What to Look for in a Wedding Venue | Dallas Photographers

What to look for in a Wedding Venue

When it comes to finding the perfect wedding venue, it can be hard to know what to look for! After all, there are so many details to take into consideration—the number of guests you’re inviting, your wedding colors, even the organization of your reception.

Here are a few things to take into consideration as you’re touring potential wedding and reception venues!

Make sure there’s plenty of room.

Before touring venues, you should have a good idea of how many people you plan to invite. You’ll want to make sure that the venue you choose is large enough to comfortably accommodate all your guests. After all, you don’t want a dance floor where no one can move!

The best way to determine if a venue is large enough for your needs is to visit it when another wedding is set up. That way you can see how tables, chairs, the live band or DJ’s equipment, and other pieces all fit. An empty ballroom can look enormous, but everything you need for your reception can quickly take up space. Some venues have photos of past weddings with the guest count noted so you can look at those options too.

Determine the level of privacy you want.

Some venues hold multiple events at the same time, which means your guests could run into guests at another wedding. Some brides and grooms don’t mind, especially if it means they get to have their dream venue. But others would prefer a little more privacy.

Talk to your fiancé about how much privacy you want at your wedding and how important that factor is to you. And if you choose to have your wedding in a public area, like at a park or local garden, be aware that strangers will wander past during your big day. If that’s something you’d like to avoid, consider opting for a private venue.

Study the flow and organization of the space.

Consider how you would set up the venue to create designated areas for eating, dancing, and other wedding staples like cutting the cake. As you explore the space, try to imagine where each part of the reception would take place. Taking organization into consideration is especially important if you’re planning on having your ceremony in the same venue as your reception.

Pay attention to the décor.

If you have a specific color palette or theme in mind for your wedding, make sure the existing décor of your venue doesn’t clash. Ideally, the walls, floors, chairs, and other items already in the space should be neutral, the better to go with whatever colors you choose. If you can, bring along some samples of your wedding colors to see how they would look in the space.

What’s the rain backup plan?

If it happens to rain on your wedding day, see what the options are for an indoor ceremony. Do you like that option if you had to have all your photos taken inside? Will you have to flip the room after the ceremony? This is all good to ask when touring. You want to make sure you are happy with the rain options.

Hidden fees.

Some venues charge you for lots of things that you don’t think about until you’ve already signed. Make sure to ask about all fees that you will be charge on top of the venue price.

Take note of the details.

Sometimes it’s the littlest things that are the most important! Take note of how much parking is available near or at the venue. If you love the space, but parking will be an issue, look into other modes of transportation for guests, like a shuttle bus or even a trolley. Keep in mind that, while parking issues isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it may mean additional costs.  

If you take the time to take note of the details in a potential venue and see how the space will work for your big day, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect venue for your wedding!

Lastly, READ Reviews.

With all vendors, read reviews on The Knot, Wedding Wire, Google, Better Business Bureau, and Wedding Facebook Groups. Search for your venue/vendors to make sure you are comfortable giving money and signing a contract with them. Don’t settle for the most inexpensive because that may cost you more money and headaches in the end.