How to choose a wedding venue

..Today on the blog. I just want to dive in a little deeper about how to choose a wedding venue. I mentioned it a couple of weeks ago when I talked about the first things you need to do after you get engaged, and it’s becoming more and more important as 2022 books up quickly for Edmonton wedding venues. Although I’m going to encourage you to book a wedding venue sooner rather than later, this also is not a decision that should be rushed. Actually, if you know me at all, you’ll know that there are very few things that I think should be rushed. But seriously, a venue dictates so many things. Oftentimes they have preferred vendors (especially caterers!) and they can often take a huge portion of your wedding budget.

Don’t worry! I have 5 quick steps to try and make the decision a little easier (or at last, prevent you from venue regret!).

 

Hold up – who are you taking wedding advice from?

In case we haven’t met yet, and you’ve stumbled across this in a Google search or a Pinterest session, I’m Katie – wedding photographer here at Katie Ruegg photography.  If you haven’t checked out my “just engaged” post yet, definitely start there and then come back. If you’re looking for an Edmonton wedding photographer, I would LOVE to be considered and chat more. You can find out more about my wedding photography packages here, or contact me and let’s just have a conversation. As an extrovert, this virtual world is super hard for me, and I’d love to just have a conversation, okay?

Your guest count needs to be determined BEFORE you book your wedding venue.

I know, maybe you have a vague idea already. Although creating your guest list is not necessarily the most glamorous thing, it’s likely something you and your partner are going to need to discuss in great detail. You need to put together a guest list before you commit to a wedding venue with a large (or small) capacity. Even if you don’t have it finalized, you should break it down into who you MUST have there and who you would like to have. Together, come up with a number that is your absolute maximum and be firm on that number before you start to look at wedding venues that are around that range. You don’t want anything that is going to limit you but also because there truly is no worse feeling than telling someone that you can’t invite them because your wedding venue is full (assuming you want to!).

Basically, your guest count should dictate your wedding venue. Not the other way around. Extra tip? Don’t forget when venues have a guest count limit, they usually include your vendors. On the other hand, choosing a wedding venue that’s way too big for your guest list is often a pricey decision because you are paying for space and amenities you don’t really need.

Creating your Wedding Budget

So let’s talk about budget. Oftentimes, wedding venues will have a fee to use the space, but they may also have a minimum food/beverage spend. The minimum food and beverage spend is a little tricky, because you are essentially making two hires at once (your venue and your caterer) and together they likely take up a huge portion of your budget.

One step farther, you may also want to look at “all inclusive” venues which are becoming more popular. An all inclusive wedding venue will take care of things like catering, florals, rentals and more. Depending on the venue (and your wedding day style), this can end up being more or less expensive than choosing a “hands off” venue that allows you to piece everything together separately. This will give you more control over your wedding day budget, but it doesn’t always save you money so it’s worth considering what you are looking to spend in total before signing along the dotted line.

Consider Your Wedding Aesthetic

Once you have your budget and guest count, consider what you want your wedding aesthetic to be. Again, you can choose an already beautiful location, which likely comes with a higher price tag, or you can choose a more affordable wedding venue, like a community hall, and dress it up however your budget and vision allow. There are such a wide range of wedding venues in Alberta. Consider what you want your wedding day to look like, and how you can make that a reality. Is a city wedding venue, like the Muttart Conservatory or the Foundry room calling your name? Or would you prefer a barn wedding just outside the city?

Now you are ready to start looking at wedding venues!

Once you have everything else figured out (seriously!) you are ready to choose a wedding venues. The first question you’re going to want to ask is what availability they have left for 2022 and 2023 weddings. Personally, I also think you should consider a weekday or Friday or Sunday wedding too. It takes a lot of the vendor availability pressure off! Ultimately though, your wedding date is up to you. Only looking at wedding venues that fit your budget and guest count will save you a lot of heartache. My hope? Telling you to do that first also makes the search a lot easier!

Logistically, here are a few other questions to ask your wedding venue:

• Does your wedding venue have space for both the ceremony and/or reception?
• Is there a good spot for wedding photos nearby (or on the property)?
• What is their cancellation/postponement policy?
• When is the final payment deadline due? Does this change if you do need to postpone?
• How far away is this from your home or getting ready location? Will you be arranging transportation?
• Do they have a backup location in case it rains?

Book your wedding venue and save the date!

Once you found your wedding venue, you are ready to put down a deposit. Take a deep breath because this is the moment when you have officially saved the date. CONGRATULATIONS! You can now start booking the rest of your wedding vendors (if you are looking for an Edmonton wedding photographer, grab my pricing and packages information here!).

I know wedding venues are often a hot topic when you first get engaged so if you want more wedding venue tips on the blog, make sure to DM me on Instagram and let me know. I love writing blogs about what couples are actually asking for. If you just recently got engaged, I would love to hear from you and connect about your wedding photography vision. I get to live my dream job every day as a Edmonton wedding photographer and you can always, always, connect with me directly here. Congratulations and Happy Wedding Planning!