Congratulations on your engagement! Finding the person you want to spend the rest of you life with is an incredible chapter in your journey. Now that the biggest decision of your life is determined (the who), it’s time to look at wedding halls (the where) to seal the deal at. Touring wedding halls in search of the right spot to say “I Do” can be daunting and overwhelming task. In order to narrow down the list of all the wedding halls in your area to land the best venue for your big event, we’ve put together a list of things to consider. You’re welcome.
- Find your theme, and then look for wedding venues that compliment it.
It is becoming more and more common to use unconventional event venues for a wedding. Some of the best wedding places aren’t traditional wedding halls at all. It is more common to use barns and farms for beautiful and rustic “country weddings.” For a cool urban and industrial theme, many couples host their big event in reclaimed factories and warehouses.
When you envision your dream wedding, what sort theme and feeling does it have? When consider the soul of your wedding, it immediately helps you focus on the type of venues that align with that theme.
Pro tip: If you use an unconventional wedding venue, make sure that it properly accommodates your event. You’ll need space for the ceremony, catering, dining, dancing, and so on. Not to mention additional utilities to prepare food and play music. Also keep in mind that you might need to supply your own equipment, which will be an additional cost. - Consider the type of food that you want to serve and select a venue that supports it.
We know that your wedding is the most important day of your life, but it doesn’t mean that you have to serve a fancy meal at it (although you can, if that’s what your dream wedding meal is). Maybe your dream meal is sushi. Maybe your dream meal is fried chicken and waffles. There’s no wrong answer for what you serve at your wedding; what’s important is that the venue that you use is able to accommodate it. Some types of food (such as fried chicken and waffles), must be prepared in high heat and served immediately. Consider what your dream meal is, and what requirements that meal has for it. Use those requirements to narrow down your wedding venue search.
Pro Tip: Using a wedding venue that offers in-house catering (that you actually like) makes your wedding planning job easier! That’s what we call two birds and one stone, my friend. - Make your guest list before shopping for venues.
You might think that finding the venue should be the first wedding planning decision that you make, since other wedding details mostly depend on that. However, your first decision should be who you’re going to invite. No matter where you decide to hold your wedding, every venue has a maximum occupancy limit as established by the fire marshal. You don’t want to fall in love with a venue that only allows 50 people, and then realize that you want at least twice that many friends and loved ones to be there. Being surrounded by the people you love on your wedding day is far more important than the ground that you’re standing on. Consider how many people you want to be part of your wedding, and then use that headcount to find the wedding venue of your dreams. - Consider the season you want to get married in, and then the venue.
Some venues are incredible at certain times of year, but not others. For example, if you want to get married outdoors, you need to choose a season that that is comfortable for outdoor events. Once you have a season, it’s easier to decide on the venue.
Also, the season that you get married in will impact the availability of the venues. Some venues get booked up quickly in busy seasons, and are easier to nail down in a slower seasons.
Do you have any other tips for finding the right event venue for your wedding? Please share in the comment section below.