what should i look for in a wedding venue

17 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A WEDDING VENUE:

• 1. Budget / Cost: There’s nothing more disappointing than finding what feels like your dream venue but then realizing later down the line that it doesn’t fit into your wedding budget. ...
• 2. Availability: If you’re dead set on a particular date for your wedding, try and start looking at venues on the earlier side to increase your chance of venues still being available. ...

Full Answer

What should I know before choosing my wedding venue?

Before stepping foot on your first venue tour, become an expert in all things wedding locations, including questions to ask, styles, a checklist and more. Choosing your wedding venue is one of the first big decisions you’ll make in the wedding planning process, and it’s not to be taken lightly.

How do I choose the right location for my wedding?

You’ll want to select the general location where your event will take place first and foremost, as this decision will affect all the other details of your big day, from your budget to your venue options. Decide if you want your ceremony and reception in the same or different places.

What type of wedding venue is best for your size?

Ballroom venues are usually a top pick to accommodate larger weddings. Want to see more? Check out these ballroom real weddings: Rustic weddings and barn venues go hand-in-hand, so these venues are very popular right now.

How does a couple’s wedding style/theme affect how they choose a venue?

Q: How does a couple’s wedding style/theme affect how they choose a venue? A: “A couple who is more on the creative side should consider a venue that is a “blank slate” instead of leaning towards, for instance, a hotel. Utilizing a modern, open space where they can create their own décor will allow for a one-of-a-kind wedding.

Why is it important to find the right wedding venue?

What does your venue experience indicate?

What to do if a wedding disaster strikes?

What do wedding guests need to book for the night?

Why do wedding dates come first?

Why are there limitations on wedding venues?

Can you include directions in wedding invitations?

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How do I decide on a wedding venue?

Here's How to Choose the Perfect Wedding VenueTalk to a Planner First.Choose a Venue That Aligns With Your Vision.Know Your Guest List.Remember Your Budget.Consider Your Guests' Experience.Think About What Is Included.Stay True to Yourselves.

What is most important when selecting a wedding venue?

One of the most important parts of how to choose a wedding venue is actually visiting a few select locations in person. At these in-person site visits, you'll be able to tour the space and decide if it's the right fit for your big day.

What do couples look for in a wedding venue?

The common thread is this: Couples want to feel comfortable that the venue they choose can provide them with the memories they're dreaming of. Honesty, communication, and offering plenty of perks are the keys to becoming a winning venue for weddings.

How much of your budget should the venue be wedding?

Venue: 30% Unsurprisingly, the biggest chunk of your wedding budget will go to the biggest investment, which is often the venue. Our study found that couples typically spend about 30% of their overall budget on the setting of their nuptials.

What do you tip at a wedding?

15-20%Protocol: Expected, but review your contract as a service charge or gratuity may already be built-in. Tip: 15-20% of the food or drink fee or $200-$500. When: Based on your contract, this is often required in the final bill that is due before the wedding.

How important is a wedding venue?

Simply put, an elegant wedding venue makes an immense contribution to a good wedding ceremony. It also provides lasting memories for the bride and groom. This underlines the importance of selecting the location with care.

How do I decide what kind of wedding I want?

Gather and Save Inspiration. To get a better idea of what you want (and definitely don't want), spend some time checking out bridal magazines, books, blogs and real wedding photos. ... Figure Out the Formality. How fancy or casual do you want to go? ... Narrow in on Your Style. ... Pick Your Colors. ... Don't Forget the Vibe.

How do I choose a caterer?

To make things a little simpler, below, you'll find seven tips on how to choose the best catering company for your next event.Always Schedule a Tasting. ... Check References and Reviews. ... Venue Familiarity Is a Plus. ... Look for Flexibility. ... Consider Your Specific Situation. ... Ask to See Certifications. ... Go With Your Gut.

What is a realistic budget for a wedding?

The average cost of a wedding in 2021 was $28,000 (including the ceremony and reception), according to The Knot's 2021 Real Weddings Study. Here's what you should know about wedding costs and how to realistically estimate how much you'll spend to take the plunge.

Who typically pays for a wedding?

You might be aware that the bride's family is expected to cover the majority of the wedding day costs, while the groom's family pays for a variety of extra activities, like the rehearsal dinner and the honeymoon.

Is 20k a good wedding budget?

A $20,000 wedding budget is feasible. More than half of your budget will cover the cost of the venue, catering, and decorations. Other categories to keep in mind are attire, entertainment, vendors, rings, stationery, and miscellaneous fees.

