Choosing a wedding venue is not always easy. Every now and then I come across a couple that knows exactly where they are getting married, and simply booked. But most couples, myself and Richie included, had to do a considerable amount of research before we settled on our wedding venue, The Rams Head Inn. We researched many venues in our area, pseudo-destination locations, and venues that were a total “pipe dream” (way out of our budget). Having searched for venues for not just myself but for my clients, I’ve learned a number of things about how to choose a wedding venue.

Photo by Idalia Photography

Today I’m going to give you alllll my experience in one place! No need to learn from trial and error; for hours of internet research; countless visits to different venues. You can narrow down your search before digging in too deeply, or worse, getting your heart set on a venue that you can’t have.

How to Choose a Wedding Venue

• How many people are going to be on my guest list? Remember to include yourselves and your wedding party. You don’t have to carve your guest list in stone. But coming up with a range will help you to select venues that can accommodate your plans.
• How much do I want to spend per guest? A ball-park figure is OK for this stage of planning, but you might want to identify a maximum, and work within a range. Some venues will allow you to choose a caterer to work with and this will help you to also customize your budget. But other locations do not give you a choice in caterers, and this makes it harder. Its’ not impossible, because  you can still customize your menu. Some venues will allow you to negotiate and some won’t. It’s hard to know ahead of time which ones do. But, in my opinion, it never hurts to ask.
• What’s my total wedding budget? (You don’t have to nail this down to the penny yet. You may choose a venue that changes how you budget for other aspects of your wedding.) For example, if you have your heart set on a particular venue, you may choose to tweak your budget in other areas. But be careful when planning this way, because some costs are just not going to be eliminated. Plus, you do not want to set yourself up for months of worry and financial stress. Or, even worse, feeling like you got married in a beautiful place, but your big day wasn’t exactly what you had dreamed of because you were not able to do other things.

Knowing the Look and Feel You Want Your Venue to Have

• What is the general look and feel I want for my wedding? Do you love the beach, the mountains, or do you want to get married in a rustic barn?

Knowing What Time of Year You Want to Get Married

• What time of year do you want to get married? There are three “seasons” on LBI; In Season (May through October), off-season (November through April), and winter. While you can get married in the winter season, many LBI wedding venues are closed. It’s good to know the “seasons” because it does affect your pricing, and some venues, like the yacht clubs do not offer wedding dates during the summer months because those dates are reserved for their members.

Knowing the Basics of Your Logistics for the Big Day

• Will your ceremony and reception be at the same location? This is important, but not essential. But think it through, and decide if there is a need for one versus the other. Richie and I knew we were looking for a venue that would accommodate both because we didn’t want my father to have to move around too much during the day (he uses a walker). If your curious about the pros and cons of having your ceremony and reception in the same place, check out this blog!
• Do you want a beach ceremony? A garden ceremony? Mountain views? Knowing the basic look of your event is one key part of knowing how to choose a wedding venue. Don’t pick a beach venue if you hate the sand. But don’t pick a venue with gorgeous mountain views, if your heart is set on having portraits at the beach.

If you found this blog on how to choose a wedding venue helpful and you are planning a wedding in Long Beach Island, NJ and having trouble finding the right venue for you, check out this blog with a comprehensive list of LBI’s wedding venues. And if you’re searching for ceremony space in LBI, check out this blog with a list of LBI’s ceremony spaces!