Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Venue

As wedding season quickly approaches, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to share some tips for choosing your wedding venue! After all, as a Connecticut wedding planner, I see the good, the bad, and everything in between when it comes to wedding venues. Instead of hoping you don’t learn lessons the hard way, I’m sharing just a few tips that are top of mind for me today as you start to search for a wedding venue!

First, hire your wedding planner

Listen, we have talked at length on the blog about the importance of hiring a wedding planner. Without a doubt, it should be one of the very first things you should do as you start to plan your wedding. A lot of times, couples will feel like they should have their venue (and therefore wedding date!) chosen before they reach out to hire a wedding planner but the truth of the matter is that the earlier you hire a wedding planner, the easier your life will be. 

You don’t need a wedding planner that has worked at your specific venue before. Trust me when I say that an experienced wedding planner can work anywhere. In fact, a lot of us are used to creating venues from scratch (like for a home wedding or outdoor tented wedding on a private estate).

Consider your wedding venue essentials: wedding budget, guest count, and availability

We have very limited availability for 2022 and most venues are much the same! The buildup of demand over the last two years has been a real challenge in the wedding industry. You do want to book sooner rather than later but you also don’t want to rush this decision. You absolutely can’t book your wedding venue until your budget has been established (and ideally itemized), and your guest count is solid.

Next, narrow down wedding venues that match your vibe

I live to create, and I truly believe that with the right design, we can make any space beautiful together. With that in mind, choosing a wedding venue that matches your vibe is about more than just aesthetics! You need to consider things like how many weddings they offer per day, and what level of service you can expect from them (if any!) throughout the planning process. Do you want a more “all inclusive” wedding venue, where they provide a lot of support with catering, florals, and more? Or would a more “basic” wedding venue that lets you completely customize your day be a better fit? Every couple is different in what they are looking for and what their expectations are so be upfront with your wedding planner and wedding venue so you can ensure they are the right fit!

When you tour wedding venues, look at ALL the spaces

When you start to narrow down your wedding venue, you need to look at all of the spaces (beyond what the venue might show on their Instagram)! Consider what spaces you might want to use for your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. I personally love to design weddings where each space is completely separate from one another. This way, we can surprise and delight your guests throughout the day!

And while we are talking about wedding locations…

New England wedding venues need a backup plan for outdoor weddings!

I know your eyes will immediately go toward the ideal space for your wedding ceremony and reception, but you need to consider your contingency plan too! If you are planning an outdoor wedding, what are the plans for rainy weather? Make sure you choose a wedding venue that has you loving the backup plan almost as much as your original plan! Hopefully, you’ll never have to use it, but it will stop you from checking the weather hourly as your wedding date approaches.

Ask About Any Venue Restrictions

I can’t tell you how many couples have had to navigate venue restrictions after they book. You don’t know what you don’t know! Make sure to ask your wedding venue about any restrictions they might have that could affect your overall vision. Your wedding planner can help you navigate what the most important restrictions might be for you, but here are just a few ideas:

• Does the wedding venue have preferred vendors and/or are outside wedding vendors welcomed?

• Are candles allowed indoors or do they need to be flameless?

• How late can the reception go? Are there any timeline restrictions? 

• When can you start setting up? When does tear down need to be completed by?

Certain things like a minimum food and beverage spend or maximum guest count should be made more obvious to you before signing but it’s the sneaky restrictions you need to watch out for!

Confirm their Rescheduling/Cancellation Policy

Yup, even in 2022 or 2023! After what we all went through over the last two years, you need to be checking the rescheduling and cancellation policies twice! Most wedding venues were understanding in 2020 (the good ones anyway!) but like any other business, they have tightened up their policies moving forward into 2022. And who can blame them? That’s why it’s so important to read your contract and understand the wedding venues policies before you sign on the dotted line. That’s also where your wedding planner comes in – we know what to watch for and what questions to ask!

Consider your Guest Experience

Last but not least, consider your guest experience at the wedding venue. How easy will it be for them to get to the location (or locations – if you are having your ceremony and reception in two different places!)? What is the parking like? If you are choosing a more unique wedding venue that’s harder to get to, you can always consider adding a shuttle service to make it easier for your guests to get there!

Booking your wedding venue in 2022

If you are planning a wedding in 2022, we still have a few spots left and would LOVE to walk you through choosing a wedding venue and planning your most incredible wedding day. You can learn more about working together here. Despite what you may have heard, we believe wedding planning should be full of joy. While this may seem like a LOT to consider when choosing a wedding venue, our hope is always that by being intentional from the start, you’ll enjoy the process a whole lot more! We would love to get started right away (connect directly with us here!) or in the meantime, make sure to follow us over on Instagram for real wedding inspiration all over New England!