Most Common Mistakes a Couple Makes When Choosing a Venue

Choosing a wedding venue is one of, if not the most, important decisions in wedding planning. Your wedding venue sets the tone of your wedding. Deciding what venue is best for you can feel overwhelming. We’re here to help you avoid the most common mistakes a couple makes when choosing a venue so everything is smooth and stress-free.

1. Not Being Organized – Set yourself up for success and be as organized as possible when searching for wedding venues. Before you even start your search, sit down with your partner and go over all the necessary details, including budget, guest count, desired dates and all your expectations. Discuss your overall vision, including your wedding style, color scheme, flowers and décor. This will help you narrow down which venues to reach out to and what questions to ask. Create a wedding venue spreadsheet to keep track of all the details so you can easily compare and contrast each venue to decide what makes the most sense for your wedding.

2. Waiting to Start Your Venue Search – After you get engaged, don’t wait to jump right into your venue search. Wedding venues can be booked one to two years out so it’s never too early to start your search to secure your day. Keep a list of all of your questions and criteria in one place so you can easily copy and paste that into all your venue inquiries. Once you hear back and receive answers, plug them into your spreadsheet to stay organized.

3. Not Asking All the Important Questions – It can be easy to overlook important questions to ask venues, which will halt you in fully understanding what is included, what needs to be brought in and how much everything will cost. It’s imperative to inquire about food and beverage minimums, site fees, capacity, if there are bride and groom suites on-site, if tables and chairs are included, what needs to be brought in (catering, lighting, sound, linens, china, silverware), etc. so there aren’t any surprises. Also be sure to ask about noise ordinance restrictions and the venue’s strict start and end time. If you wish to have an earlier start time or longer end time, it doesn’t hurt to ask the venue if you can purchase an additional hour.

4. Not Reading the Contract in Full – Not reading the venue contract in full is a very common mistake couples make. Be thorough. Some venues require a wedding coordinator or planner, and sometimes they have to be approved ahead of time by the venue. Some venues require you to provide transportation for your guests. Others require that you hire all the outside vendors from their approved list. Go through every single line item before signing the dotted line. Send the venue a list of questions or concerns. Sometimes venues are open to removing requirements on the contract, others are not.

5. Not Considering Nearby Guest Accommodations – If you’re planning to a destination wedding, make sure to research nearby hotels. Most hotels offer room blocks at discounted rates, which is always a great thing to offer your guests. If guests are arriving by plane, it’s definitely helpful if there’s an airport nearby.

We get it. Wedding planning can be an overwhelming, stressful process. We’re here to help steer you in the right direction so you avoid these common wedding venue mistakes and feel fully prepared. You got this!