Venue

While each and every wedding-related decision plays a part in crafting your big day, there are a few choices that make a bigger impact than others; one of the biggest decisions to make is Your Venue.

Your party space has the ability to set your wedding’s tone, which is why choosing your site wisely is absolutely imperative. To help you navigate this integral wedding-planning decision we have made a list of the essential factors to consider when selecting a wedding venue. From starting early (aim to begin your search at least a year out!) to selecting a location that suits your wedding style, these criteria will ultimately make or break any prospective venues. The venue should also fit into your budget. While not all of these elements revolve around money management, you’ll notice that many are designing to help you get the most for your money. That means paying attention to venue package types (will this vendor provide space, food, and drink?) and its overall capacity (are you wasting money on space you don’t need?). Ahead, the rest of your wedding venue questions—answered.

Time Line:

Great venues get booked up 12-18 months in advance, so the sooner you get started the more likely you are to snag your first choice.

Location:

Beyond a destination wedding—where some element of travel is built into the event you’ll want to be aware of your venue’s accessibility for the guests to reach

Style (Type of Venue):

Choosing a space/ Venue that “matches with your vision” is priority number one. Ultimately, your venue’s style comes down to personal preference. (Venues as per style vary from hotels, ballrooms, clubs, outdoor lawns, in-bloom garden or a winery with panoramic views or build a venue from scratch defining the space.)

Capacity:

Capacity limits can make or break a venue—. Neither Under-sized nor Over-sized space will impact the wedding arranged. Pick the venue as per the guest count.

Budget:

While designating a specific portion of your budget to your venue isn’t always a science to allocate around 10-15% on average, “But it could be up to 20% or more if the venue includes anything.”

Packages:

This brings us to venue packages! Some sites don’t provide full service—think catering, bar, and staffing—which typically results in a lower-cost package . If your venue package includes the works, expect to put forward about 40-50% of your budget to cover all costs. To make sure you’re getting the most bang for that major buck, be sure to inquire about food and beverage minimums, site fees, and other billable components could play a pertinent role in your venue selection process.

Transportation:

This venue-related detail is all about crafting a positive guest experience. From ensuring that there will be enough space to park cars—without your attendees having to walk a mile from your ceremony site and back—to checking in with local hotels to ensure that there will be vacancies nearby it’s imperative to guarantee that your friends and family will be able to travel to and from your event without any discomfort.

Back-up Plan:

Meaning, does your venue provide one in the case of an emergency? “If a planner isn’t handling this for you, you’ll want to confirm a cancellation policy in case something happens to the venue ahead of the big day, especially if you’re tying the knot at a location that may experience natural disasters like Cyclones. It’s much less extreme, but you’ll want to confirm a venue’s ability to successfully execute a rain plan, as well.

Permissions:

This detail doesn’t necessarily refer to when your party has to end—any thorough venue contract will clearly outline that. It’s more about when the party has to stop. One should check with the venues for necessary permissions to be obtained for music and other related.