There are a few big decisions that you will find yourself making during the wedding planning process, and choosing the location to say “I Do” is one of them.

Your venue has the ability to set the tone for your entire wedding day. We recommend starting your venue hunt early on, as places book up quite far in advance.

There are a few things you’ll want to consider before booking your venue:

Date

Many couples have high hopes that their exact wedding date will be available, but it is always a great idea to have a few dates in mind or even a desired season instead. Being flexible will allow for more venue options in the end.

Budget & Guest Count

A large amount of your total budget will be allocated towards your venue. It is important to ask when touring if they have food & beverage minimums, guest count minimums, or day of the week minimums. Always make sure to ask if your venue can accommodate your guest count as well. If you LOVE the venue but it can’t fit your 150 closest friends & family, are you willing to cut back?

Location

Where do you want to celebrate one of the biggest day of your lives? Will this be a destination wedding, or a local affair? Will you have a lot of out of town guests? How far are you willing to have everyone travel? These are all important factors to consider when booking your wedding tours.

Style

You have probably created a vision board for your special day. This may include colors, theme, or certain elements you want to incorporate. Every wedding venue is different, and your final selection will ultimately come down to personal preference. Different venue styles can include: indoor, outdoor, rustic, elegant, Tuscan, modern, classic, garden, resort, and many more!

Packages

At some point during your wedding venue tour, you will receive a brochure. Read through this in detail and be sure to ask questions! You’ll have to decide if you want to go the “all-inclusive” route, or bring in your own vendors. Many venues require that you use their catering & bar services, while others allow couples to bring in their own specialty food & beverage vendors.

At the end of it all, this is the place you’ll exchange vows, celebrate with your loved ones, and dance the night away. Signing your venue contract & putting down that deposit should have you feeling giddy! We wish you happy hunting!