One of the first things that most couples book first is where they plan to get married. But sometimes, this can be a very daunting task! There are SO many options when it comes to this, so I wanted to share some thoughts on how to pick a wedding venue today!
I did a poll of some of my past brides on Facebook, and they gave me some great feedback on how they approached picking their venues. So, here we go!
Things to do first:
- Determine a budget. I’ve seen it happen so many times. Couples bite off more than they can chew when it comes to their venue, and there’s not much to go around for everything else. Determine a budget, and then stick to it!
- Determine a theme. Do you want rustic, modern, elegant, open-air? It’s important to figure out what vibe you’re going for, because I think it’s super helpful if your venue matches that vibe!
- Determine the guest count. There’s nothing worse than realizing your venue isn’t big enough for the amount of guests and then you have to start being SUPER selective! So, figure out how many guests you roughly plan on inviting and then make sure that your venue can accommodate everyone you will be inviting!
Questions to ask yourself:
- Do you want to be able to bring in your own vendors? Some wedding venues don’t allow you to bring in outside vendors such as florists, caterers, music, etc. While others do! For some people, having an all-in-one venue (Like Stone Mountain Arts Center!) can make things super easy, while some couples may prefer to have more control over who gets to be a part of their wedding day! This was something that several brides mentioned to me as being important to them!
- Do you want to have the ceremony and reception at the same site? This is big, because if you don’t want them to be in the same place (say you’re getting married in a church, or have your heart set on being married in a garden or on the beach!), then you may have some more flexibility. If you do want them to be in the same place, then it’s important to ensure that the wedding venue has the space for the ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour!
- If you’re having an outdoor ceremony, is there a backup for inclement weather? This is SO important and really can’t be overlooked!
- How far will your guests have to travel to get there? While this is YOUR day, I do think that it may be helpful to be mindful of how far guests may potentially have to travel!
- And lastly, is the venue equipped to handle the elements? If you’re getting married in a barn, is there adequate systems in place to provide cooling to your guests if it’s going to be 95 degrees in the summer? Or ways to heat the place if it’s going to be 40 degrees in the winter?
Now you can:
Reach out to friends, family, and wedding industry professionals to see if they have recommendations for any venues that may fit your requirements! When it comes to picking a wedding venue, it’s super important to have a plan in mind in terms of what it is you want! I hope that this post is helpful to someone planning their wedding today!
Linda is a Portland-based photographer specializing in weddings and creating family legacies from Portland to Boston and across New England. You can see more of her work online at lindabarryphotography.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. If you want to reach out directly: linda@lindabarryphotography.com.
Linda is a Portland-based photographer specializing in weddings and creating family legacies from Portland to Boston and across New England. You can see more of her work online at lindabarryphotography.com, on Instagram, or on Facebook. If you want to reach out directly: linda@lindabarryphotography.com.
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