3 Steps to Finding a Wedding Venue, Part 1
3 Steps to Finding a Wedding Venue, Part 1
If you have gone through the last blog post and found a wedding date that feels special for you and your significant other, congratulations. This may not feel like a huge accomplishment, but with this step you now know when your wedding day is and can start coordinating everything around it.
Now the next step in your wedding planning adventure is a big one, and arguably one of the most important decisions you will make.
Finding a wedding venue.
If you are planning to have your wedding in the Charleston area, there are countless venue options. So where do you begin?
1. Start your search online
One of the best ways to start narrowing down possible venues is through The Knot. You can filter results based on price range, location, and other factors. This lets you quickly sort through hundreds of options and bookmark the ones that stand out.
2. Tour venues and book early
From here, one of the most important pieces of advice I give my clients is to tour any venue you are seriously considering and to book early.
Seeing photos of a wedding venue and experiencing it in person are two completely different things.
For example, when my wife and I were touring venues, we found one online that checked every box. We booked a tour, and while the venue was beautiful, we quickly realized the layout would make the evening difficult to plan. The dinner space was small and would have split our guests into multiple areas throughout the property.
That was something pictures simply did not show, and I am very glad we toured in person.
Tour your venues and find what actually works for your wedding.
Adding to that story, my wife and I were also checking availability for our preferred date. Another couple was touring the same venue and was interested in the exact same day as us… more than a year and a half in advance.
Venues in Charleston often book well over a year ahead, so the earlier you start planning, the better.
3. Know what the venue provides
As you tour venues, pay close attention to what is included. Not all venues are created equal.
Some venues offer full-service packages that include rentals, catering, bar service, DJ, and more. With these, you can book and knock out a large portion of your planning at once.
Other venues provide only the space, which means you will need to bring in your own vendors for everything else.
Keep this in mind as you tour and decide what level of involvement you want. Some couples love the simplicity of an all-in-one venue, while others prefer the flexibility of building their own vendor team.
