Wedding Wednesday-Venues

Happy Hump Day! I love Wedding Wednesdays because I get to reminisce about my wedding day; things I loved and the things I would do differently. 

Today's "Wedding Wednesday" advice is about venue picking. The date is set, the budget is in effect...now it's time to start knocking out the bigger planning pieces. Picking a venue sounds like it should be pretty simple, but honestly, the venue for your ceremony and reception determines a lot about the day of your wedding and the overall experience. From deciding if a church ceremony is your pick or if beach front is more your style to picking a reception site, there is quite a few things to think through. Here are a few tips to help you solidify the best venue for your special day!

1. Identify the overall feel you want to achieve. If you are very traditional and want your day to upkeep with all the normal traditions of a wedding day, then you want to ensure your venue provides that. If you are a more relaxed couple and prefer a relaxed enviroment then an outdoor ceremony or beach wedding may be appropriate. 

Photo taken by Jenn Hopkins Photography

2. How many people will the venue hold? This may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes the venues we love may actually be too small for the number of guests. Make sure to ask this when meeting with venue reps. 

Photo taken by Jenn Hopkins Photography

3. Consider the time of year and location. This is crucial when planning a wedding in a seasonal location. For example, living in Florida, it may not be smart to plan an all outdoor wedding in August...considering it's usually 100 degrees here. Also consider the weather patterns for that time of year. If it's spring time, winter or summer, there may be some issues you should plan for when considering your venue.

Picture taken from Pinterest

4. Do you have to bring in a caterer, lights, rentals or are they provided? This is one part of venue picking that B and I had to discuss. We got married at a Museum of Art and Gardens and although it was wonderful, we were responsible for bringing most items...including extra chairs, tables, dance floor, lighting, etc. This can be a large portion of a budget if it is not planned for. When planning for the ceremony, consider if officiants must be from the church or can it be a minister from outside the church. Make sure that you clarify these inclusions when meeting with your venue. 

5. Which small details are important to you....does your venue allow for those? One of the funniest things that came up when planning our wedding was the use of candles. I LOVED the look of a candlelit dinner with tables covered with candles and flowers. We also wanted a cigar bar, with hand rolled cigars....HOWEVER, because we were using a historical art museum as a venue, no open flame was allowed. Some churches do not allow flowers in the sanctuary during Lent, other venues do not allow for hanging lights. Make sure you discuss all the small details that are important to you BEFORE solidifying your venue. 

Picture from Pinterest

Picking your venue for the ceremony and reception will begin to determine the overall feel of your special day...so think carefully. 

I hope these tips help make your special day as perfect as possible!
Feel free to email or comment with any additional comments or questions. 

                                  Happy Planning!
                                          ~ G