests travel too far for your big day. When choosing your venue, think about things like:
- How close the venue is to your local airport
- If there are plenty of hotels or Airbnb’s nearby
- Accessibility for older relatives and individuals with disabilities
Keep Your Guest Count In Mind
Before you book your venue, you should have an idea of how many people you want to invite. If you have a smaller guest list (think around 50 people) make sure you don’t book a venue meant for 200—it may feel empty and not fit your vision. On the other hand, if you have 200 guests, you need to make sure your venue is big enough to accommodate tables, a dance floor and room for everyone to move around.
Picking A Blank Slate Vs. All-Inclusive Venue
An all-inclusive venue covers multiple services and rentals all in one packaged price—this is perfect for couples who want to save time and money. Packages like this will typically include venue, catering, linens, dinnerware, DJ and more.
On the other hand, if you are a more creative person who wants to create their vision themselves, you may want to consider a “blank slate” venue—basically an empty room or large outdoor space where you can bring in all of your own flowers, tables and decorations to make your day completely unique to you!
Your wedding day should be exactly what you want and need it to be, and that starts with your venue! Choosing your venue can be so much fun, and our team is happy to help you work through your list of wants and needs to find the perfect one for your day!