What factors do you consider when choosing an event venue?

What to Consider When Searching for a VenueLocation. You've probably already considered this. ... Parking. Does the venue have a parking lot or valet parking? ... Capacity and Minimums. What's the capacity? ... Contract Flexibility and Force Majeure. ... Services and Amenities. ... Layout. ... Insurance. ... Ambiance and Accessibility.More items...•

How do you narrow down a wedding venue?

How to Narrow Down Your Wedding Venue SearchLocation, location, location. One of the first things to consider is where you want to get married. ... Venue size. The next consideration is whether a venue will cater to your number of guests. ... Budget. ... Look and feel. ... Special requirements. ... Availability.

How do I choose my wedding colors?

Here's exactly how to pick your wedding colors step-by-step.Choose a base color. ... Think about your wedding season. ... Consider your venue. ... What's your wedding style? ... Pick colors that flatter you. ... Play up your palette with gradients. ... Use holidays as inspiration.

How do I choose a wedding planner?

How To Select A Wedding Planner: 7 Qualities to Look ForTheir planning style aligns with your lifestyle. ... Their planning process is transparent. ... They specialize in planning your dream wedding. ... You feel comfortable with how they charge fees. ... You communicate really well together. ... They offer the level of involvement you need.More items...•

How to pick a wedding venue?

1. Pick a Location#N#Most couples get married near the city where they currently live, but the world is your oyster! Once you have your wedding locale set, it narrows down the list of venues considerably.#N#2. Set a Budget#N#You need to have an idea of how much you can afford to spend on both your wedding as a whole and for the venue itself. Note that your venue and catering prices and cost will likely comprise about half of your budget.#N#Tip: Use WeddingWire's Budget Tool#N#3. Estimate a Guest Count#N#You do not have to have a complete and accurate guest list ready at this point. However, an estimated size will help you find a wedding recpetion and ceremony venue with the right capacity for your needs.#N#4. Think About a Date#N#You can pick a date first, and find a venue that is available then, or find the venue of your dreams, and then pick a wedding date based on the location’s availability. Either way can work, but just note that a more flexible mindset will give you more options.#N#5. Find Your Style#N#Think about how you want your wedding to feel —formal, casual, or somewhere in between—and look for venues that match your wedding style.#N#Ready to go? Start your venue hunt on WeddingWire now »

What is the importance of choosing a wedding venue?

Your choice of wedding venue will set the tone for your entire wedding day. That’s why it’s so important to do your research about the many different types of wedding locations available. To help you on your venue-finding quest—and serve up some inspiration and ideas for your own big day —we’ve compiled a list of the most popular types of wedding venues and what makes each one unique.

What is an all inclusive wedding venue?

A: “An all-inclusive venue usually will provide everything you need: food, beverage, flowers, linens, etc. at one price, but you are a little more restricted as to what you can and cannot do. À la carte venues are designed more for the hands-on bride that is wanting to really personalize every aspect of their day.

What is the backdrop for a city wedding?

Many modern venues offer sweeping views of the urban landscape, the perfect backdrop for a city wedding.

What does it mean to pick a restaurant you love?

Picking a restaurant you love will guarantee that the food will be spot on.

What is beach environment?

Beaches are an inherently casual environment, which encourage guests to relax, mix, and mingle.

What is the best place to have a wedding?

Barns are best for more casual weddings and encourage guests to kick off their heels and party! Barns located on farms or ranches often feature ample outdoor space for ceremonies, portraits, lawn games, and more.

Who should attend a wedding venue viewing?

Who should attend a wedding venue viewing? Aside from the obvious (the engaged couple), it’s best to keep the wedding venue viewing to as small of a group as possible. This will help the couple to focus on what they want, rather than having to weigh too many different opinions. One exception might be if someone is helping foot the bill for the venue, in which case it might be nice to include them and give them a say.

How long does a wedding venue viewing last?

Wedding venue viewings vary in length but typically last somewhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour. How long a viewing will last can depend on the size of the venue, how much detail the venue coordinator goes into, and how many questions you ask.

Do outdoor venues have curfew?

Make sure to ask if there are any noise restrictions. Outdoor venues, in particular, might enforce quiet hours after a certain time out of respect for neighbors.

Can a venue host multiple weddings?

Sometimes a venue will be hosting multiple events or weddings on the same day. If this is the case, ask how much of the place you’ll have to yourselves or how separated the different parties will be. Sometimes venues will also allow you to pay to book out the whole place for an extra cost.

