Are you still searching for your perfect venue to say your “i dos”? If so, there are some Wedding Venue Search Tips we wanted to share with you! It can be a daunting task, so knowing what to look for is very helpful. We often go on venue tours with our clients when we are planning with them from the beginning, but if you’re going at it on your own, consider these tips.

Capacity
This one should be one of the first things you consider, once you’ve made your guest list and budget, of course! You want to look for venues that can hold your guest count, plus a little more. If your guest list is 250 and your venue holds 200, we wouldn’t suggest maxing out. Yes, you will probably end up with 200 people attending, but you’ll also have to consider a dance floor, band/stage, cake, etc in the reception space. You don’t want it to feel crammed in that room, especially if more people come than you expected!

Cost
This Wedding Venue Search Tip is a big one! Your venue will most likely be one of the first big purchases you make for the special day. We often see couples spend a lot of money towards their venue, and then struggle with the budget the rest of the planning because a huge chunk of the budget is already spent. When we create clients’ budgets, we are realistic on what they should devote to your venue and food based on your style and guest count. Make sure you are considering all costs or extra hidden fees in venue costs as well.

Inclusions
Most venues offer a wide range of inclusions, whether it’s food and beverage, tables, linens, chairs and more. It’s important to know exactly what your venue will include for you from the start, so you can avoid added fees later on for rentals. Your vision also comes into play here as well! If you envision all long tables for your guests, you’ll want to make sure your venue can accommodate that, or if you need to budget to rent those tables. Common inclusions we see venues have are round guest tables, basic linens, some kind of chair, and maybe charger plates as an add on.

Rental Time
When you find the perfect spot, another of our Wedding Venue Search Tips to consider is the rental time. Does the venue allow you to have all day access? Or do they have a basic block of 5 hours, and then you have to add time on, which can add to the budget quickly. Be sure you understand the rental window, and also consider set up & breakdown time for your vendors! If you have an 8 hour time block, that doesn’t mean your ceremony to reception can be 8 hours-you will have to be set up, married, partied out and cleaned up within that 8 hour time frame.

Parking
We chose to include this one because, depending on the setting, it should be something to consider. Are you looking at a venue in the middle of the city or on a resort property where there is no parking lot? You’ll have to consider the convenience factor for your guests in that case. Will they have to use ride share or valet services? Is there an option to cover the parking for your guests? If so, you’ll need to factor in parking fees into your budget to avoid any surprises later in the process.

Vendors
Lastly, and probably most importantly of the Wedding Venue Search Tips to consider, is exclusivity of vendors or not. Meaning, does your venue require you to use certain types of vendors? A lot of venues requires certain planners or caterers to be used, but allow any other vendor to work on property as long as they are insured. There are even some venues that require you to use select vendors for every category, unless you pay an additional fee. There are some times when you have the photographer in mind prior to having your venue booked, so you’ll want to make sure it won’t be a problem or additional cost to you for your dream photographer to work at your dream venue!

As you can see, there is so much more to consider than ‘pretty spaces’ while searching for the perfect spot. We hope these Wedding Venue Search Tips help you in your hunt!