The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Wedding Venue
10 things to consider when selecting a wedding venue
Selecting a wedding venue is the single most important decision you will make during your wedding planning. Selecting the perfect wedding venue sets the tone for the entire celebration and is a backdrop for your wedding day photography. It is also going to be your biggest investment and is likely to be your first step in booking your wedding. But, don’t rush through the process just to check the box off. It's important that you thoroughly weigh all your options before you decide. That is why I have made this list of the most important considerations when searching for your perfect wedding venue. This post is going to cover the following topics in depth:
Location
Architecture & Interior Design
Interior Layout
Lighting
Acoustics
Ceremony Space
Amenities
Catering & Bartending
Accessibility & Parking
Budget
Location
The location of your wedding venue is more than just a dot on a map. Consider the proximity to the ceremony site, ease of access for guests, and the overall vibe of the surroundings. If you are getting married off site, consider how transportation will happen between the ceremony and the wedding venue. Your location will also impact the overall look and feel for your entire wedding, If you are choosing a wedding venue downtown your look and feel may start to lean more modern and urban vs a venue tucked away in the woods. Whether you opt for a local gem or a destination wedding, ensure the location aligns with your vision.
Architecture & Interior Design
The design of your wedding venue plays the largest role in directing the ambiance for your wedding and reception. There are many different architectural styles to choose from and knowing what feel you want to evoke with your guests will play an important part in making your final selection. Do you want a sophisticated downtown affair, or would you like to have an intimate dinner party in the mountains? Choosing a wedding venue that is designed to complement your vision will enhance the overall experience for you and your guests.
Interior Layout
I am specifically calling out this point separate from the overall interior design above because there are a few specific points I want to touch on from the perspective of an Interior Designer. You will work with your venue to determine how many guests will be able to fit in the venue. The venue likely has a recommended layout for their ceremony and reception space. However, this is where I urge you to think beyond what their recommended layout is. There is likely more than one layout that will work for your ceremony and reception that will fit your guests and fit the space. If your venue has a wedding planner or you hire a wedding planner, ask them if they can explore doing long rectangular tables instead of circle ones at the receptions or ask them if they can do a ceremony in the round rather than standard isles. A creative interior layout can take a wedding ceremony and reception to the next level!
If you have more questions or are not sure how to go about this process let me know. This is something I am more than happy to help my couples with!
Lighting
Lighting can absolutely make or break the mood of your wedding. Your wedding venue likely has natural and artificial lighting and when touring you need to evaluate the ability for adjustments in that lighting. Do they have dimmers on their lighting to set the mood? Do they have different types of lighting other than just downlights, like chandeliers or string lights? What color is the lighting, is it a cool white or a warm white? (Hint: warm white is the right answer to the last one.) These are all important questions I'd be asking when touring wedding venues.
In addition to those lighting considerations I also want to take a moment to talk about the importance of “play of brilliance” in regards to lighting. The term refers to the natural human attraction to twinkly small lights. Like stars in the night sky, Christmas lights, or candle lights, these lights attract us and put us in a good mood and that is because they all evoke the “play of brilliance” that we are attracted to. Not every venue will have this “play of brilliance” built in. This is something you may need to bring into the venue. For example, you can do this by adding candles to your décor.
If you look at the image above you can see the twinkling lights that are strung up at Trinity Tree Farm.
Acoustics
Another important factor for you to consider when touring venues is how the acoustics are treated in the space. Many event spaces have hard surfaces on all sides of the room, for example, concrete floors with drywall walls and a wood ceiling is a room with all hard surfaces. This will bounce sound around and the space will get very loud very quickly. Look to see if there are any acoustic panels on the walls or ceiling. These are usually applied to the wall or ceiling and covered in fabric. Heavy hanging fabric curtains also serve this purpose and will help absorb some of that sound. Now, not all spaces may have these features and that doesn’t mean that they haven’t thought about acoustics. If it is still unclear how the venue handles their acoustics then make sure to just ask them!
In addition if you have a large space and a large wedding ensure your venue has a good sound system that is easy to use. If no one from the venue will be on site on your wedding make sure you have their phone number so you can call and ask about the sound system. This is one of the things that everyone always forget to check on before the wedding.
In the image above you can see the acoustic panels applied to the ceiling in between the sky lights. They are designed to blend in but they make a huge difference.
Ceremony Space
Your ceremony location is a crucial part of your wedding planning. After all, you two saying your vows and exchanging rings is kind of the whole wedding thing! Many venues have a ceremony location on site and are included in the venue rental. If you are choosing to have your ceremony at your wedding venue make sure that it meets your aesthetic and the feel that you want. Also, If you like the ceremony location but are not sure about the exact backdrop, ask the venue if you can move where the altar will be placed. Ceremony locations are very adaptable and your venue will be able to work with you to create something unique and perfect for your wedding.
Amenities
Every venue will have many different types of amenities that they offer which is what makes each of them unique. However, some general amenities are standard in the wedding industry that you should be aware of when looking at venues. Bridal suites are spaces where you, your partner, and your respective wedding parties will get ready. Make sure to take a look at these spaces and determine if you are happy with the space. You can choose to get ready somewhere else if this is the one area you are not in love with. I have lots of info on getting ready spaces in another blog post that you can see here.
Catering & Bartending
Some venues offer in-house catering and bartending which can be helpful for planning reasons. It is one less vendor that you need to vet and manage and you can focus your effort on other things. If the venue does not offer catering or bartending, ask for a specific list that explains the rules and requirements for catering and bartending. It is very likely that they only allow specific types of catering and require that bartenders have a liquor license. If you want to have a food truck cater your wedding or if you are planning on brewing your own beer, make sure you ask the venue right away what their rules are on this.
Accessibility & Parking
If you have family or friends that require special assistance or have accessibility concerns then you should pay close attention to the access points of the venue, ceremony space, and restrooms. Make sure the space is free of obstructions like stairs or have alternative pathways to move through the space with ramps. Check to make sure there is an ADA-accessible bathroom at the venue. In addition to making sure the venue is accessible, ask about how parking is handled at the venue. Communicate the parking requirements via your wedding website so there isn’t any confusion or questions day of from your guests.
Budget
Last but not least, whatever venues you choose to tour and consider need to be in your budget. I don’t recommend looking at venues that are over your budget and out of your financial comfort zone. There is no wedding that is worth going into debt for, and that includes credit card debt! If you are wanting to be at a certain venue but need to cut costs I always recommend reconsidering the number of guests invited. Cutting down the number of guests will reduce costs in many different areas of your wedding budget and might help you get that venue that you dream of without stretching yourself too thin.
Choosing the perfect wedding venue involves careful consideration of multiple factors. Prioritize what matters most to you and your partner, and don't hesitate to visit potential venues to get a feel for the space. By keeping these key elements in mind, you'll be well on your way to selecting a venue that aligns with your vision and ensures a magical wedding day. As always if you have questions or need a second opinion, I am always here for you!
Happy planning!