You’re going to make a lot of decisions in the process of planning your wedding day, but one of the biggest that you’ll make, if not the biggest, is the venue. It determines many things and factors into most other vendors that you’ll have on the big day. In this post, we will cover all the helpful tips when figuring out how to choose a wedding venue.

From how many people the venue can accommodate, what they offer, location, budget, and more, there’s a lot to keep in mind. Each factor may have different significance for everyone. It’s important to remember what you’re looking for most and keep those items at the forefront of your decision. By the time you have to make your decision, you should have a fairly good idea of what your top choices are. 

Let’s go through the major factors that go into choosing a wedding venue together, and then we’ll talk about next steps.  

Budget for a Wedding Venue

The big-ticket item most people want to know: how much does a wedding venue cost?! Budget is typically one of the bigger factors in determining your wedding venue. If you have a strict budget, it’s pretty clear which ones are out of the picture if you get googly-eyed sticker shock. But, weddings don’t always have to break the bank. Some brides that opt for DIY weddings can get creative with cost-saving solutions, while all-inclusive venues offer everything in one place for one lump sum. It all depends on what you want and how big you’re willing to go.  

Check out our Ultimate Wedding Venue Guide here for some of the best Michigan wedding venues.

Location, location, location

A crucial aspect to your wedding day experience is where your venue is located. There are a couple different factors to location, including your personal vision, and what is available around you that fits that vision. Think about how you envision your day and your traveling plans – do you want to spend a chunk of time in the car driving? Is that worth it for the vision that you’re getting? Going from there, how much of the guest list would have to spend time traveling? Does it make sense for them based on where they’re coming from? If not, is there a middle ground that you could research?   

Wedding Venue Availability

By this point in your planning, you may have some idea of when you want your wedding. Once you have some locations in mind, it’s a good idea to start reaching out to see if they have your timeframe or specific date available. If you reach out and find that a venue is available, but not for the date you wanted, or perhaps not the season you were hoping for, consider if the venue is still worth the sacrifice of not getting that date or season.

Don’t forget to consider the timing in a venue’s availability, too. If you’re looking for an all night party where things wrap up at 2 a.m., you’ll want to find venues that accommodate. Many venues have listed on their events page the timeframes that they offer which are typically afternoon and evening options, and occasionally a late morning if you want more of a brunch-y feel.   

Accommodations 

This is a pretty full category, but bear with us! This is where more of the research comes into play. If you’re going DIY, consider the space arrangement, how much space you’d have to fill, and what items, if any, that the venue comes with that you will not have to plan for. For all-inclusive wedding venues, request the venue’s packages and explore all the options. If it’s not explicit, now is the time to ask the venues your questions. 

Here are some factors to consider when choosing your wedding venue:

• Guest count
• Space
• Rooms
• Special requests that may be needed, and how prepared the venue is for a change in plans

Here are some more questions for you to ask when considering the venue:

• Is the venue large enough for the number you’re expecting (don’t forget to count yourself in the total)?
• Can the venue be arranged to fit all of those guests comfortably, and leave ample room to mingle?
• Are there multiple rooms you can use?
• Will the venue be shared with another event happening at the same time?
• Do you have anyone on your guest list that may need special consideration in moving about the venue? 
• What are their backup plans for rain and bad weather?

Our tip: When you narrow down to about three venues, it’s time to schedule tours and physically view each property to get a feel for which one you like best. When you view each space, remember that it won’t be set up exactly how you envision it yet. Consider touring the space during the same season of your wedding if possible. This way you can better envision your wedding there!

Wedding Venue Restrictions

While going through vendor packages, think about any part of your big day that may be brought in by other vendors. Check on the venue websites or email a venue coordinator to see if they have any vendor restrictions. If it’s unclear, or there are strict rules on outside vendors, but for example, you really wanted your great aunt’s friend who owns a bakery to make your cake, just reach out and ask if they offer any exceptions to your situation. The worst they can say is no, or offer a work-around! 

While checking vendor restrictions, also read about if the venue has any restrictions for activities on the premises or decoration limitations. Some venues, for example, do not allow active flames to be part of your decor. So if you wanted to do a sparkler send off, that may not be allowed and you’d have to come up with another alternative.    

Vision and Aesthetic

When you know, you know, right? Listening to your gut is important when it comes to choosing your venue. If you take a tour and it checks the boxes but doesn’t give you that ‘wow’ feeling like your fiance does, note that. But if you walk into a venue and you can see yourself having your first dance and it makes you want to cry, that’s a really good sign.

While you try to find a tissue because you have a little dust in your eye, also consider if it has the vision you were hoping to have in your wedding pictures. Can you see yourself looking back on photographs taken here? At the end of the day, this is where you’re making your wedding memories, and you want to be able to look back and be completely happy.   

Wedding Venues in Metro Detroit

Hopefully at this point, you have a pretty good idea of what your top priorities are in a venue. When it’s decision time, weigh the pros and cons and choose the venue that brings you the most pros and the most peace. If you are still looking for guidance for choosing the perfect venue, feel free to contact us and let us know what you’re looking for. We’ve been to dozens of venues and can share some we think will be a great fit!

It’s a big decision, but one you have complete control over. And remember, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to! You don’t have to conform to what the venues offer. This is like a mini job interview for them – they have to be the right fit for you. You’ve got this! Happy planning, beautiful bride!  

The blog post was written with the help of content writer Caralyn May.