Finding the perfect wedding venue is no small task. If you’re getting married you’ll soon realize that it takes time, effort, and research. The good news is that you’ll feel good about your choice after having gone through the process and head into your special day in confidence knowing your guests will get the best experience possible.
It’s important that you choose the right wedding venue for your event to make the night perfect and memorable. Here are four tips to help guide you as you weigh all of your options.
- Location, location, location.
Location, location, location. This may be the single most important factor when choosing a wedding venue. Why? Because it’s where you’ll spend your big day – so whether it’s outdoors or inside – if it will be a grand ballroom or if you need catering services – everything will center on the location you choose.
Once you’ve narrowed down what kind of location will work best for your vision, then you can start looking at venues that align with what you have in mind. It’s a good idea to make a list of all possible locations and do some quick research on each before booking a tour. What have others who had their wedding there had to say in online reviews? What are the menu options? A venue might look absolutely perfect but have poor food and service.
- Head Count Matters
The next thing you’ll want to consider when it comes to choosing a wedding venue is how many people you plan to have at the event. The size of your guest list will determine a lot about the type of venue you’ll need to ensure there are enough seats. Consider the venue’s ability to not only seat all your guests but also the reception and cocktail areas and how comfortable the layout is for dancing and other activities you’ve planned.
- What’s Offered?
When choosing a wedding venue, think about whether or not it has the features you want for your big day. Many wedding venues will have packages that include everything from food and drinks to linens, centerpieces and even DJ/band services. If you have your own ideas in mind, it’s key to discuss this up front. If needed, will the venue be able to accommodate a more extravagant setup with intricate decorations and expensive linens?
- Book Early
While it might be tempting to wait out the venue selection step in the early wedding planning phase, booking your wedding venue as far ahead of time as possible is best. Booking early can help you get a feel for if the venue you’re dreaming of can accommodate large numbers of guests if you need it, or if the date you’re planning to get married is still available. There’s only so many prime wedding days in a year and the best venues book up fast!
You want your wedding day to be perfect. Take the time early on to make sure you’re choosing a venue that is going to be everything you hoped it would be and more!