While deciding your outfit is paramount and selecting your wedding party is key, nothing defines your nuptial’s aesthetic and experience more than the choice of venue. Location, location, location: Your venue influences whether or not you will host your celebration outdoors, how you decorate, and even if you and your guests need passports to attend the ceremony. With so many beautiful locations around the world available to rent for your big day (or weekend), it takes some strategic decision-making to make sure you are choosing the wedding venue of your dreams.
Before you begin your search, planner Kia Marie of Kia Marie Events shares that discussing and agreeing upon an overall vision and scope is essential. “It’s crucial that the couple establishes a budget—pinpointing financial parameters for the celebration—and simultaneously determines the guest list size to gauge the scale of the event,” advises Marie. If family members are helping foot the wedding bill, they should also be included in these conversations. “In addition to financial and logistical aspects, delve into key priorities such as the preferred location type, whether it be a beach, mountain, or historic city setting. Consider cultural considerations that may impact the ceremony and festivities. Finally, outline your vision for the guest experience, ensuring that every aspect aligns seamlessly with your expectations for the wedding.”
One thing wedding experts agree on? Having a wedding planner join in early on your search will alleviate a serious amount of stress. “We highly recommend hiring your wedding planner prior to booking a venue, as venue searching can be one of the most time-intensive parts of the planning process,” shares Tracy Taylor Ward, owner and creative director of Tracy Taylor Ward Design. “Having the guidance of a seasoned expert through such an important decision can help you avoid making very expensive mistakes that may pose challenges down the road.” Marie echoes, “By booking a wedding planner early in the planning process, couples can benefit from their guidance and industry connections, setting the stage for a well-executed and personalized wedding experience.”
Whether you need help choosing your destination or want to know red flags to look out for in your research, read ahead for industry pros’ tips on everything you need to know about booking a wedding venue.
How to Choose Your Destination
Before you even begin looking at spaces to rent out for the big day, you should decide on the actual location of your wedding. To focus your selection, Ward advises, “Consider places that are significant to you as a couple, whether that be where one or each of you was raised, the location of where you met, or even just a dream destination that’s been on your bucket lists for a long time!”