Finding Your Perfect Venue
Your venue sets the tone for your wedding day. Think about these key factors to find the one that is perfect for you!
Location Logistics
There is always an element of travel involved with a wedding and taking your guests’ experience into consideration may guide your venue choice. How easy is it to get to the venue? Are there hotels and entertainment options near by? If your ceremony will be at a different location than the reception, is it easy for guests to navigate from one venue to the other?
Full Service Packages
Full-service venues can be a one-stop-shop for couples. They may offer (or require) you to use their in-house services, such as catering and bar, and also typically include tables, chairs, linens, dinnerware, etc. For some couples, crossing off all those items through one vendor makes life easier and can absolutely be worth it. (And sometimes the actual rental price of the space is very minimal.) Be sure to check the final cost though. These venues usually have food and beverage minimum requirements, add significant service charges, and charge extra for things like audio/visual services. These additional items can make the final cost much higher than expected.
A La Carte Options
On the opposite end of the spectrum, venue-only options may or may not include anything except the rental space. Typically this allows you to search for outside vendors with lower costs, which can be a great choice for those on a tighter budget. But there’s also a chance the added cost of bringing in all the rental items through various vendors (which translates into a delivery fee for each vendor), can end up being almost as costly as a full-service venue. Bottom line - both options are useful in their own ways. Just do your final cost comparisons before booking to ensure you know the full scope of what you are committing to!
Headcount
It seems pretty obvious that you need to ensure your venue is big enough to fit all of your family and friends, right? Believe it or not, there is also such a thing as a venue being too big for your wedding. If you are looking at a ballroom that comfortably holds 300 and you only have 100 people on your guest list, having a lot of empty space in the room can actually make your reception feel even smaller. If your heart is set on that larger venue, then it’s time to get creative! Find ways to add reception elements that fill the space, like lounge areas, a photo booth, flower walls, trees or large plants, pipe and drape, large displays for seating charts or favors, a candy or dessert bar, or even multiple food stations. Just be sure your budget can handle those added expenses!
Complements Your Vision
Venue style is 100% about personal preferences. There are lots of different venue types because couples have many different visions! Couples preferring a traditional wedding style may be drawn toward grand ballrooms or estates while couples who enjoy modern trends may lean toward industrial venues. Some prefer an indoor blank palette to decorate while others use outdoor venues, such as a beach or lush garden, to be a part of their wedding decor. Ensure your personality and style vibe with the venue you are considering.
Do You Love It?
If everything else is falling into place, then it really comes down to this one important question. At the end of the day, if you can truly envision yourself walking down the aisle or having your first dance in the space, and you get butterflies every time you think about it - you’ve found your perfect venue.
Photo Credits | Davis Islands Garden Club - Sarah and Ben | The Vinoy Resort - Shauna and Jordon | Tampa River Center - FairyTale Productions | The Florida Aquarium - Carrie Wildes Photography | Powel Crosley Estate - Gather ‘Round Events | The Orlo - Lifelong Photography | The Estate The Mannix Company | Le Meridien Tampa - Love and Covenant | The West Events - Maddness Photography