How many venues do you need for a wedding?

Some couples scout two different types of venues: one for their ceremony and one for their reception. While the majority of brides and grooms stick with just one (it's easier on both your budget and your guests!), plenty—including those tying the knot at a place of worship says Tara Guérard of Tara Guérard Soirée —require two. If you fall into the latter camp, keep the following in mind, says wedding planner and event designer Jessica Sloane. "It's important to know the travel time from one venue to the next, so you can plan your event start times accordingly and set a day-of schedule that is accurate for your vendors to follow," she explains. "Also, take into consideration which location you'll use for pictures."

What is venue related detail?

This venue-related detail is all about crafting a positive guest experience. From ensuring that there will be enough space to park cars—without your attendees having to walk a mile from your ceremony site and back—to checking in with local hotels to ensure that there will be vacancies nearby (a must, says Easton!), it's imperative to guarantee that your friends and family will be able to travel to and from your event without any discomfort.

How to look for wedding venues?

Phew! After figuring out all of those details, you can now actually start looking at wedding venues. Use a site like WeddingWire to browse wedding venues in your area, read reviews from past couples, check out photos, and much more. You can even narrow your search down by your desired capacity, availability, type of venue you’ re interested in, and other amenities, from catering to insurance and more. We recommend perusing venues online as a joint effort with your partner, working together to create a short list of venues that you’d like to learn more about.

What does it mean to book a wedding venue?

Narrow down some dates. Booking a wedding venue means that you’ve officially “set the date” for your big day. You may already have a wedding date in mind, or you may be able to be a bit more flexible. Either way, one of the first steps of how to choose a wedding venue is to narrow down a few dates that you know will work for you, your partner, ...

How many people can a wedding venue hold?

Every wedding venue has a capacity—a firm number of guests that it can comfortably hold. This number is usually not flexible, so while you don’t need to come up with an exact number of guests before selecting a venue, you’ll need to have a pretty good estimate. There’s a pretty big difference between a venue that can accommodate 75 guests, and one that can hold 500. Don’t just pull a guest count out of thin air (“I want a 100-person wedding!”). Sit down with your partner and respective families to come up with a list so there won’t be any major surprises later on (you can always add or subtract a few guests if you need). The last thing you want is to fall in love with a wedding venue with a 50-person capacity only to realize that you have a 150-person guest list.

How to get a venue contract?

When you and your partner have agreed on your desired venue, ask to receive a contract. While it can be really easy to breeze through a contract and just sign it without much thought, a venue contract is definitely worth a close read. Don’t be afraid to ask the venue coordinator about any portions of the contract that confuse you, and be sure you understand the payment schedule. When you feel comfortable with all aspects of your venue contract, sign it, return the paperwork to the venue, and pop some bubbly! You’ve officially made what’s arguably one of the most important decisions you’ll make during your wedding-planning process—and that’s definitely worth celebrating.

Can you have a wedding reception and a ceremony in the same place?

While it's certainly convenient to host your ceremony and reception in the same venue, some couples prefer to host the two events in separate spaces. Often, this is done so the couple can host their ceremony in a house of worship, but couples may also choose to host their ceremony at a park, in a courthouse, or elsewhere, following by a celebration at a wedding reception venue. It's important to decide whether you'll want a single ceremony and reception venue, or separate locations for each event.

Can you fall in love with a venue?

If you fall in love at first sight with a particular venue, it can be a pretty amazing feeling. However, don’t feel too much pressure to sign on the dotted line during your initial tour. It’s best to take a step back, tour a few venues, and discuss your options with your partner and, if desired, your families.

Is a venue contract worth reading?

While it can be really easy to breeze through a contract and just sign it without much thought, a venue contract is definitely worth a close read. Don’t be afraid to ask the venue coordinator about any portions of the contract that confuse you, and be sure you understand the payment schedule.

Why do you want to ask wedding vendors?

Why you want to ask: This is a prime question to ask wedding vendors because some may have strict rules around which outside services they allow on their property. The wedding vendor might have a preferred list of vendors you can choose from, while others could require lengthy contracts for outside vendors due to liability issues. If you are already eying certain catering services, be sure to ask this question prior to booking your venue.

Why do you want to know if a venue is close to public transportation?

Why you want to know: You'll want to know if the venue's close to any public transportation, or if there are cab or driver services in the area for guests to use. After all, nobody should be driving a car after consing alcohol.

Why is it important to know about a venue?

