Every bride wants their guests to be absolutely taken aback the first moment they arrive at the wedding venue. But how do you find a place that has everything you want? Where do you even start? Here are some venue search tips to help you being your journey.
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 1 :: What do to first
Search the internet (i.e., theknot.com) for potential venues, and ask your married friends where they had their wedding. Once you get some ideas, read reviews from reputable websites such as yelp.com. After you’ve found some prospects, call the venues and ask for wedding date availability and how many guests they can hold. If everything checks out, book your viewing appointment!
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 2 :: Know what you’re looking for
Lakeside view? House of worship? Although I recommend knowing the exact setting you want before you go to the viewings, there’s nothing wrong with scoping out different places before choosing the one. But if you do opt to visit a type of location you’re not too sure about, also make appointments with kinds of venues you know you’re going to love.
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 3 :: Bring your budget
There’s nothing worse than starting your venue search without knowing how much you can spend on a place. Prior to the viewings, consult with your fiance, parents or whoever else is helping you out financially. This is especially important if you’re taking an out-of-town trip to find the venue, because you don’t want to later find out that your dream place isn’t within your budget and have to take another long trip back.
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 4 :: What’s the plan?
Are you getting married in a church and heading to a reception venue in another part of town? Or are your ceremony and reception going to be held in the same place? For the former, be sure that your guests are supplied with maps and information (especially out-of-towners). And for the latter, maybe have a cocktail hour to keep the flow of the wedding going while you take photos and move to the next room of the venue.
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 5 :: What suits you?
Keep in mind what your vision is for your ceremony and reception. When my fiance and I were on our venue hunt, we found an absolutely gorgeous place–but we knew it would just be too big for the small amount of guests we were having. Also, if a place has a rustic feel and you want a modern wedding, be sure that you’ll be able to tailor it to what you have in mind. Remember, even if the place seems perfect, it may not be perfect for your wedding!
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 6 :: Accommodations
Out-of-town guests? Don’t forget to ask how close the nearest hotels are. Your guests are already coming a long way, so if you can, find a venue that isn’t too far for them to drive. This is especially important after the reception when people would have to pay a high cab fare if they’ve had something to drink!
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 7 :: Know what to ask
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions while you’re there! Some suggestions are:
Do you do on-site catering? If so, it is included in the price?
Can I have my ceremony and reception here?
Is there a back-up place in case of inclement weather?
Can my hair and make-up be done on location?
How early can vendors begin to set up?
These are just a few of many questions you could ask. Make sure to do your research well in advance in order to make the most of your time there!
Finding Your Dream Venue Step 8 :: Come equipped
Don’t forget your camera, notebook and pen, budget, calendar and maybe a printout of this blog post 
When you’re visiting potential venues, ask yourself: Is this the type of place I’ve always imagined getting married at? If not, move on to the next one! Don’t ever settle girls, there’s always somewhere out there that will match exactly what you’ve always dreamed of!
