Types of Wedding Venues

If you’re planning a wedding and have yet to choose a venue, a simple internet search will reveal an overwhelming amount of choices of venues in your area. Before you walk down the aisle, it’s important to consider a few tips about the different types of wedding venues before settling for one. The different types of wedding venues range from a hotel and house of worship to botanical gardens, state park, private residence, beach and winery or vineyard.

Types of Wedding Venues

The most popular types of wedding venues include:

House of Worship

If you’re opting for a religious wedding, hosting the ceremony in a house of worship is a great way to celebrate your union. These sacred places work well for traditional weddings. They’re typically available for ceremonies only, but many offer event space where you can host your reception as well.

HotelTypes of Wedding Venues

Hotels make great wedding venues, especially if you’re hosting out-of-town guests. It’s a convenient way to stay on-site so no one has to worry about transportation costs. The hotel also makes a great venue for taking photos of the bride

Make a Guest List

Start by making a guest list. Assign them a ranking based on how important it is for them to attend your wedding. For example, one group can have family and close friends while another group can have old school buddies and co-workers. Add the lists and see how many people you would like to attend the wedding. Determining the approximate number of people will help you to search for a venue that can accommodate your guests.

Not All Budgets Are Apples to Apples

Rental prices will vary from one venue to another. For instance, some venues will include a coordinator. Others will include chairs, tables, and linens so you won’t have to spend extra to hire them. Some locations will allow you to serve your own drinks and refreshments while others will provide all the drinks and refreshments so you won’t have to deal with it. Don’t discount a venue because of the price tag. Many venues have a list of preferred vendors that can give you amazing discounts.

Consider a Rain Plan

Your venue of choice may look great on a sunny day but it always helps to brace yourself for inclement weather. The trick is to have a backup plan. For instance, if you go with a tent during hurricane season, you might have to arrange for an indoor location in the event of a tropical storm. Even though tropical storms are rare, there’s no harm in preparing for the worst just in case.

Handicap/ Ada Access

Some historic buildings are gorgeous but some of them can have special building permits that don’t require them to have access for handicap guests. This may require you to make special arrangements, especially if your guests need to have ramps to access the building.

Bottom Line

If you are recently engaged and looking for a wedding venue other popular types of wedding venues include a country club, mansion, restaurant, loft/modern space, and a park/ garden. Each location has its own pros and cons. The most critical thing, however, is to consider what’s most important for your day.