How to Choose Your Perfect Wedding Venue
A step-by-step guide to touring venues, understanding hidden fees, and booking the right space for your guest count and vision.
Our editorial team combines decades of wedding industry experience with data-driven insights to help couples plan their perfect day.
What is All-Inclusive vs. Raw Space Venue?
An all-inclusive venue provides catering, tables, chairs, and linens in-house. A raw space (or blank canvas) venue only provides the building, requiring the couple to bring in every single vendor and rental item.
Booking your venue is the first official domino to fall in wedding planning. It dictates your date, heavily influences your budget, and sets the tone for the entire aesthetic of the day.
Step 1: Know Your Numbers Before You Look
Never tour a venue without knowing your approximate guest count and your absolute maximum budget. Falling in love with an intimate garden venue that only holds 75 people is a disaster if your mandatory family guest list is already at 120.
Step 2: Watch Out for the ++ (Plus Plus)
When reviewing venue pricing, always ask about the \"plus plus.\" This refers to the service charge (usually 20-25%) and state taxes added to the final bill. A $100 per person catering package can quickly become $135 per person once the ++ is applied.
Frequently Asked Questions
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