How to Pick a Wedding Venue?
Being in the middle of a lockdown could FINALLY give you the time you need to plan that perfect wedding. While there are a lot of uncertainties with regards to when things will return to normal (shudder), nothing should stop you from doing your research, filling up those checklists, and pinning away on your Pinterest Boards.
To help you get started, we’ve put together five things you should consider when choosing a wedding venue. A wedding venue is the most important element of your wedding (of course!) and it single-handedly carries the weight of setting the mood for your wedding. Choosing the right one that checks all the boxes is not as easy as it seems, that’s why we hope this will help you shortlist venues. Happy planning!
1. Distance
Whether you’re planning a local wedding or a destination wedding, the location of the venue is crucial. Consider factors like how the guests are going to arrive at the venue, does it require them to travel long hours, will you have to arrange for travel or is the venue nearby, closer to the city, easily accessible, etc. Considering the above questions will help you plan your budget and choose appropriate venues.
2. Accommodation
You may want to consider accommodation facilities available at the venue, especially if the venue is away from the city. Account for all the family and friends travelling to be a part of your special day and look for venues that have accommodation within the property or good options nearby. Consider properties with only a handful of rooms as well, best last-night-before-the-wedding party option.
3. Outdoors, Indoors or Semi-outdoors
Just when you think you’ve narrowed it down, comes more options to consider. Do you want an empty canvas that you can paint however you want, or do you want a stencil to sketch in? An outdoor venue might give you the flexibility of designing it from scratch but an indoor venue with existing setups might save a buck or two as well. Choosing between outdoor and indoor spaces involves considering the weather, the number of people it can accommodate, the décor capabilities or even the type of event you’re hosting. A great venue would be one that offers all three options, that way you can choose where each event is held without leaving the venue.
4. Customisation
It might not seem like a huge consideration, but it does make a difference when it comes to choosing how you want your venue to look. Remember the painting canvas and stencil analogy we made earlier? It’s just that — choose between the existing ‘vibe’ or have the option of customising everything to the t. This is where the primary difference between a hotel and an independent wedding venue comes into play and Wedding Photography packages also play an important role.
5. Budget
Last but not the least, our absolute favourite — Money. No matter how much we love anything, at the end of the day, the smart thing to do is to ask yourselves what value this is going to add. Your biggest chunk of expenditure will go to the wedding venue, so make smart, informed decisions. Compare properties to check what value you get out of Property A in terms of perks vs Property B. How flexible is the venue to accommodate your requests and not burn a hole in your pocket while at it.
There you go, that was our five key criteria you can bench venues against. Remember, as cliched as it sounds, at the end of the day, it truly is the people that make the difference at your wedding. A perfect setting doesn’t hurt though ☺
