Choosing a wedding venue is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It sets the tone for your wedding, which can be good or bad depending on which one you choose. So, here are some essential things to look for in a wedding venue.
Accommodates Your Guest List
How many guests do you plan on inviting to your wedding? You’ll want to choose a venue that can accommodate all of your guests. If you have 100 wedding guests and the venue’s maximum capacity is 80 people, some guests may be turned away at the door — and that’s never a fun thing to happen on your big day. To prevent headaches such as this, look for a venue that’s large enough to accommodate your entire guest list and any +1s they may bring.
Parking/Transportation
A good wedding venue should also offer on-site parking or transportation. Elderly guests and young children may not be able to walk long distances to reach the venue. Thankfully, most reputable venues have convenient parking and/or transportation options for guests to use.
Attractive Scenery
Don’t underestimate the importance of choosing a wedding venue with attractive scenery. Whether it’s an indoor or outdoor venue, it should have a naturally appealing atmosphere. This allows for better photos and videos, which are the most cherished keepsakes from a wedding.
Friendly Staff
Of course, your wedding venue should also have a friendly staff. Even if you plan on hiring your own vendors, you’ll still have to converse with the staff on occasion. And if they are unfriendly, it could leave your wedding on bad note.
Convenient Location
There’s nothing wrong with choosing a venue that’s off the beaten path, but it should still be conveniently located so that guests can easily find it. Booking your wedding at a venue that’s down some obscure dirt road may cause confusion as guests try to find it for the first time.
The Right Price
Assuming you’ve already created a budget for your wedding, you should choose a venue that’s within your price range. Depending on factors like the location, time of year, length of rental, you can expect to spend around $1,500 to $5,000 on the venue. Hopefully, you and your fiance have already set a budget, in which case you can choose an appropriate venue.
Keep in mind that most wedding venues will return your security deposit, assuming you don’t leave a mess or otherwise breach the contract. Read the fine print before signing any agreements and don’t be afraid to ask the venue owner or manager any questions that you have.