Hi there! I am Lauren and I am a local wedding photographer! I love making the wedding planning process as smooth as possible for my clients so I share helpful articles about weddings! Want more information on my wedding services? Check out my wedding page! Keep reading to learn more about things to consider when selecting a wedding venue.

Things to Consider When Selecting a Wedding Venue

Finding the right wedding venue takes a lot of time and research and can often be one of the hardest parts of planning a wedding. You need to make sure that your venue ticks all the right boxes before you make a final decision. 

Your venue will influence your budget as well as the atmosphere on the day so before you sign on the dotted line, below are three important things to consider before you decide on your wedding venue. 

Venue size. Look at how many people you’re planning to invite to your wedding versus the number of people the venue can comfortably cater for. A crowded reception can be quite uncomfortable and if a venue is too large, it can affect the atmosphere and the overall look and feel. Put an initial guest list together before you start venue shopping so that you can make a better decision. If you are hosting a wedding with a large guest count, ask how many bathrooms the venue has. I have been to many weddings where there is only 2-3 bathrooms for 150+ guest and this creates long lines at the bathroom.

What about the drinks? If alcohol and drinks are a big part of your wedding then it’s important to find out whether you can bring your own alcohol and what the costs are or if the venue will supply the drinks. Since you will also need a licensed bartender to serve alcohol, find out whether the venue can assist with this so that you can factor those costs into your final budget. Due to liability issues, most venues are moving away from allowing you to bring in your own drinks. They are requiring you to use one of their preferred bartending companies. This can be expensive so do your research before committing to a venue or a bartending service.

Preferred vendors. You’re going to be working with several different vendors in the time leading up to and on your wedding day. Many venues require you to use their vendors so find out about this before you make a booking decision. If they do work with specific vendors, make sure that you’re happy with their experience, style, personality, and pricing. When a venue works with preferred vendors, it does mean they’re confident in their experience and ability to delivery. It’s more important for you to choose vendors that fit in with your budget and overall preferences. Preferred vendors can be really great to work with but don’t feel like you have to settle!

When touring venues, ask what their cleaning policy is and what you are responsible for at the end of the night. The last thing you want to do is be stuck cleaning a venue for several hours at the end of the night. If they do require you to clean up, ask if they have any recommended vendors who offer this service. If they do not offer this service, often times planners and day of coordinators can help.

There are many different factors to consider when choosing the perfect wedding venue but make sure that it’s a space that speaks to your personalities and style as a couple.

Maryland Wedding Photographer

Hi there and thank you for stopping by! My name is Lauren and I am the owner of Taylor’d Southern Events. I am a wedding and portrait photographer specializing in couples and families in Maryland. I hope you found my Wedding Venue feature I shared to be helpful. If you are interested in talking with me more about booking a session, let’s connect! Not quite ready but you know you will be interested in a session in the future? No problem! Follow me Instagram and lets be friends!