Step by Step Guide to Finding your Wedding Venue

Next to finding the perfect wedding dress, wedding venue selection can be one of the hardest decisions of the wedding planning process... Usually, smaller towns with less choices make for easier decisions and the bigger the city the more amazing venues you have to choose from.

So how do you make this decision and ensure that your day is going to be everything you've been dreaming of?

1. Do your Research! Start by looking online at wedding websites or city guides. A lot of the top wedding venues will advertise or be listed on these sites. Then start making a list of the places that stand out to you. All you need is their name for now.. From there - go to the actual websites of these places and look at photos. You don't have to remember everything about every venue but just get a general sense of what each place is all about visually. Then, read their reviews.. both on their website and on other websites. You can never know too much. Every place will have their ups and downs but still continue to get a general sense of what each venue is all about.

2. Choose a few to visit. There are probably some that you have fallen in love with by this point. Well, it's time to pick up the phone.. call the venues and ask to set-up a tour to view each of the spaces. Now, they are going to ask you a million questions about who you are, when's your wedding and how many guests you plan on hosting. If you know the answers.. GREAT! Tell them! If not.. don't worry about it. Just let the venue know that you are in the initial stages of venue selection and you would like to see what they have to offer for weddings. If you have a wedding coordiantor, she/he will probably be setting up these tours for you.. My suggestion is for you and your future spouse to go at this alone. At least for the first viewing. You two have to love it before anyone else does!

3. More Research. When you went on your visits you were probably handed GOBS of information from each venue about their pricing, catering menu, what you can and can't do their, etc. Well, it's time to actually read it! Sit down and go through the information and circle or highlight pieces you like or don't like. It can really make a difference when you find out that Grandma Memaw can't bake her world famous cake for you even if you have dreamed of her cake being your wedding cake since you were a little girl. Evey venue is different and every venue has different rules.. so be sure to know them.

4. Cost Analysis. This can be difficult in the intial planning stages because every venue is different on how they charge. Some venues will ask you to bring in all of your own things; while others, will tell you to use their vendors. Some important questions to ask regarding cost are:

• Are there food and beverage minimums? Meaning... there may be no cost to use the room itself, but they have a strict minimum when it comes to food and beverage.
• Is there a room rental cost?
• Is there a cost to bring in outside vendors?
• What is included in the pricing they are giving? i.e. lighting, dance floor, room set-up, linens, etc. ((Some venues will include some of these items as perks, which can actually end up saving you some money in the long run.))
• What other possible charges could be incurred if you chose their venue? i.e. cancellation policy, security deposit, etc.
• Are there different costs for different times of year?

The cost analysis portion may be the most important piece when it comes to choosing a venue, because some venues are much easier to work with than others. If you've got your shit together and are asking the right questions then you'll be able to tell what venue is easiest to work with.

5. The Choice. Now this could be an easy decision at this point or you may still be straddling the fence. Take some time to think about it.. try and picture your wedding and where does it feel right? It may take another venue visit before you choose the right one... but when you make the decision it will feel like everything is falling into place.