Written by Bri John

Let’s face it – wedding planning can cause a lot of stress if you let it.  Surprisingly, the influx of small details alone can put a damper on your mood. However, choosing your wedding venue should not be one of those stressors. When it comes to planning one of the happiest days of your life, surely you should be excited!

So, we’re not here to sugarcoat things – the small details do add up and oftentimes, choosing a wedding venue can be difficult. Therefore, here are a few tips to help you during the process of choosing the perfect venue for your big day!

Get Started

Know your VISION – this is SO important. What kind of day are you envisioning? Rustic and boho? Elegant and classy? Simple and casual? Also, what time of year do you want to get married? Do you want an outdoor ceremony or inside? Surprisingly, knowing this going into the process will help…especially when deciding to tour venues and help lock in a location.

Elegant Venue

Outdoor Venue

Boho and Rustic Venue

Size Matters

Draft up a guest list. Have an idea of how many people you might be inviting so you know that your venue can accommodate that amount of people. If your guest count is significantly higher than the max capacity, then you can eliminate that venue.

Equally important is touring venues. Once you know what your vision is, visit venues, meet with the staff and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Do they offer on-site ceremonies? How long can the reception go until? What are some policies that the venue has? 

What’s Included?

Ask your venue what all they include. This is MAJOR. Otherwise, you may end up running around looking for items from all different locations. Are linens included? What about flatware? Chairs? Does your venue have any decor available for use that you can utilize with the rest of your items? Is the catering provided through the venue or do you have to hire an outside caterer to come in? Additionally, are there any preferred bakers in the area for the wedding cake or does that come included in your package? Comparatively, Capriotti’s Wedding Packages list all the details for our on-site and off-site weddings.

Find out if you are entirely responsible for the planning process. Obviously, some couples prefer to take care of the details themselves. While that is completely fine, it is important to keep in mind that there are a lot of details to balance. If you are looking for a day-of coordinator, find out if your venue includes one or if you are responsible for hiring an outside coordinator to keep things organized along the way.

Wedding Planner

Compose a Guest List

Set a Wedding Budget

Set a Budget

Accordingly, ask for charges ahead of time. Evidently, this step goes hand in hand with knowing what’s included. No one wants to be bombarded with a million charges that you weren’t expecting when choosing your wedding venue. Nevertheless, there are a few key questions: Is the per person price just for catering? Is there an upgrade charge for renting linens/chairs through the venue? Does the venue charge a facility fee for utilizing the space? Lastly, is the gratuity included in the pricing? Generally, these are some questions that will help you to stay in your budget. However, you can Read more about some tips on wedding budgeting.

Overall, think of your must haves. What do you absolutely NEED to have on your day of?

Have Fun!

Lastly, despite all the questions, choosing your wedding venue doesn’t have to be stressful. By utilizing these simple tips, you can basically save yourself time and enjoy the planning process. So finally, have fun!