There are many things to do when arranging your weddings, such as the date, the guest list, the outfit, and many important choices, such as who will make up the wedding party, such as bridesmaids and best men.
The choice of your wedding venue, on the other hand, should not be taken lightly. The venue you choose is one of the most critical aspects of your wedding; it serves as the foundation for your day, the backdrop for your wedding photos, and the setting for memories that will last a lifetime.
To assist you, we have created our guide to selecting a wedding venue, a valuable method to ensure that you choose the ideal location for both you and your fiancée.
Before you started, a quick tip: take your time. As for every decision, the more research and time you will devote, the more satisfying the outcome; looking for your dream wedding place with no time constraints would be much simpler and much more enjoyable!
The Details You Need To Start Your Venue Search
It’s pointless searching for a spot if you don’t know what you’re looking for; fix these issues at the outset of your journey, and you’ll be well on your way to finding a champion.
Budget
Before embarking on their epic wedding planning challenge, every couple should establish a reasonable budget. A budget does not seem like the most thrilling consideration, but without one, you are on your way through a more complicated process that can lead to many planning risks and mistakes.
Begin by determining your final wedding budget (plus a 5% contingency) and then divide your budget into various areas when researching each factor, such as your wedding, food and drink, photographer, dress, cake, flowers, and many more.
The Guestlist
To choose your perfect wedding venue, you must first determine the number of guests you want to welcome to determine whether you are looking for a venue with a capacity of 50-75, over 100, or a dedicated small intimate venue appropriate for Micro Weddings.
If you have your heart set on a wedding with 50 guests, start by writing down who you want to invite. Many brides had told us that their desired guestlist number was not possible when they started writing down names since it left no invites for essential guests or merely divided family members. This initial number of 50 will quickly increase to 100 or be reduced to 25, totally changing the nature of the location quest.
There are no clear and quick rules on who you can or should not invite; our best advice is to think of who you want there on your big day, regardless of their relationships to you, such as friends, parents, acquaintances, or neighbors.
The Area
The location of your wedding is totally up to you as a couple, whether it is in your hometown, hundreds of miles away, or in another country entirely, so you must narrow down options before agreeing on which venue is best for you.
Know Your Style
Your wedding venue should represent your vision. If a fairytale style is what you’re looking for, consider a castle, villa, or country house, whereas an industrial space may be more your style if you want an ultra-modern celebration.
If you want a rustic wedding, a place in the heart of the country is a great option; but, if you want to sound like a city slicker, there are plenty of city-based places where you can say “I Do.” You can also get married by the sea, on top of a mountain, on a yacht, or in the middle of the desert!
Look at a list of recent Real Weddings to get you started on the right foot when it comes to wedding styles; you may be surprised by the trend that emerges when you understand the weddings that cater to you the most.
Make A List of The Essentials.
Although most venues deliver the same types of services, some have particular laws and regulations that you should be aware of. It is a good idea to sit down and make a list of everything you will want from your wedding venue that is non-negotiable. Let’s take a look at some of the essential must-have considerations that might end up on your list.
Accommodation: Venues with on-site lodging can be seen as a must, especially when hosting a wedding with many out-of-town guests. A variety of venues provide excellent options for guests, ranging from boutique-styled rooms to trendy glamping.
Exclusive Hire: If you want to host your wedding in a venue where you and your guests will have complete privacy, you should choose a venue that offers exclusive hire.
Licensed: For your wedding ceremony to be legally recognized, the venue must have a marriage license. Some venues have multiple areas where you can legally marry, whereas others only offer a symbolic ceremony.
Weekend Hire: A new twist on wedding events is to celebrate them throughout a weekend; a large number of venues now sell weekend hire to ensure you make the most of this special occasion. Consult your wedding planner about this.
Pet-Friendly: If having your favorite dog, cat, or even horse present at your wedding is essential to you, and you are in luck because there are some excellent options for pet-friendly wedding venues.
Eco-Friendly– If your life revolves around being environmentally sustainable, there’s no excuse why your wedding shouldn’t, with many venues adapting to eco-friendly practices.
Catering: Do you want your location to have catering as part of their operation, or do you want to put in your specialized caterers? It is determined mainly by the style of cuisine you enjoy on the day; if you’re a true foodie, this will undoubtedly be one of your must-haves.
If recruiting a band or acoustic musician is high on your priority list, make sure your preferred venues do not have a volume limit or do not support live music.
Fireworks: Another common aspect of a wedding day is watching an impressive firework display; however, certain places have stringent regulations prohibiting their use, so do your research to avoid disappointment.
Availability For Your Chose Date
When you start shortlisting venues, flexibility should be at the top of the priority list. Some venues book their most popular dates 2-3 years in advance, and as of 2020, postponements and cancellations have boosted demand for popular dates.
When it comes to dates, be realistic; the more versatile you will be, the more opportunities you can have. Narrowing it down to a couple of months in a specific year and expressing a preference for a Saturday wedding is an excellent place to proceed.
Weekday weddings are becoming increasingly common, and we love the appeal. For one thing, it saves money, and weekends are seen quite differently today than they were centuries ago, with many businesses having weekend work hours as a rule. Whether your guests wish to attend your ceremony, they will come regardless of the day of the week.
You might get fortunate, but choosing a specific date, such as August 7th, without any wiggle room may leave you disappointed and result in you missing out on venues that are ideal for you. Only you can decide which is more critical when it comes down to it: your dream venue or the date you want.
Visiting Venues
Venues’ multimedia footprint indeed increased in 2020, from interactive tours to personal zoom calls, with more and more video content enabling you to visualize the room itself. Still, visits are worthwhile while protection allows. They encourage you to take in the experience while still providing a greater sense of scale and scope, and you have the opportunity to talk with the people who will be organizing and running your special day.
If travel distance permits, we suggest viewing venues on two different occasions, first as a consultation to visit as a blank canvas and then again at a wedding fair or festival. Seeing the room dressed in wedding accessories will help you visualize your day; even though it isn’t exactly to your liking, seeing the venue set up will help you make your final decision.
Take a checklist with you to venue viewings so you can compare venues, learn essential questions to ask, what you need to do, and things to remember.
Weddings are expensive; however, they are still part of a highly competitive industry, which means that if you can manage to save money and the venue is willing to give you a bargain, it is worthwhile to try. Such venues will provide you with the bridal suite for the weekend, while others will provide you with a range of lower-cost rooms for your guests to book. You will even be able to secure welcoming drinks or canapes; even minor specifics can significantly affect your overall budget.
Call me Jen Hensey, a writer and blogger of LifeStyleConvo & UrbanHouses, who worked as a full-time content creator. A writer by day and reader by night.
