You have started the wedding planning process, you have found your budget, you have an idea of the theme you want, so now it’s time to pick that perfect venue! But you have no idea where to look besides typing into google “Venues in ______”. And everything that comes up is not your style or it all looks the same. Let’s dive deep into how to find your dream venue, ensure it matches your desired theme, and discover the best way to get it booked! Planning your wedding is an exciting journey, and finding the right venue is a crucial step that sets the tone for your special day. With the right guidance and approach, you can uncover hidden gems that align perfectly with your vision. So, let’s explore some effective strategies to locate the ideal venue that will leave you and your guests spellbound.

1. WHERE TO FIND THE PERFECT VENUE

This is honestly the hardest part, and it truly will get overwhelming quickly. You can look at all the different things on Google, Instagram, Facebook, and soon everything will start looking the same. As a bride myself, these are the few things that help me niche down on what I knew I wanted and where I found them.

• Local Wedding Magazines, every state has at least one local wedding magazine, this is the old school way of doing things but it also was the most efficient. I got to see what the venue wanted me to know right off hand by what they advertise. Local magazines publishers also only accept vendors who they recommend, so therefore also knowing the venue does have some credibility.
• Bridal Shows, I love bridal shows. It is a one stop shop to find multiple different venues in one area. And most of the time the owner of the venue or venue manager is always present. Its a easy way to get to know multiple venues in person without wasting the gas. You will receive more information then on their website, see how the venue personal interacts instead over email or text message, you will see more hidden photographs of the venue, and sometimes set ups that the venue offers.
• Ask a Professional Wedding Planner, wedding planner will not lie to you, they will be forward on who they prefer based on your style, they also will be able to tell you the behind the scenes with every venue they found easy to work with, the benefits it had, and how the venue team was to give you the best experience.

Now of course when you find the venue that you feel meets most of your wants and needs, make sure to book a venue tour before booking, see the venue in person. Additionally, it is essential to take note of the venue’s ambiance and overall atmosphere, envisioning how it will enhance the joyful atmosphere of your wedding day. By doing so, you can fully immerse yourself in the experience and gauge whether the venue aligns with your vision, ensuring that it encapsulates the essence of your dream wedding.

2. THE LOCATION

There is a lot of things to consider when picking a location for a venue. A lot more then some might realize. Starting off with, benefits to venues being close to the city, and there are some benefits on being in the country. If you go about having a venue in the city keep in mind that the noise ordnance might be different then somewhere in the country, some cities require past 10pm the limit is 70 dBA and rural areas 80 dBA. The second thing to consider is the amount of guest traveling in, if the guest coming in is over 20% , have a plan of stay and travel for the guest. Plan to have a venue near a hotel, highway, or airport. Especially if alcohol is being served, consider the safety for others and yourself. Third, consider if it is in the city, paid parking can be apart of it, normally for the guest, when picking a venue in a more rural area, parking could be way more convenient.

3. PACKAGES THE VENUE OFFERS

This is a huge one, it could also be a big part on how you save the most money!

When you have narrowed down on a few venues you are considering booking, then it is time to ask about the packages they offer. This can include, but is not limited to, the Venue ONLY package. In this package, you will only receive the venue and the very basics of it like parking, restrooms, getting ready suits, kitchen, ceremony area, reception area, and table and chairs. There are also “Unlimited packages” available, which is where I see brides save the most money! These packages include everything the Venue Only package has, plus venue décor, a venue coordinator, in-house catering, cake, and a bartender. They may also include an in-house photographer, videographer, and florist. Now, all venues vary in terms of what they want to include in their all-inclusive packages, but they normally can save you the most money. The reason is that the vendors they choose to hire as part of their “in-house” team normally offer discounted prices for more guaranteed work.

4. THE SMALL DETAILS

The small details to consider when picking the right venue, when I was a bride myself, these are things I never noticed until I started working in the wedding industry that now I cannot help but always look for!

• Where the DJ will be, this might not seem like a big deal but trust me, it is. I have seem wedding venues that have no outdoor plug ins for the DJ, so the DJ was not able to play outside for the ceremony, this does include to make sure your DJ you hire does have a Bluetooth speaker. As well if the DJ set up is in a corner, or in front of the dance floor.
• How many getting ready stations the bridesmaids will have, if you have 5+ bridesmaids, consider how many stations each brides maid you have, and how much room is in the getting ready suit, if everyone is getting there hair and makeup done by a professional hair or makeup artist, then normally only one will be seated at a time but consider the room space.
• The parking, pay attention to the amount of parking the venue has, if it’s gravel, concrete, or dirt for any disabled guest or rain, and if a shuttle is included.
• The venue owner, or manager, when you are communicating with your venue, make sure you have a good feeling about the person you are communicating with, how professional and personable they can be, how their communication skills are, if they are knowledgeable, and able to answer all of your questions.

There are numerous additional small details I could provide, and I am certain that you have many more ideas that come to mind pertaining to your specific requirements and precise desires. It is important to remember that no detail is too insignificant.