How to Choose a Wedding Venue: Part 2

Remember last week’s Part 1 of how to choose a wedding venue? Part 2 today will continue with tips for choosing the perfect venue for you and your wedding! 

5. Search for Venues that Match Your Style

Once you’ve selected your style (modern, traditional, bohemian, etc.), your Google search will be so much easier. Do some searching for “(style) wedding venues in (my city).” Look through as many of the results as you have the patience for.

You can also look through The Knot and WeddingWire and even Yelp for more venues. Start making a list or spreadsheet of your favorites. Many venues include at least some pricing information, so consider this when making your list.

I highly recommend reading Google reviews and Yelp reviews on all of your favorite choices. Often, most wedding vendors and venues all have 5 stars on dedicated wedding directory websites, so I trust Google most and Yelp second.

6. Tour Your Favorites

From your list of favorite wedding venues, reach out to the contact for wedding inquiries at each venue. To be really strategic, try to visit your venues in the same season as your wedding. That way you’ll know better what the environment will look like with your venue. Make sure to take notes and ask the venue contact the following questions, at minimum:

• What does the venue rental come with? (Ask about chairs, tables, linens, food, etc.)
• If food is included, is alcohol included as well?
• What is the maximum capacity for the ceremony and/or reception site?
• What is the price per person/venue rental cost?
• Can I use outside vendors for food, cake, photography, etc.?

7. Book Your Venue

After you’ve weighed the options, compared your tour experiences, and done some hard thinking, you can book your venue! Ask your venue for a contract and invoice to secure your date. In my own personal wedding planning, I found that the venue was the most stressful vendor to find so once you book yours, it only gets easier! Now that you know how to choose a wedding venue, you can be the expert for your friends or just send them here for all the details!