Engaged? Now What? Part 3: The Venue

From Shannon Dexter and Vikki Marsee of All You Need Is Love Events

Tips on picking the right venue for your wedding

Budget is set? Check! Idea of when you want to get married set? Check! Now comes the big decision. THE VENUE! There are so many things that play into picking the perfect place for the most special day of your life that it can start to feel overwhelming. Here are a few tips of things to focus on in order to help you pick the perfect spot to say “I do”.

Inside? Outside? Or In Between?

If you have been following our posts (which we hope you have!), you and your fiancé have already discussed the time of year you would like to say your vows. This decision plays a big role in figuring out whether you would like to have an indoor wedding, outdoor wedding, or one that can accommodate both. This is something that should be discussed first so that you can eliminate places that don’t offer you exactly what you want.

How much do YOU want to do?

This may seem silly but where you choose to get married can effect how many decisions you will have to make down the road in regards to your wedding. If you decide to get married at a hotel or country club, remember that you will most likely be required to use their catering services. This can be a great relief to some brides and grooms who do not want to search the land for the catering person of their dreams. Others might feel that food is of the utmost importance and always wanted their favorite Italian restaurant to provide the meal. At a home wedding, there is a real intimacy bonus that you have for your ceremony/reception BUT you also have to bring everything in (including a plumber and an electrician)! Remember to consider what is important to you in your wedding day when deciding where it should take place.

Ceremony and Reception At The Same Place?

It is important to decided whether you would like to have a separate ceremony site from your reception or if you would rather everything to happen at the place. Religious ceremonies might call for different locations so try and pick sites that are close together so that your guests will not have far to go.

Size, Space, and More

Remember that your ceremony and reception site should be able to hold all of your guests, vendors, and the extra parts of your wedding (photo booth, dessert bar, etc) comfortably. Be sure you are clear whether this is standing or seated guests and always consider the highest number your guest count could be, assuming everyone you invite will attend!

Budget

Be realistic in the venues you choose. Often times, brides and grooms will visit a place that is out of their budget just to “see what it is like” and then find that they compare every venue to the unattainable afterwards. It is important to keep your budget in mind when thinking about where to get married.

Remember this is part 3 in our series of “Engaged! Now What?” Keep your eyes peeled here at Marriage.com for our expert posts to find out what comes next!

Shannon Dexter and Vikki Marsee run All You Need Is Love Events, a full service wedding and event planning company in Southern California. From deciding on a budget to choosing the invitations, the flowers, the cake and everything in between, they assist couples through every aspect of wedding planning. Recognizing that each event is unique, they customize their services and packages accordingly. Learn more about Shannon and Vikki here; read their own fabulous blog here; and, check out their website for event planning services.