3 Tips For Choosing Your Perfect Wedding Venue
There’s certainly plenty of things to think about when planning your wedding. There’s the date, your guestlist, your perfect dress, and so many big decisions like who will make up your wedding party, and what do we feed our guests?
However, one decision that you absolutely should not underestimate is picking your wedding venue. The location you decide upon is one of the most instrumental parts of your wedding, the base for your day, the backdrop for your wedding photographs and the place in which memories of a lifetime will be created.
So, how do you make sure that you get this important decision right?
Let’s Start With Size:
Size really does encompass a lot of things, but it’s probably the most important factor for you to consider when selecting a wedding venue.
Don’t guess the size of your guest list, know it! The number of people a space can hold for your dream ceremony, reception, or both will have an effect on how many people you are going to invite to share in your special day with you and your forever partner.
If you find your MUST-HAVE, I’m In Love kind of space, but realize the maximum number they can accommodate is under the number of your total guest list, you will have to make some difficult decisions: choosing a different venue, or start making cuts on that list
This is something that can bring a lot of unnecessary stress. You don’t have to have your guest list written out to select a venue, but have a realistic idea of who will be getting an invite and remember, you are not obligated to invite “granny’s nextdoor neighbor” just because they used to wave to you everytime you would visit.
VENUE MUST HAVE LIST
Most venues have similar offerings, however some have different rules and regulations to consider, especially since we’re still dealing with COVID-19. It is a good idea to sit down and write a list of all of the things that you are going to want from your wedding venue, that are absolutely 100% non-negotiable. Let’s take a look at some of the things that might be non-negotiable for your dream day.
Accommodations– Will you have a lot of out of town guests attending your dream day? Venues featuring onsite accommodations can be seen as a necessity especially when hosting a wedding with a majority of guests not local to the area. Dream Field Farms can accommodate guests in their beautiful on-site cabins for all of your out of town guests..
Licensed– When it comes to hosting your wedding ceremony for it to be legally recognized, the venue will need a marriage license. Some venues have several areas in which you can choose to legally marry whereas others offer only a symbolic ceremony.
Weekend Hire– A modern take on wedding celebrations is to enjoy a whole weekend of it, a vast number of venues now offer weekend hire to ensure you can really make the most of this special occasion.
Pet Friendly– Are you planning on having your furry babies like your dog, cat or even horse as a part of your ceremony? Make sure you understand the venue’s pet policy and be sure to ask about it before you put a deposit down.
Catering – Would you prefer your venue to include catering as a part of their service or do you want to bring in your own caterers? This mainly comes down to the preferred cuisine you want on the day. If you’re a real foodie then the type of catering is certainly going to feature as one your must haves.
Live Music -If hiring a band or acoustic performer is high up your priority list, make sure your desired venues don’t have a sound limit and double double check that they allow live music!
Fireworks – another popular addition to a wedding day is to watch an epic firework display. Some venues do have strict rules against their use, so do your homework to make sure you’re not disappointed.
REALITY CHECK--Be mindful of your guest list and venue must haves to accommodate their needs. But, you are in control of your list and this day will only happen once. Choose your ideal invitees, a fantastic venue and people that support your amazing union with your forever partner.
Service Style Is Everything
Service style looks different for every venue. Most locations have different levels of capacity based specifically on service style.
Here are some things you will need to ask your venue contact about:
Are you planning a cocktail style reception or pre-dinner service with hors d’oeuvres and drinks?
Do you want a full seated dinner style reception?
Would a buffet best serve your budget and guests?
Do you need to hire a caterer or does the venue provide food and service?
When touring a venue, ask for numbers and service style options, along with what’s popular for the space and examples of configurations.
There are so many little details that go into planning your wedding, and the venue staff knows this from experience. Behind every good venue is a FANTASTIC Venue Coordinator and AMAZING staff. When you’re seeing the space for the first time, you should feel like you have all of the information regarding sizing of the space, prices, possibilities and should be able to answer almost any question you can come up with.
At Dream Field Farms we craft every aspect of your big day to your exact wishes. Our mission is to ensure that you and your guests have an incredible experience, from the moment you first enter our property to when you depart.
3. Did Somebody Say Photo Booth or Photo Opp?
One thing to nail down on your venue tour is where you will have the chance to photograph your dream day. These pictures cement your love story for generations to come. You need to have plenty of space and the right lighting for your photos and videos.
Keep in mind that the sun plays an important role in capturing outside photos. Ask your venue manager to suggest lighting times and intimate spots for taking photographs of your wedding.
Selecting your wedding venue is one of the most exciting parts about planning your wedding. Once you’ve selected a venue and a date, most of your other details of planning will follow. Going into touring with a clear mind, list of questions, and budget in mind will help ease any stress. The perfect venue will check off all of the boxes!
Learn More About Dream Field Farms: www.dreamfieldfarms.com