Weddings are one of the biggest milestones in a couple’s life and they invest so much time and effort ensuring that everything on their big day is exactly as they want it to be. Deciding on the perfect venue for a wedding can be challenging – they want a place that provides everything they need to make their special day unique!
As a professional wedding photographer with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen first-hand the difficulties couples go through to make the perfect venue selection for their wedding. When it comes to selecting an ideal venue, I have some great tips to help any couple choose their perfect dream wedding location. Following are some questions that a couple can ask that will help them choose the ideal wedding venue for them.
5 Tips On How To Choose The Perfect Wedding Venue
1. Choose The Location and Type of Venue First
Having clarity on your location is the first step. Consider how far you and your guests will have to travel. Once that part’s checked off your list, figure out precisely what style of wedding you want. Do you fall head over heels for a barn backdrop? Is an outdoor ceremony more your style? Or do you envision a modern soiree or a ballroom hung with chandeliers? There are SO many venues that offer different vibes so although it’s tempting to narrow down your search by the cost, don’t forget this is your special day! Make sure the venue is aesthetically what you want and remember to enjoy the process.
2. Narrow Down The Space Needs
When choosing a venue, it’s important to pay attention to the capacity of the guests it can hold and also the layout and design of the particular space. Finding a venue that fits not only your preferred size but also allows enough room for both you and your guests to enjoy yourselves fully will give everyone an experience they won’t forget. Some venues say they can hold up to 300 guests but ask yourself if that takes up your precious dance floor space. You need to carefully consider these factors when selecting a venue.
3. Keep Your Guest’s Comfort Top of Mind
When you are selecting a wedding venue, it is important to make sure your guests have easy access throughout the space! You may have guests that use crutches or walkers or are bound to wheelchairs and thus ramps and doorways must be available. As a wedding photographer, I know how important it is to ensure the happiness of your guests. Taking small details into account can make a big difference when it comes to comfortability. Depending on the wedding style you want, your venue should match accordingly. Make sure when walking in that access is easy around the entrance and ramps are accessible where needed! Nobody should be left behind and everybody should feel welcome at your wedding.
4. Set Your Expectations
Narrowing down your venue choice means considering all the details and possible scenarios. Some venues offer to take care of the entire event, providing everything from catering to linens, bars, and ceremonies right on site, not to mention coordinators that can work behind-the-scenes troubleshooting any bumps in the road. On the other end of the spectrum are more basic offerings where you simply pay for the use of a space and bring everything else you need. Depending on your expectations, both come with benefits but also challenges that must be navigated carefully. Finding the right balance is key!
5. Prioritize Your Must-Haves
It’s very important to prioritize your must-haves when you’re selecting a venue. Of course, you’ll want a place that fits your vision and is the perfect home for your wedding, however, it can be hard to find one that has absolutely everything you want. Do you want lots of natural lighting? Are you looking for a barn or some other type of rustic charm? Or maybe you really have your heart set on a sparkler exit or confetti shower at the end of the night? Some venues don’t allow sparkler exits or confetti, so make sure you check the fine print if that is one of your must-haves.
In the end, it really does come down to going with your gut – you will know when it’s perfect. Once inside, all the little details won’t matter quite as much as how much joy and excitement you feel! When you find ‘the one’ venue for your special day, I promise you will walk in and feel like you can truly imagine yourself and all of your loved ones celebrating in that particular space.
Celebrate Weddings With Alicia Pierce Photography
As a Syracuse NY wedding photographer, I’ve been capturing weddings for 10 years. I have had the amazing opportunity to capture over 100 weddings and bring them to life in vibrant and timeless photographs. I’ve won awards along my journey and made countless beautiful memories with wonderful couples. I’m passionate about creating vivid and authentic images that are full of feeling – a candid shot here, an intimate moment there – so that your unique love story can be remembered for years to come. My goal is for your photos to showcase how much fun you’re having and make it clear how excited you are. If you’re the kind that loves adventure, let me capture those moments too! I love making sure your true personality shines in each image!
If you are looking for an engagement, elopement, or wedding photographer, you can send me an email or contact me here, and I will get back to you. You can also head to my website for more details and check out more of my work on Instagram and Facebook.
