While pretty much every aspect of a wedding is optional, from wearing a suit instead of a dress to ditching the flowers to forgoing the wedding cake, there’s one thing you can’t skip: a venue! After all, you’ve got to have somewhere for your friends and family to gather and celebrate!
But finding the perfect venue isn’t easy. 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 we searched for a few wedding planners to see what they say about finding a venue.
Talk to a Planner First
Yes, before you start looking at spaces! Planners are much more familiar with the capabilities of 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, your planner will know!
Choose a Venue that Aligns with Your Vision
“This might seem obvious, but seek out venues that fit the aesthetic you have in mind, says Kait Costanti, co-owner and creative director of Bash in Bozeman, Montana. “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,” Olsen says.
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.
Schedule a tour of our beautiful country club wedding venue in Joplin, Missouri today. We would love to help you plan your special day.