Almost everything about a wedding is optional, from wearing a suit instead of a dress to skipping the flowers to skipping the cake, but one thing is a must: a venue. Your family and friends need a place to gather and celebrate.
It isn't always easy to find the right venue. We have so many options to choose from, ranging from barns to elegant ballrooms, cosy restaurants to scenic beaches.
Tips for Finding the Perfect Wedding Venue
There are many things to think about when choosing a wedding venue, such as its size, location, parking availability, restroom options, and so much more!
There are many things to consider when selecting the perfect venue for your wedding, so we have put together some tips to help you choose the perfect place.
- Understand what suits you best
It is only you who knows what kind of wedding you would like! Wedding venues can reflect your personality and taste, so it's fun to choose how you want yours to look.
Will you be attending a church wedding? Are you interested in combining your ceremony with your reception? You will need a civil ceremony license if that's the case.
You may want a formal or traditional wedding, or you may want something more unique. You may choose a venue that can accommodate all your tastes, for instance, if you want aerialists to perform during your reception.
Similarly, if you plan to bring your supplier, you should pick a venue that allows you to do so. Dine venues allow this, but they will be able to book suppliers for you as well, so bring your event manager with you.
Apart from logistics, picking a wedding venue is like finding the perfect mate: sometimes you simply 'find the one'.
- Get advice from your wedding planner
As you sift through wedding venue ideas early on in the planning process, your wedding planner will be an invaluable resource. They can help you envision how your wedding style might look in a potential venue.
Planners can present all aspects of risk, including considerations such as permits and costs for tents and other elements.
It's also important to consider the guest experience, the ease of transportation, and the distance. If outdoors, the angle of the sun in their eyes, and the amount of space they have in which to move around will all be top-of-mind for a planner.
- Budget
If you find the venue of your dreams, only to realize later down the road that it wasn't within your budget, there's nothing more disappointing. Before you start looking for your wedding venue, put together a budget.
When planning your wedding budget, consider how much of that should go toward the venue. While some venues will include a few important event services in their overall pricing, others might charge an additional fee for these services.
When you rent tables, chairs, a dance floor, lighting, and other important elements on the day of your event, the costs can add up quickly.
A wedding venue that is right for you depend largely on your budget. Weddings held during off-seasons or on Sunday may be less expensive.
- Availability
To increase your chances of finding a venue that is still available, look for your wedding venue earlier if you're set on a particular date.
Although you should still begin well in advance of your date being more flexible, you should have more options in choosing your date since you are not constrained by the venue's availability.
- Make a guest list
You will be unable to select the right wedding venue without knowing your guest count. Think about the possibility of booking a small and intimate venue, only to find out later that you'll be hosting 300 guests.
Before making a final decision about your wedding venue, you should consider the number of guests you plan on inviting to avoid running into such issues.
- Plan for parking and accommodations
Are there many guests traveling from out of town? The distance from hotels and other accommodations to a potential venue needs to be taken into account.
Additionally, consider how accessible the venue is. What if there is only a long dirt driveway leading to the venue? Can guests drive and park or will shuttles be available? It is important to consider the flow of the night carefully, from arrival to departure.
- The privacy
It's important to find a wedding venue that's personal and private for you when searching for a place. There are times when an event or wedding will take place at the same venue on the same day.
In this case, make sure you know what portion of the venue will be yours or how separated the parties will be. You can sometimes book the whole venue for an extra fee at some venues.
Think about privacy as well if you're considering an outdoor location. Do strangers have the possibility of snooping in? Your guests might be distracted by this.
Red Flags to Avoid
When you're vetting a prospective wedding venue, you should be on high alert and be extra vigilant if you come across any of these traits.
As you review spaces, red flags may not be a deal-breaker, but due diligence is vital.
- Look for spaces with very few online reviews
- Multiple wedding venues on the same day
- Staff interactions and communication issues from the start
- Complex contracts with unclear scopes of service
- Incomplete contracts
- Inexperience with weddings
- Inability to give specifics about their capabilities
- Lack of clarity about additional costs and surcharges
- Not open to innovative ideas
Conclusion
No matter whether you decide to have your event on a casual beach or in a majestic ballroom, the venue you choose sets the mood for your big day.
In addition to fine dining, our venue can host weddings, private parties, and licensed events. If you're looking for a spacious and stylish stately home with elegant interiors, then Charlton Hall is the right place.
The grounds of Charlton Hall consist of a library, drawing room, breakfast room, two bars, and underground vaults with speakeasies.
A professional event planning team will make your dream come true. Wedding coordinators work with couples to understand their vision and theme. Their duties range from organizing the ceremony to planning the after-party.
