Gone are the days of simple weddings at community centers and church basements. More and more couples are now opting to splurge in order to make their special day perfect. In fact, the wedding industry is worth a whopping $72 billion!
And a large chunk of that $72 billion is spent on venues. Hotel ballrooms, rustic barns, historic houses, and modern venues are all popular choices to host weddings at.
But with so many different wedding venues to choose from, finding the perfect location to celebrate your marriage at can be difficult. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks that can make the process a bit easier and help you narrow down your options.
Do you want to know more? Keep reading to discover how you can find the perfect wedding venue that you’ll cherish forever.
1. Make Your Budget and Guest List
Before you start your wedding venue search, it’s important to make your budget and guest list. The last thing you want is to end up falling in love with a venue, only to find that it’s way out of budget or has a minimum headcount you just can’t meet.
Once you know your overall budget, break it down into different categories, such as dress and alterations, venue, music, and photographer. Apps like WeddingWire have great sample breakdowns that can help guide you, but the venue, food, and alcohol typically take up 50% of your budget.
The next step is to create a list of everyone you may want to invite to your special day. You can break this down into those who will definitely be invited and those who you might invite.
Before you set up venue tours, ask about a minimum and maximum headcount to ensure it’s the right size for you. Then, ask about the venue fee and food cost per person (if they serve food) to see if it fits your budget.
2. Consider Inclusions
Not all venues are created the same. Some just offer a room for the reception while others come with food, alcohol, chair and table rentals, linens, centerpiece rentals, and even a cake.
Before you set up a tour, ask what’s included in the price and think about how these inclusions affect the affordability of the space.
3. Decide on Your Style
Your venue will be the backdrop on your special day and can make a huge impact on the overall atmosphere, so it’s important to pick a space that goes with your style.
Hit Pinterest and start looking at wedding themes and color palettes. After deciding what you want your wedding to look like, find venues that match your vision. Not only will this help to create a cohesive and clean look on your big day, but it’ll also end up costing you less if you don’t have to do a ton of decorating at the venue to get the look you’re going for.
4. Look at Reviews
The key to picking a wedding venue you love is to consider how they perform behind the scenes. A venue can look great on the outside, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re great on the day of.
Look at reviews of all your potential venues to see what other couples and guests are saying. Are there a lot of complaints about food, organization, or cleanliness? If so, you may want to go with a different venue.
5. Glance Over Their Wedding Menu
The food you serve is one of the most important elements of your wedding. While not all venues include catering, many do.
Look over their wedding menu and ask yourself if you’d really be happy serving the food offered. Many venues are flexible enough to alter the menu to better suit your needs, but you may not want to choose a venue with food that doesn’t appeal to you at all.
6. Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Red Flags
It’s all too easy to fall in love with a venue and overlook the red flags popping up. But this can end up causing a lot of unnecessary stress on your big day.
When touring potential venues, take note of anything that seems odd or off to you. This could include dirty bathrooms, upswept floors, or an unkempt outdoor area, especially if you’re touring during the busy season.
You’ll also want to pay attention to how the employee answers your questions. If they seem unwilling to work with you or can’t give you straight answers, you may end up with a lot of stress down the road.
7. Ask About Your Must-Haves
Do you want a sparkler send-off, a firework show, or an outdoor ceremony? If so, make sure you ask potential venues if they’ll be able to accommodate these things.
After all, these are the details that will make your wedding day truly unique. Some things, like a firework show, are harder to accommodate, but there are venues that will allow it.
8. Talk to Your Day-Of Coordinator
Your day-of coordinator can really make or break your wedding. Typically, they are also the person who gives you the tour, so pay attention to their personality traits and flexibility when you’re viewing the venue.
Do you think you would be able to work with them for the next year or so? Can you deal with them during your wedding? If they really rub you the wrong way, you may end up feeling stressed and annoyed every time you have to communicate with them.
You Guide to Finding the Best Wedding Venues
Don’t feel overwhelmed when looking at wedding venues. Instead, follow the guide above to help you narrow down your options, and you’ll find your perfect venue in no time!
Do you want some tips to help you look your best on your wedding day? Then check out our beauty blog page today!
