The wedding venue is often times the first things that gets booked with wedding planning because you have to have a place for the party right!? Figuring out how to choose a wedding venue can seem very overwhelming as there are so many options out there. I have outlined a few important things to consider before deciding on your venue for the big day.

Location, location, location!

As they say in real estate, location is everything. If you’re torn whether to get married close to home or maybe go for a destination wedding, here are a few things to think about:

Generally, you can have a larger wedding close to home as the travel time is not a limiting factor. If a lot of your guests are from out of town, a venue near a major airport and accommodations for your guests is important. Now as far as how close to home you choose to get married is up to you! Do you plan on getting ready at home? Do you mind sleeping in a hotel room the night before your wedding? Your answers to these questions will help you decide.

Destination weddings can be more intimate.  With this type of wedding it is easier to choose your guest list, as not everyone will be able to take time off to travel. One thing I also love about destination weddings is that often times (depending upon where you go) you can honeymoon in the same location!

Vibe

Your venue is important because it really does set the mood for your day! Do you want to be married in a field surrounded by mountains? Is a classy city venue more for you? Or maybe a wedding at a barn with a vintage flair? Once you’ve determined the vibe of the venue you are looking for and you’ve considered your location limitations, now it’s time to start looking!

Budget

Everyone has a budget and this part is very important. It will help you narrow down the venues that are realistically feasible for you and your fiancé. My best tips to save money on your dream venue is to consider getting married on off-peak dates, such as a weekday. Also, some venues have different prices for off season weddings (i.e. weddings Oct-May).

There are so many things to think about with wedding planning and choosing your venue, I hope I was able to hep you narrow your focus and feel less overwhelmed about the process!

Wedding vendors are great people to ask about venue recommendations as they can make suggestions based on personal experience. Ask me about my favorite venues!