5 things to know before you start touring wedding venues

Congratulations, you’re engaged and planning your wedding!! You probably already know that the first vendor you select will be your venue. All your other vendor decisions flow from that because you can’t book your other vendors until you have a wedding date. Here are things to know before you start touring wedding venues.
 
Most engaged couples reach out to 8-10 venues to gather information, and then tour 2-4 before making a decision. Sometimes they tour just one, because when they get there, they know it’s The One! This happens to us often at the Barn at Bradstreet Farm.
 
Before you spend time investigating or touring venues, there’s some information you need to gather:
 
The year and season you prefer for your wedding. This is the first question prospective venues will ask you. The more flexible you are, the more availability you’ll find. Many venues book 12-24 months in advance. If you’re looking to book within 12 months, you’ll need to be flexible. Saturdays tend to sell out first – if you’re OK with a Friday or Sunday (which – bonus! – are often less expensive), let the venues know.
 
Approximately how many people you’re inviting. You really need to do a list to get a rough count. This is important because all venues have a maximum capacity, and some even have a minimum. If you book a venue with a max capacity of 100, and then realize later that you have 150, you’ll be in trouble. Conversely, many venues have food & beverage minimums of 100 or more (meaning, you’ll pay for 100 even if you have fewer guests) – if you think you’ll have fewer than 100 guests, look for venues with low or no minimums.
 
What style you’re looking for. Do you want a hotel ballroom, a beach, a vineyard, a museum, a rustic barn? Scour photos online to help determine your aesthetic.
 
What kind of experience you’re looking for. Are you a DIY couple, or looking for more of a concierge experience, with a venue team that can help you bring it all together and run your day to reduce your stress?
 
Your approximate budget. The venue is often the biggest expense for a wedding, or #2 after catering. You need to have a realistic sense of what your total budget is going to be and screen out the ones you know you can’t afford. There is no sense in touring venues that you know you can’t book – you’ll be setting yourself up for disappointment.
 
Send any other questions you have to [email protected], and we’re happy to answer them! Happy venue hunting!