How To Choose A Unique Venue For The Wedding Of Your Dreams

Stronger economy and higher salaries have contributed to the wedding industry in the United States as it has reached $72 billion in revenue in 2016. Considering the average wedding costs $32,329, brides are clearly looking to execute a more elevated experience than the traditional banquet hall package of yesteryear. Regardless if you’re on a budget or you want a no-holds barred affair, it takes careful planning to choose the correct unique venue for your big day.

Things To Consider Before Choosing A Venue

Before choosing the type of venue, there are numerous questions you need to ask yourself to ensure your choice doesn’t exceed budget, amount of guests, present transportation problems, etc.

●     How many guests will you invite? This could affect your choice in venue.

●     What’s your budget? It’s important to establish this right away and stick with it. Experts suggest not spending more than 50 percent of your budget on a venue or you may not be able to afford the rest of the wedding.

●     When is the big day? If you’re willing to be flexible and/or get married on a Friday or Sunday versus a Saturday, you could spend less money and also have a greater chance of scoring a high-demand unique venue.

●     What’s the theme? The style of the wedding is often shaped by the venue, so choose this before going into all the other decor details so everything makes sense.

●     Will you be requiring guests to travel? This may very well naturally lower your guest count, as not everyone will be able to spend money — or take the time — for a destination wedding.

Unique Venue Options

Keep in mind that while a unique venue can offer a lot in terms of pre-existing decor and charm, it’s likely that you’ll have to rent all of the tables, linens, dishware, glasses, cutlery separately — not to mention pay for the labor for the catering staff and bartenders. There are a lot more details to manage when you choose a raw space, so if your budget allows, consider hiring a wedding planner to ensure everything runs smoothly before and on your big day.

●     Historic castle or estate: The perfect backdrop for a fairytale wedding, a historic venue makes guests feel as though they’re at home. There’s plenty of room to mingle and the grounds are likely to be the perfect backdrop for photos.

●     A natural landscape: Fresh air, sunshine, and nature naturally put people in a good mood, so consider saying, “I do” at a beach, vineyard, farm or nature park.

●     A cultural institution: Consider a museum, zoo, historical society, library, or music venue if you and your spouse-to-be have a particular cultural interest or passion.

●     Home sweet home: Nothing says family like a charming backyard wedding. There’s room for saving money with DIY projects such as an arbor or pergola for the occasion. Most homeowners spend from $2,459 to $3,802 nationally to build an arbor, pergola or trellis.

●     Industrial: Though cool and modern, spaces like a warehouse, art gallery, or loft could require a bit more in the decor department as they are traditionally more raw and open. The good news is there’s usually a lot of room for creativity.

The venue is the central part of creating the atmosphere at your wedding. Providing you’re organized, choosing a one-of-a-kind place to tie the knot is worth all the extra planning and organization. Venues come in all sizes and rates, so just be sure to choose one that suits your budget — if it’s already unique, you can’t go wrong.

Erin Reynolds is the creator of DIYMama.net, which provides resources to help others with home improvement projects and repairs. Keep an eye out for the DIY or Not Calculator, which will help you determine whether or not to take on a project yourself!

Photo Credit: Pixabay