Five Brainstorming Ideas for Venues

By Natalie Tsang

November 28, 2011

Are you recently engaged and have no idea where to get hitched? I know some couples who knew where they were going to get married before he even proposed. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky.

The clock is ticking and all the while there are so many factors to consider! Should you get married near his family, yours, or have a destination wedding? Outside or inside? Spring, summer, fall, or winter?

Put the Guests First

Determining your guest list before picking a venue is suggested for brides and grooms on a budget. While others fall in love with a venue first and then finalize the guest list, if you're indecisive, this is one route to go.

Ask yourself how many guests can you reasonably accommodate? Is grandpa coming? Does that mean your venue should be wheelchair accessible and preferably inside. Do you have many young professionals with rigid schedules? Or young families? Would a summer wedding be more practical then? If your families are scattered across the country, and hence a destination wedding makes sense since most people will be traveling anyway.

Budget

Couples often spend thirty to fifty percent on their reception. This includes rental and equipment. Calculating your budget early on will also narrow down the choices.

Date

Already have an anniversary date picked out already? Some couples already have several dates that are extremely meaningful to them. In some cultures, certain days are considered more fortuitous than others. In Western culture, summer is the traditional time to get married. June is named after the Roman goddess Juno, the patron goddess of women and marriage.

Passions

What do you love? Wine tasting, barbecue, or the color purple? Carnivals? The 50's? In this age, brides are constantly trying to break the traditional mold and have weddings that describe their personal style.

If you love nature, a national or public park might be just the thing! If you're environmentally conscious, a green-oriented venue can lessen your carbon footprint.

Inspiration Boards

Scour the web, wedding magazines, and get a notebook. Jot down things that catch your eye. Favorite trends, colors, textures, places, and ideas. Perhaps you're indecisive because you're not sure what's out there. Once you get a sense of how other people are having weddings, your own opinion will emerge.