Is it the Right Venue for You?

Choosing a venue can be stressful and expensive. But it doesn’t have to be.

The venue sets the tone for your wedding, so before you start your search, you should know what your goals are.

Do you have a theme?

Do you have a look?

• Outdoor

• Formal

• Beachy

• Rustic

• Garden Party

• Classic

• Relaxed

• In the City

• Country

I’m certain by this point, you’ve got an entire Pinterest Board dedicated to the venue. If you’re working within a tight budget, you may want to consider your house of worship, memberships you or your family have, city or county buildings or parks, or someone’s private acreage.

I’ve been involved in some amazing weddings at unusual venues. Those are the most memorable, so be open to thinking outside the box.

When you approach the venue, you’ll want to know a few things right off the bat.

The price is very important. Ask for a written list of what is included in the rental price.

Pro Tip: I just have to here. I’ve worked with many venues who have a “Wedding Coordinator”. Most of the venues translate that into, “Someone who knows where everything is, and will open/lock up the building for you.” They don’t know about actually coordinating a wedding, what they DO know is how to get you what you need out of the space.

OK, back to the list of what is included. Below is a list of some of what you’ll need, so you can do some price shopping ahead of time to compare.

• Chairs

• Tables

• Linens

• Place settings

• Cutlery

• Glasses

• Candelabra

• Stands for floral décor

• Tents

• Dance floor

• Generator

• Lighting

   

Not an exhaustive list, but you get the idea. There are a lot of details to consider. One big detail is, how much work do you want to do?

For example, if the cost of the venue you want to get married in is outside of your budgeted amount (but comes fully equipped) and the venue that’s good, but is only “a shell” and you have to rent everything, is the money saved worth you and your team doing all of the set up/break down? And, are you truly saving money? You and your fiancé will be exhausted by the time you leave your reception, so consider how much extra work you’d have to do. Now, if you’ve got a large team of help, then the savings might mean some extra spending money on your honeymoon. These are points to consider. Could you ‘bundle and save’?

Some other questions to ask the venue:

What does the venue cost? Remember, this is one of your most expensive purchases, so don’t be shocked.

Once you find out the cost, ask what’s included.

Is the date available?

Will there be anything else going on at that location on that day?

If the venue is outside, what do they include for contingency plans?

Do they have a preferred/restricted vendors list-do they offer a discount?

What can you bring/not bring?

Does your rental include additional time to set up the night before, the rehearsal and time to clean up?

Are there locking rooms in which the wedding party can get dressed? Locking is key-you can’t imagine how many things go missing from the wedding party while they’re celebrating the nuptials.

How’s the parking?

What are the time limits?

Will they have a Person In Charge (PIC) onsite the entire time you’re there, and what will that person/staff help with?

How many people does the venue accommodate? (Please remember to include any additional staff that will support your day in the number. Fire code sets restrictions, the venue owner does not. Everyone in attendance counts toward this number.)