Choosing a Venue
Finding the perfect venue isn't easy. Ask any of my clients. There are so many options to choose from, whether you're looking for a stunning barn, an elegant ballroom, a cozy restaurant, or a quiet stretch of beach. So I decided to write out exactly what I feel are the most important pieces of picking the special place where you say “I do!”
Talk to a Planner First Yes, before you start looking at spaces! I mean it! I often find that 95% of my clients have found a venue before meeting with me, and although it is wonderful that you booked a space, it has led to problems. Planners just simply tend to be much more familiar with the capabilities of a space, the layout, and the time and items you'll need to really transform it. If there's a creative way to make it unique or a quirk about the space that could make your vision hard to accomplish, I can show you how!
Choose a Venue that Aligns with Your Vision This might seem obvious, but seek out venues that fit the aesthetic you have in mind. If you're planning a modern wedding, look at art galleries, well-designed restaurant spaces, or warehouses. On the flip side, a wedding incorporating more natural elements works well with outdoor venues such as parks, backyards, and ranches. Choosing a venue that fits in with (and enhances) your theme will enable your wedding to feel more connected to the space.
Know Your Guest List Knowing how many guests you're expecting to invite before you go looking at venues will help save you from headaches and heartaches down the road. If you choose a venue that is too small for your guest list and more guests RSVP 'yes' than you can fit in the space, you might be in a tough situation. Couples often underestimate how many people they will invite (or how many their parents will want to add!), so have that conversation early to know what you're really working with. This will also help you break down your budget, as some costs are very dependent on the number of people you're inviting.
Remember Your Budget It's more than just how much renting the space will cost, since venues with in-house catering (like hotels) will charge a price-per-plate. Decor and floral design will also drive the cost up, so know how much your total budget is, as well as approximately what your design will cost to execute. If adding that on top of the cost of using the space blows your budget out of the water, you'll either need to scale back your design or look at more affordable spaces. Break down your overall budget by category, prioritizing more funds for vendors that are a higher priority. If you select your venue first, and then realize it's more than you should have allocated, it's an uphill battle to stay within your budget when you still have a dozen other people to hire! Not sure how prices break down in your region?Consulting with a planner (me!) gets you information that's more specific than the national averages often found online.
Consider Your Guests' Experience If you're inviting a lot of out-of-town guests or having a destination wedding, look for a venue that's near (or connected to) a hotel, and remember their comfort within the venue, too. The maximum capacity of a room isn't often a comfortable amount of space, so ask the venue how many people they can fit comfortably, as well as what is allowed according to the fire code.
Think About What is Included If you're looking at some venues that are full-service, and some where you can bring in your own vendors and decor, be sure to price everything out. A venue with tables, chairs, and linens included might cost more upfront than a venue where you need to rent your own, but you should get an estimate from a rental company to see how they compare when you've added on the price of renting things for yourself." And remember that the included rental items are often more basic (white linens, standard flatware, banquet chairs, etc.), so you may still end up paying more to rent items that fit your vision better. And if you're working with a venue that has in-house catering with a food and beverage minimum, be sure to include the tax and gratuity in your calculations. For example, in Massachusetts sales tax is 6.5%, so I recommend that my clients add at least 30% on to the food and beverage minimum to account for tax and a 20% gratuity.
Stay True to Yourselves With the influx of Pinterest weddings, a lot of couples choose venues based off of the style of a wedding they fell in love with online. But it's important to ask yourselves what feels authentic to you two as a couple, and to choose a space and a design that's a representation of who you are. And remember that, while a venue might have looked gorgeous with a different theme or design scheme, it may not be the perfect canvas for yours.
We are thrilled to share a few photos of a venue that we love, Hancock Shaker Village as photographed by Eric Limon Photography!
Happy planning lovebirds!
