Whether it's because you're planning a destination wedding and you can't travel immediately to visit your location or you're prevented from doing so because of work, vacation, or social-distancing, it's important to feel good about your wedding venue search.
You might be asking:
- How do I know if a wedding venue is right for us?
- How do we narrow down our list of wedding venues?
- What questions should I ask?
In today’s blog post, I’m going to show you how to pick a wedding venue virtually or even if you can’t visit in person!
Step #1: Narrow Down Your Venue Priorities
Know what kind of style you want.
Are you looking for something outdoors? Do you have a preference of what outdoor views it will have (lake views, farm, gardens, etc.) Or are you looking for an indoor venue? If it is indoor, what style are you looking for? Industrial? Traditional? These are all very important aspects to know before you start looking for a venue, while social distancing.
Know if you want to have your ceremony on-site
Some venues have space for a ceremony on the property, while others will require you to have a separate ceremony site. If you're planning on getting married in a place of worship, you won't need a reception space with a ceremony site. So that helps narrow things a bit.
Know what your guest count will look like
This is one of the biggest things when booking a venue! Your guest count will dictate your final venue selection. If you have 50 guests, you might not want a venue that holds 400 people, since it will be too big. If you have a large guest list, that will eliminate smaller venues. Remember, when looking at venue size, the number of people that can be seated will be less than standing room. Always look at their seated guest limit.
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Step #2: Conduct Virtual Venue Visits
Once you have a list of potential properties and have followed step one, it’s time to do virtual tours! I recommend limiting these to the top 3 venues. This way it’s not overwhelming when you start seeing them virtually and comparing your choices.
Make sure to ask the venue coordinator to walk you through the wedding experience as if you were on an in-person site visit. You really want to get a feel for the space! So ask to see both indoor and outdoor areas. Also, ask them to show you the images of the places you would be seeing if it was an in-person visit. This includes the bathrooms, kitchen, getting ready suites, and all the rooms you'll have access to.
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Step #3: Compare the Pro’s and Con’s
Although your visit will be virtual – make sure to take notes during it! Write down what you love, don’t love, and think about how it fits in your vision. Ask yourself these questions:
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- How do they compare in terms of checking off all the items on your wish list?
- How do they compare price-wise?
- What are all the items the venue includes (tables? chairs? restrooms? linens? catering?)
- Which one makes you most excited to get married?
Looking for a complete list of questions for your virtual venue tour? Get my FREE guide: 20 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Venue!
In case you scrolled to the bottom…
Your wedding venue is one of the most important decisions in the wedding planning process! During this time of social distancing, you might not be able to tour venues in person. So it’s important to know how to pick your wedding venue while social distancing. It’s important to book your venue sooner rather than later. There are going to be a LOT of weddings in 2021! There is a lot of uncertainty out there – but by following these steps, you can pick your venue with confidence!
Also – don't forget to check out the Wedding Master Planner! This step-by-step wedding planning blueprint will help you plan and design the wedding you always envisioned.
Photography by: Alexandra Meseke
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