How to Narrow Down Your Wedding Venue Search
Deciding where you will get married is a big undertaking, and perhaps the most important decision you'll make when it comes to planning your wedding day. You not only want a beautiful space, but somewhere functional that checks all the boxes.
You can already picture your dream wedding day: in a gorgeous venue surrounded by loved ones in a stunning dress alongside your even more stunning partner. But after hours of searching wedding venue after wedding venue online, you find yourself wondering, "How do I decide which magical venue is for me?" Indoor or outdoor? Traditional or modern? Private or semi-private?
The long list of questions continues to grow once you start thinking about guest lists, space limitations, vendor restrictions and so on. That's why we've compiled the most important factors to consider when choosing a wedding venue to best experience your dream day.
(If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with all the possibilities, take a deep breath and remember: that's why professionals like us exist.)
Size Does Matter
First things first: capacity. Being prepared with your guest list numbers will help narrow down the venue search immediately. You want your guests to be comfortable, so the logistics of the event space will determine whether or not you can consider certain venues.
Questions to ask yourself:
How many people am I inviting?
Can I picture how the event will flow in this space?
Will I host my ceremony, cocktail hour and reception at the same venue?
Let's Talk Location
Your wedding venue location is a major factor. Consider how convenient it is for not only you and your guests to access, but also your vendors: think catering, transportation, photographers, video team, entertainment, wedding planners, designers. Whether you're having an intimate gathering or a large celebration, there are multiple parties who need to visit the location.
Questions to ask yourself:
Is there a hotel nearby for my guests to stay at?
Will I need to provide transportation to this location or hotel?
Does this venue offer catering, or do I need to bring this in from somewhere nearby?
Determine Your Budget
Money is the #1 thing that most couples fight about when it comes to wedding planning, so we want to make sure it's smooth sailing for both of you. Come prepared with a budget and details for what it includes so that you can look at price-appropriate venues.
Pro tip: When you start looking, remember there is often more to the venue rental cost. Ask the venue manager for a preliminary calculation of costs so that you're aware of everything included in the rental, whether that's catering, food and beverage minimums or additional incidentals.
Questions to ask yourself:
What is my maximum budget?
What items does this budget include?
Does my venue have a minimum spend?
Aesthetics & Vibe: Yay or Nay?
It doesn't matter how big the venue is or what it costs if you don't resonate with the look and feel. Site visits are an absolute must to see if you like the vibe and the venue's current decor. It's important to look around the space with a critical eye for design considerations, distracting elements or space limitations (wedding designers have a trained eye for these things).
Questions to ask yourself:
What decor do I like?
Can I truly envision myself getting married in this space?
Is there decor I would replace or hide with my own? (Tip: if it's a lot, maybe it's not the right venue)
Is it Available?
You've gone through the checklist and the venue checks all the right boxes. It's finally time to see if your planned wedding date is available.
Questions to ask yourself:
Is the space available on my preferred date?
What's more important to me: this venue or my preferred date?
What other dates are available if I'm willing to change my wedding date?
Now, we know this is a lot to take in. Trust us — we've been doing this for 8 years and it takes a trained mind to consider all the possibilities with just one site visit to not get overwhelmed and distracted by the glamour and details.
At Jacqueline Rae, we start with a list of questions to determine what your dream wedding would look like and then provide our recommendations. With over a decade of experience in the industry, we know wedding venues and the site visit process inside and out. Not sure if your venue works with your vision? Don't love the venue decor but the location is perfect? Unsure if the price they're quoting you is a good deal compared to another venue?
With our experience and expertise, we would be honoured to help you through the wedding venue selection and event planning process.
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