Choosing the Perfect Venue for Your Dream Wedding

You've been planning your wedding for, well, forever and you may already have the dresses and the tuxes planned but what about the venue? The venue should be one of the first things you lock in. You can't have a confirmed date unless you have the venue booked. Also, the venue will guide most of your other choices. The style of the venue will influence tablescapes, flowers, services, and even the font you use on the programs. At artsyweddingblog.com--flowers, arrangements, elegant dining ideas, beautiful designs, menu options, and entertainment choices are pictured for all wedding types and styles.

What elements combine to make a dream venue?

1. Photogenic
   The photos taken of you and your fiance on this day will be the ones on display for the rest of your life. You're going to look great, so make sure you're in a setting that does you justice. Does the venue have beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces? If you have to go crazy decorating the space, it's not ideal. The perfect venue will just need little accents to make it your own.

2. Personal
   Anyone can get married at a country club, why would you? Did you meet there? Is it the hip place to be? This party is about YOU. Your venue should be too. Think about where you met, what your favorite hobbies were, what you each studied in college. These are all great ways to be inspired and find venues that are unique and interesting.

3. Unique
   In 20 years, no one will be talking about whether they ordered the right entree. They might not even be talking about your wedding at all – unless you make it memorable. Kim Kardashian's wedding was memorable for its opulence and notorious for the failure of the marriage. Don't get caught up in having “the best” or “the most” but go back to being personal. People will remember a reception at the art museum where you had your first date.

4. Weatherproof
   You don't get a do-over on your wedding day, so resist the temptation to rely on good weather to make your day a success. Don't worry, you can still do outdoors, just plan on a tent from a reputable rental company.

5. Basics
   You and your guests have certain needs. If a venue doesn't have bathrooms, tables, chairs, plates, food service equipment, parking spots, et al you'll be in trouble. If your budget allows, most of these items can be ordered in, but you'll need a great wedding planner or coordinator to supervise any necessary permits and planning.

6. Excellent Service
   If it looks good on paper, you're halfway there, but don't let poor customer service ruin your special day. Make sure that you know the service philosophy and who on staff will be available to troubleshoot. If anything were to go array on your wedding day, the best venue will solve problems seamlessly.

7. Guest Options
   Your guests will only be spending a few hours of the weekend at your wedding, so have it in a city or region with entertainment and activities to do. If you have lots of folks traveling for your wedding, it's nice if they can make a long weekend or vacation out of the trip. Destination Weddings & Honeymoons rates Vail, Colorado, Portland, Maine, and The Outer Banks, California, as among the top places to wed.

8. Easily Accessible
   Your ceremony and reception won't be much of a party if your guests can't get to the locations. Make sure it's either easily accessible via car, taxi or shuttle.

Securing a venue that meets your needs and fits your style is the first step and foundation for wedding planning. Once the venue is reserved, you can start to plan other details such as transportation, personalization and decorative accents.