Choosing a Wedding Location

In conjunction with choosing a wedding date, an important initial step as you plan your wedding  is choosing a location. Aside from ambience, cost and convenience are also things you need to sketch out as you narrow down options. If you don't already have an idea of the type of venue you're looking for, you should consider the questions below. And as you begin to research and visit venues, make sure to bring along this more comprehensive list of questions to ask the location coordinator.

• Will the location require your guests to travel and pay for lodging?
• Will this be a problem for your elderly guests or guests with young children?
• Does the location have the parking and lodging to accommodate your party size? Is it large enough in general (for dancing/band/catering)?
• Is the site reputable? Do online research to read reviews or ask around to see if anyone has been to or utilised the venue.
• Do they offer catering services? If they do, will you still have the option to use an outside vendor if necessary?
• What are the bar policies?
• Does the venue fall within your budget?
• Is the location available for the dates you've narrowed down?
• What extra services does the venue provide? How do they facilitate the wedding-planning process?

If you haven't already determined this, you'll need to decide on the scale  of your wedding before going ahead and booking a location. Once you've decided between informal and extravagant, you should determine whether you'd like to keep the event close to home or, perhaps, closer to your honeymoon location if you happen to be planning a destination wedding. Are you going to have a theme? Are you trying to evoke a certain mood?  Will the venue mesh with your personality as a couple? The more questions you ask yourself, the easier it will be to narrow down what you're really looking for.

Medium to Large Weddings

• Banquet halls are advantageous for larger parties because they often come equipped with a dance floor and bar area. Usually, there is an on-site planner that helps arrange decorations and catering, which can be a great relief. This option makes the process a little simpler while still offering a grandiose wedding experience.
• Hotel ballrooms can also accommodate larger weddings while offering adaptable atmospheres. The biggest advantage of utilising a hotel  ballroom is the available lodging for out-of-town guests, often for discounted rates. Large hotels have prepared staff to handle the catering and details of the wedding as well.
• Country clubs are a good option for a quaint, attractive setting, especially if you're already a member. Aside from the little things they can offer, like parking and coat  checking, they have similar packages to hotels. If you are not a member of a particular country club, make sure to see the venue or talk to members in order to research the quality of food,  service, and reputation.
• If you need more help with the specifics, please see the Guide to Finding a Reception Hall.

Small to Medium Weddings

• Outdoor weddings are an attractive option, but often leave many things up to chance. They require an extensive amount of planning but, if you have the weather on your side, can be the most beautiful ceremonies. The most important things to consider are heat and rain, and extreme weather can be made up for with wedding insurance. Various options include: National parks, zoos, theme parks, wineries,  race tracks, beaches, ranches, gardens, and orchards.
• A place of worship, like a church, synagogue, or mosque, offer a simple and tasteful option. On the one hand, this is an inexpensive option that eliminates the need for two separate venues. On the other, you'll have to provide your own decorations  and food.
• A local reception hall is a good option for a small, informal wedding. If offers a good amount of space for a low cost, but you'll have to dress it up to make it fancy.
• Restaurants can provide a cosy atmosphere for smaller parties, but are probably not best if music and dancing are a main priority for your reception. Some larger restaurants have consulting services to facilitate planning, and once you add flowers,  decorations,  and music, you can transform your favourite restaurant into an ideal location.

Home Weddings

• A more intimate atmosphere can be achieved with an at-home wedding, but there's a lot of work that has to go into setting this up in your or a friend's home. Listed below are some potential problems you may run into, and if you can't imagine dealing with these issues, consider hiring a wedding planner since you're saving some money on the venue.
• Space Invasion
• Preparing your house for a large amount of guests may require extensive renovations/cleaning at most and a giving up of control at least. If you get nervous about the potential messes of small dinner parties, then 100 people tracking through your house for the wedding may put you over the edge. Besides your guests, there will be caterers, the florist,  the band/DJ, so you'll probably feel like your house is a madhouse for a couple of days.
• Cheaper But Not Cheap
• While you'll be able to prepare a lot of your house yourself, you will have to pay for any damages that occur during the wedding.
• If you're having an outdoor wedding at home, you'll have to absorb the cost of tents,  chairs,  tables,  portable toilets, and a dance floor. As you're going along, you may run into larger problems, like a need for outdoor lighting  or a cooling system  for the hot summer months.
• Make sure that your kitchen  and dining area  are large enough to accommodate any food preparation by the caterers.
• Space Limitations
• While parking may be free at home, you're going to need more than a two-car driveway for an entire wedding. Make sure to check with your neighbours and local officials to see if parking on the street will pose a problem.
• If you're having an indoor wedding, imagine ahead of time where you might fit a dance floor. Try to get creative with your use of space. 

Less Traditional Options

• Destination Weddings are quickly becoming an attractive option for couples wanting to create an intimate wedding and a unique vacation experience for their guests. Usually, the location adds enough flair so that extensive decorations aren't needed; you let the location provide the theme and ambience.
• Boats and cruises  are locations that also come with little imagination required; your theme and atmosphere are decided for you. Cruises often provide their own catering, so it may be less stressful to have a few things taken care of for you.
• Historical sites are a fun way to do a themed or old-fashioned wedding. Since these sites aren't typical for weddings, you should make sure that there is sufficient kitchen and dancing space, and multiple bathrooms. Aside from this, you'll need to provide your own decorations, catering, beverages,  etc.
• Museums, zoos, gardens, theatres, and similar locations are creative options, and some even offer catering and similar services if they are often used for weddings or large events. Since these are more extravagant options, these venues may be rather expensive.
• Skydiving,  scuba diving, horseback riding,  hot air ballooning,  surfing, skiing, biking, and parachuting  are action-packed ideas for the event. For more adventurous couples, these personalised experiences can start off the marriage on a romantic foot.

Next: Check out Questions to Ask Before Reserving a Ceremony Site.

Related Guides

Choosing a Wedding Date	Ceremony and Reception Decorations	Ceremony Checklist	Wedding Rentals	Choosing an Officiant