4 Questions to Consider When Picking a Wedding Venue

If you’re looking for a wedding venue, you likely feel overwhelmed.

To be honest, it overwhelms us.

There are more and more venues popping up every day it seems, and it can feel a bit like going down the rabbit hole when you start visiting their websites, trying to keep them all straight, sorting through all the pages to find their pricing, available dates and what’s included.

Unfortunately, many venues require you to contact them before sharing any of those details (like their pricing and/or available dates), which can feel super laborious when you just want to know which ones are even an option for you (taking into account your budget, your timeframe, etc).

Knowing your time is valuable but that securing a venue is step one in wedding planning, here are a few questions to start with when looking for a venue –

a.       How much is the rental fee and what does it include? Consider how many hours are included, is a team member onsite during your event, is there air-conditioning, is clean-up included, etc. Are there additional (hidden) fees? This can feel a bit like comparing apples to oranges, but try to take into account the included amenities. For example, an open air pavilion is likely to be less expensive than an air conditioned venue, but in August, it might be money well spent… Also, know there will likely be different prices for weekday weddings, Friday, Saturday and Sunday weddings, as well as different months of the year. So, if you’re needing to make your budget stretch, consider picking a less popular day or time of year. Rates are likely going to be highest on Saturdays in May/June & September/October. They’re likely going to be lowest January-February.

b.      Do you connect with the pictures, tone, and feel of the website? If not, it’s possible the venue isn’t the right fit for you.

c.       What dates do they have available? If you’re sure you want to get married on a Saturday next October, but they’re booked two years out, it may not be worth your time.

d.      How easy is their website to navigate and find the answers to your questions? If you have to contact them for the details, take into account the amount of time it’s going to take you throughout your wedding planning process to contact them every time you have a question.

Once you narrow it down to five or less, start setting up private tours. Do your homework on each venue before your tour so you can simply focus on enjoying the space, rather than asking 101 questions. Browse the information they have on their site to see if your questions have already been answered and how many notes you’re going to have to take at the tour.

Next, make sure you like the person who gives you the tour. Though they may not be the team leader who will handle your wedding day, you should take into account the venue’s culture. It’s likely that how they make you feel during the tour (stressed, happy, excited, relaxed, wary, etc) is similar to how you will feel throughout your journey with them.

Some questions to ask are: if they allow outside catering and bar service (could be more expensive if they have an exclusive caterers list); do you have to pay for them to flip the venue; what kind of décor do they allow/not allow; do they allow children; do they allow dogs (if you have a furry friend that you want to play a part in your special day); do they have outdoor space for pictures; do they mow and/or spray that outdoor space (depending on where you live, ticks or chiggers up inside the wedding dress is NOT something you want to deal with on your wedding day); what happens in the case of inclement weather; where would you both get ready; what kind of send offs do they allow; what kind of alcohol do they allow; how close is the nearest hotel; when will you have access to decorate?

Lastly, do they seem like they genuinely care about you as human beings and your wedding? Or do you feel like just another booking on their calendar? Let’s face it – it’s just nice dealing with people who care.

Picking a venue is a big deal. It’s where you’re going to pledge your heart and life to the one you love. It’s where your wedding memories are going to be made. It’s where your wedding photographs will be taken. Picking a venue can be overwhelming, but when you get that checked off the to-do list, it brings perspective to so many other decisions you’re going to have to make.

And don’t forget, this is supposed to be one of the happiest times of your life. Make sure to take a moment to enjoy the journey!

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