Choosing your wedding venue

Choose your wedding date

Choosing your wedding date is a big step in the planning process! Sometimes dates are chosen with a special meaning in mind, and sometimes it’s based on religious beliefs. If you have some flexibility with your date, you may be able to find your dream venue at a lower rate. The time of year you choose to get married, as well as the day of the week, and even how far in advance you book are all factors that will work to your advantage when booking a venue. Once you have a date, you can narrow down your venue choices based on availability.

Get a guest count

It’s important to decide how many people you’ll be inviting to your wedding reception and how many people are going to be present throughout the entire set of ceremonies before you start exploring venues. Many venues have limitations regarding how many guests they can accommodate, so you’ll want to have a clear idea of your guest list before you start booking a venue.

Break down your budget

Your budget is a huge factor in planning your wedding and will help you get a better idea of what venues are within reach. All-inclusive venues can take a lot of the guesswork out of choosing and budgeting for florals, rentals, and dinners. But, if you want the ability to choose those vendors on your own, you’ll want to make sure your venue will allow outside vendor choices. By planning out your entire before you start shopping for a venue, you’ll have a much better chance of staying within the lines when you’re shopping for your other vendors.

Check out real wedding photos

While photos of your venue on their website and social media are a great place to start to decide if it’s good with your vision and style, don’t rely on only your venue’s photos. Check out real couples blogs, and photographers’ and planners’ websites to get a better picture of what your venue will look like with a variety of decor, at different times of year, and different times of the day.

Do a site visit.. in fact, do many site visits.

Once you’ve narrowed your list down to your favorite venues, we recommend planning a site visit! If you can plan your visit around the same time of year you’re planning your wedding, even better! You may think you’ve picked your favorite venue online, but we recommend checking out your top 5 in person to find the best fit for your style and event. What you see in person may surprise you, and often the feeling or layout of a venue may sway your decision.