Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Once you have become engaged to the love of your life, your life has likely become a whirlwind of decision making and you may have a hectic schedule. This is especially true if you have opted for a short-term engagement. One of the first things you will need to do after becoming engaged is to find your wedding venue and, if necessary, book your wedding date. Making this decision first can help you base your other decisions off of your venue, and it can give you an idea of the direction your wedding is going. Here are some things to consider before selecting your wedding venue.
Venue: Outside or Inside
Some people have always dreamed of having a wedding outdoors. Whether it's on the beach or simply in someone's backyard, it can be a dream come true for many couples to wed outdoors. However, there are several factors that come into play for an outdoor wedding that would not for an indoor wedding. The weather is the main thing those who are planning an outdoor wedding need to focus on. Depending on your location, there are several ways weather could disrupt your wedding. This includes things such as:
- Rain
- Snow
- Wind
- Extreme temperatures (either hot or cold)
Have a backup plan available in case the weather is not what you hoped for. For example, you might want to have tents for your guests if there is a chance of rain. If you are getting married during one of the cooler months, you may need to invest in heat lamps. Being prepared for these things can help prevent headaches if any weather issues should arise.
Guest List
Another important factor for finding your wedding venue is your wedding party size as well as the size of your guest list. While you may not have gotten many RSVPs for your wedding yet, you should be able to come up with a decent estimate of how many people will be at your wedding. You want to have enough space for everyone without feeling overcrowded and uncomfortable. While that small barn out in the country may seem cozy and romantic, it's probably not the best place to get married if you have the potential of having hundreds of people attend your wedding. On the flip side, you may not want a church sanctuary that holds hundreds of people if you are planning on having a small wedding with fewer than 100 guests.
Religious or Secular
If you are a religious person, then you might decide you would like to have your wedding in your church or perhaps another religious spot in your town. If you are not religious, then you might feel more comfortable having your wedding at a secular location. Somewhere like a country club or ball room in a hotel may be a good choice for you. Determining whether or not you are planning a religious or secular ceremony can be helpful in deciding where your wedding should be.
Travel
Consider the amount of time it will take the majority of your guests to travel to your wedding venue. Of course, out-of-towners will likely have to travel a long way no matter what, but for those who live close to you, you might want to choose a place within an hour of most of them. While most probably wouldn't skip your wedding simply because travel could take a while, it can help ensure everyone is able to get there without getting stuck in traffic or dealing with other headaches.
Finding your wedding venue is one of the first and most important steps to planning your wedding. Consider these things when determining where the right wedding venue is for you.
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