Ask a Planner: Picking the Perfect Venue

Now that you have the perfect partner, now all you need is the perfect place to say “I Do”! Whether you’re dreaming of a fairytale castle or intimate restaurant, follow our top tips to help you along in your venue search!

Photo by Glen Allsop for Christian Oth

1. Double Check the Date: Make sure to reach out to close family members to check their availability before signing on the dotted line! You wouldn’t want to be locked into a date that someone (you can’t imagine getting married without) can’t make!

2. Pick Your Must-Haves: We often tell clients that there is no completely perfect venue. Like in all good relationships, there is always some give and take. We recommend picking your top “must-haves” and focusing on checking those boxes!

3. Consider the Location: Make sure to consider the location and ease of travel to your venue for guests! If most of your guests will have to drive to the venue, try to keep it to a reasonable distance. If most of your guests are flying to the destination, make sure to consider the distance from the airport to your venue. Nothing is worse than landing after a 3-hour flight and facing a 2-hour drive!

4. Hidden Fees: Make sure to ask your venue sales person to highlight all possible fees you may encounter. These often include ceremony fees and administrative fees added on to food and beverage!

5. Venue Restrictions: From no-open-flame rules to noise ordinances that stop the party before its begins, there is often a long list of “no’s” for what a venue is willing to accommodate. Make sure to ask if your venue will allow any special requests you may have your heart set on beforehand!

6. Don’t Overextend Yourself: Finally, as we mentioned previously, don’t overextend yourself on your venue. As a reminder, your budget should take up 40-50% of your overall budget or less!