Why you want to know: It's important to make sure that any standout features the venue has blends with your décor vision. For example, is there a rooftop or pool? Is it on the waterfront? Are there any breaktaking views, incredible interiors or nature areas?

What are the services of a wedding?

What kinds of services do you offer? 1 A tent, if you want an outdoor ceremony or need a backup plan? 2 A backup plan in general, in case your first option needs to be changed due to weather? 3 Space for your ceremony, if you want to use the venue for both your ceremony and reception? 4 Cocktail hour space, especially if you're having the ceremony and reception at the venue? 5 A separate room for childcare if you're having an adults-only wedding and providing a babysitter? 6 A coat check for winter weddings? 7 A dressing room to store belongings, get ready in before the ceremony or change during the reception? 8 ADA-compliant facilities and entrances, for disabled or elderly guests? 9 On-site hotel rooms, to minimize transportation, secure a room block or potentially rent out the property? 10 Parking for your guests? 11 Ample restrooms for your guest count?

How long does it take for a wedding to set up?

Why you want to know: Besides the actual ceremony and reception, you'll want to know the exact time your pros can arrive to start setting up (they usually need at least two hours, if not more) and what time they need to be out by so they know when to start breaking down.

What happens if the venue cost doesn't fit your budget?

If the entire venue cost (not just the minimum) doesn't fit within your budget, you may have to move on, unless you're open to cutting something else.

What to do when you are close to accepting a new job?

Why you want to know: If you were close to accepting a new job, you'd want to go over your benefits and official offer letter before you sign on the dotted line—same goes for your venue. Ask if you can see a sample contract, or have their deposit/cancellation/refund policy outlined on paper for you. Things happen, and it's better to know that you can recover any losses before you book your venue.

What to do if your venue doesn't require you to use vendors?

If your venue doesn’t require you to use their vendors, ask if there are any they recommend most highly. A vendor who is familiar with your venue will already know the quirks and challenges of the space, which will make your planning process that much easier.

What do venues do at the end of the night?

A venue like a hotel will usually have staff available to help arrange and set the tables, then help pack up any rented glassware, flatware, and dishes at the end of the night. Confirm exactly what the venue’s staff will be doing so you can pass that information on to your other vendors.

Can you buy alcohol at a venue?

If your venue does allow you to buy your own alcohol, they may charge a fee to serve it on the property —which is still often much less than the price of ordering straight through the venue.

Is parking included in site rental?

Sometimes the use of parking is included in your site rental fee, sometimes it isn’t. If there is a fee and it isn’t covered by your rental, ask how much it would cost for you to pay for your guests’ parking for the evening.

Questions to ask a wedding venue before booking

There’s a lot to consider when choosing a wedding venue. Pick the right one by asking the right questions upfront. Don’t be shy; ask them everything!

Questions to ask wedding venue after booking

You’ve booked your wedding venue. Congratulations! Over the next few months, as you put together your guest list and choose your vendors, make sure everything’s in order by asking your venue these questions.

Questions to ask wedding venue at the final meeting

The big day is getting close, and there are only a few more questions to ask. Follow up on the questions below and ask about anything else that’s on your mind.

Why is it important to find the right wedding venue?

But no matter where you choose to get married, you’ll have an extraordinary wedding day. Because when you’ve chosen the right person, everything feels like a fairytale.

What does your venue experience indicate?

Your venue experience from the beginning can strongly indicate how the wedding will go.

What to do if a wedding disaster strikes?

If a wedding disaster strikes, your venue can be your greatest ally. See what backup plans your wedding reception venue offers. This is especially important if you’re considering an outdoor wedding space.

What do wedding guests need to book for the night?

Accommodations: Many wedding guests book a hotel room for the night of the wedding. Check to see what hotels or accommodations are available near your venue.

Why do wedding dates come first?

Sometimes, however, dates have to come first because of wedding guest availability or a favorite season. In that case, try to be as flexible as possible when looking for wedding reception venues. Come up with two sets of date ranges: dates that work and dates that don’t.

Why are there limitations on wedding venues?

Some of these limitations are for safety, to maintain the integrity of the space ( especially historic wedding venues ), or to adhere to regional laws (like fire codes).

Can you include directions in wedding invitations?

Transport and parking: Is the venue easily accessible by car? Or is it a bit off the map? Consider how guests will get to and from your wedding and whether they’ll have space to park. If the directions are a little complicated, you can include a directions card in your invitations and on your custom wedding website.