Everyone wants their special day to be perfect. That starts with the perfect venue to fit your style and needs of your wedding. With so many to choose from, it can be very overwhelming to find a place that has the best fit.
I know for myself, as a type A person and perpetual planner, I fear the unknown. So, like most brides, this whole wedding planning process feels a little daunting. While I can think and plan for every scenario I can, there will always some situations I just can’t predict. That’s why for this post, I enlisted the help of other experience brides and coordinators to share their wisdoms on finding and securing the perfect venue.
The Big Three Rule
A few years ago, I was on a press trip with photographer who did A LOT of weddings. He shared with us that in wedding planning, it helps immensely to prioritize. Coordinating a big day with his own fiancé, he shared they have a “pick three rule”. They both chose three things that were the most important to them (For example – food, venue, flowers or venue, photographer, open bar) Of course, I took this wisdom for the day I would start planning my wedding.
Break Down your Prefect Wedding Venue Vision
To me, the most important of the three is the wedding venue. I feel like the photos and food pale in comparison to a gorgeous view. Growing up, I said I wanted to get married “on a mountain in autumn overlooking a lake”. As we started looking, I wasn’t sure a place like that existed.
Learning moment: Your ‘perfect’ venue probably doesn’t exist. However, if you break down what makes it the best fit for you, you will find it. Does it have a killer view? Is it by the water? It is outdoor? By breaking apart the pieces of the picture in your head, it makes it a whole lot easier.
On the same press trip I described earlier, one of the other bloggers said that everyone has signs from universe, a concept from the Universe Has Your Back. In short, from a brief meditation a reoccurring symbol will present itself to you. This personal symbol will then go on to guide you on your life path. Hers, she told us, was three mountain peaks together.
I went home and thought about it, and while I may have many symbols, a huge one for me is a golden retriever. Not just seeing my dog at home, but an unexpected furry friend on my run. Or, after I get off a hard phone meeting and then step outside my apartment to see a rare golden friend.
When we first went to Basin Harbor, I was shocked that a place like this existed. When I first arrived to Basin Harbor, I was greeted by two goldens. Fondly called the “Golden girls”, Rosie and Piper are not only the owners’ dogs, but also the best tour guides. Maybe it was a sign from the universe?
Narrow by Location
The first thing we did in our venue search was narrow to 1-2 locations. New England is our home and we knew we wanted to get married here. Turns out, there are a lot of wedding venues in New England. So, we narrowed even further to include only 2-3 states we’d be happy with and would be easiest for our family. It just so happened that my search was made easier during my previous trip to Basin Harbor which you can read here.
Use your Previous Experience
In the past few years, we’ve been to many weddings. With each one, I find a few things that I really love. While every wedding venue our family and friends have chosen was just gorgeous, there was one thing that really stood out to us. We loved venues were everyone could stay within walking distance to the ceremony, reception and after party. The ease of being able to run back to your room and then rejoin the party was just amazing. People are spending money and time to visit with us on our special day. So, we want to maximize on our time together.
Search while on vacation
As a nurse and a blogger, I work every third weekend. That means that my only time with Marshall is on weeknights. On my “free” weekends, I rarely want to lug around the New England beyond looking at venues. So, I planned some venue tours on Sundays after visiting friends in Maine as well as planned a fun weekend around looking at a venue in Vermont.
It also helps to visit your potential wedding site during the time of year you hope to book. For example, we went up to Vergennes, VT in October. We want an outside wedding and were chilled to the bone. The historical weather pattern was also so-so. The best part about Basin Harbor is the amount of outdoor activities it has to offer. While we can’t predict the weather, having it during a warmer part of the year would be ideal.
Shop around
See a few venues before making your final decision. If you are totally sure. At best, you realize new things you didn’t know you wanted in the big day. At worst, you realize the space wasn’t for you and you move on.
What questions to ask when you find the perfect wedding venue
So you found your perfect venue! Congrats! Here are some of the best questions to ask so you aren’t blindsided:
How much is due to secure the date? What does the payment plan look like? Is it refundable? How many other weddings can be booked for my date?
What does the venue provide? (remember some venues require rentals of tables, linens, and silverware)
How many people can each space accommodate? Many venues, like Basin Harbor, have multiple ceremony and reception sites. See what the capacity is for each and check your list before securing.
Is there are a day of / wedding coordinator? Sometimes, the wedding will provide a point of contact for your special day. I can’t stress this enough – ask their roles. Do they coordinate guests? Help move your schedule around?
Can I bring my own caterer/cake? Will they have kitchen space? Is there a cake cutting fee?
Is there a minimum block minimum? Some places with available accommodations hold the couple responsible for a certain number of room reservations – if your friends chose to stay off site you could be in a pickle.
Are you licensed to serve alcohol? Can I bring my own with a licensed bar tender? Liquor licenses are weird and there are a lot of rules. Bringing in your own bartender may also result in additional permits.
Can we use candles / confetti / fireworks/ animals insert your fun-but- potentially-dangerous liability here? Some places DO NOT allow dogs. If you want Fido in the wedding, it won’t be allowed in some spaces due to their insurance.
Is there a sound system or speeches? Space heaters? A dance floor (if outside) ? Don’t assume your venue has anything. Photos of previous weddings at the space can be deceiving.
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