A good wedding venue is hard to find. Photo by MWD Photography.
Probably the first thing you are going to do if you are planning a wedding is look for a place to hold your wedding. This is somehow always a challenging process, so let me drop a few hints to help you on your way. How do you find the right venue?
Obviously, the first few things you need to know are a) where it is; b) how many people it can hold for the style of party you want; c) is it available on any dates you are considering, and d) how much does it cost? (About that “b),” keep in mind that you can fit more people into a room if they are standing up for a cocktail party than if they are all sitting down at large tables. And the fire marshal has the last word on how many people are permitted in a room.)
Once you have found out which places fit the bill on those four counts, it’s time to start visiting venues. As much information as you can get from a venue’s website, Instagram, and reviews, you really have to go there to see it for yourself. Every wedding is different, and not every location will be suitable for what you have in mind.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you visit: Is the layout useful for the party you want? Does it have the right ambience or feel? Does it make you happy? It also goes without saying that you should ask practical questions, as well: What caterers are permitted on site? Are the restrooms adequate? What time is the venue available on the wedding day? Will it be accessible to guests who have mobility limitations? Is the owner or manager responsive to your needs?
One thing I have seen happen quite often is that the visit to the first venue changes your mind about what you want and how to accomplish it. Actually being in the place where the dream meets reality can be very formative in your ideas of how your wedding should be. And that’s actually a good thing. Don’t feel compelled to stick to your original vision if you find that it doesn’t stand up to reality. You should not be afraid to change direction at this point. It’s much better to change your mind now, rather than after you have committed large sums of money.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that, as a planner, I get faster and more thorough responses from venues than my clients do. When I do full planning, obviously I’m the point of contact. When I do partial planning, sometimes I give suggestions but my clients are the ones who get in touch with the venue. So, I get to see the difference in response time. I’d always rather make the first contact with a venue, because I know my clients will have a better experience if the venue knows there is a planner involved.
If you’re venue shopping, keep these things in mind as you go along. I think that finding a venue is one of the most difficult parts of wedding planning for most people. I hope you find it a little bit easier now!
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