Several factors exist when searching for the perfect wedding venue.  The following aspects will help you prioritize what is most important for you in your wedding venue and make it easier for you to organize and select your venue.

Location

Within the consideration of the location, there are several aspects.  Distance is the first one to consider.  Choosing a venue that is close enough to your homes or a hotel you will be staying in is priority.  Second to that is the convenience for the majority of the guests to drive to your wedding venue.  Included in the category of location is the view.  If you are having an outdoor wedding, you should consider what the backdrop of your wedding is going to look like.  Some couples prefer the beach or a park scene, while others enjoy a golf course or lake look.  The view is going to be in all your wedding pictures, so this is very important when hunting for a wedding venue.  Amongst the location also lies the availability of parking and the safety of the surrounding area.  You don’t want your guests getting mugged while they are leaving your reception on a little buzz.  Although that’s an over-exaggeration, it is something to take into consideration when selecting a suitable venue.

Pricing

Generally, hotels and country clubs are more expensive than event venues and historical locations to hold a wedding.  Factor into the equation the cost of food.  If the venue is providing catering in the price, it may be cheaper than if you need to select an outside caterer to bring food on site and serve during your event.  Inquire about extra fees such as adding time on to your package, chair covers, decorations, and beverage fees.

Space

Your venue needs to be able to accommodate your guests comfortably.  This includes space for a dance floor, chuppah, mandap, extra decorations, stage, etc.  Any details that you would like to add to your wedding that would take up space in the venue need to be taken into consideration.  This is especially true for large weddings, like South Asian weddings, that have many guests, a buffet area, and decor that take up space in the venue.

Flexibility

Some venues are very stringent when it comes to their established rules and policies.  Ensure that they will allow certain aspects of your wedding that you need.  For example, if you need to bring in an outside decorator, they may need to possess a certain amount of insurances in order to work at that facility.  Additionally, if you have some sort of food restrictions and need an outside caterer, ensure that the venue will allow that.  Additionally, it is not uncommon for venues to prohibit fog machines, confetti, throwing raw rice, lit candles, and more.  Ensure that your dream venue can work with you to create the perfect wedding with all the aspects and details that you need.

Finding your perfect wedding venue is not easy.  You will need to visit several locations and ask the catering or evens director MANY questions.  However, a wedding coordinator can significantly ease the process for you since they have the resources and have worked with many venues themselves.  Additionally, if you are specifically searching for an outdoor wedding venue, there are different aspects to consider that affect your selection, you can check out our Advice for a Beautiful Outdoor Wedding.  Stay sharp and stay on top during your wedding venue hunt.