Different Kinds of Wedding Venues
Congratulations! Now that we have a budget, a guest list, we understand the kind of wedding we want, and we (maybe) have hired a wedding planner, it’s time to …. dun dun dun… pick a venue!
NOTE: This will ALSO determine your wedding date! In most cases, you’ll pick your date depending on the availability of your venue
There are many, many types and styles of venues, but they typically fall into 1 of 3 buckets:
the All-In Venue
Included in this category are your:
Dedicated Wedding Venues
Hotels that also host Weddings
Event Spaces that host Weddings
Restaurants that host Weddings
These venues will typically include everything that you need to host your wedding: tables, chairs, a commercial kitchen, bar. They’ll also likely handle ALL the wedding catering, alcohol, and staffing needs.
PROS:
Easy
Plug-and-play
Typically no external rentals are required
CONS:
Not a ton of customization in-house
You’ll have to pay extra to bring in custom chairs, tables, linens, cutlery, glasses/cups, etc
You’re limited to this venue’s type of kitchen/cuisine, UNLESS you need specific Kosher/Halal/Dietary catering, which they allow on a case-by-case basis
You’re on their schedule - ceremony, cocktail, and reception at certain times.
2. The Blank Space
This is exactly what it says: it’s a space with restrooms, maybe with a commercial kitchen in the back, and that’s it. Here, you’ll typically find:
Four walls, maybe divided into several rooms
A floor
Restrooms
A commercial kitchen (sometimes)
A bar (sometimes)
Here, you’ll have to bring in:
Rentals (chairs, tables, linens, glassware, cutlery, china, serving bowls)
Caterer (they’ll have their own set of rentals, depending on what you want to serve your guests)
Staffing (servers, bartenders, cleanup if necessary)
Alcohol - sometimes the venue will handle alcohol if they have a liquor license, sometimes they do NOT.
PROS:
Super customizable. You likely have a contract for a certain number of hours at the venue, and you can do whatever you want within those hours!
Get to choose your tablescape/table settings
Get to choose your cuisine
Get to choose your wedding style (seated, family style, plated, cocktail, buffet, etc)
CONS:
Decision Fatigue
Not necessarily saving cash - it ends up costing similar to an all-in venue
Loads of vendors to manage
3. The Backyard/Blank Field
If you’re looking for something even more customized, this is for you! Here, you’ll find:
Space
And here is what you’ll need to bring in:
A vessel to hold your humans (also known as a tent)
Heating/Cooling
Restrooms
Generator & Power
Lighting
Cook Tent for Catering - oven, warming drawers, cooling, ice machine/ice
Catering, staffing, cleanup
Tables, chairs, linens, cutlery, glassware, tablescapes, couches, bars,
PROS:
This is YOUR space, so you’re not limited to a certain number of hours or a certain program to follow.
There typically isn’t a limit on how big or small these weddings can be. If you’re having difficulty finding appropriate space for your size guest list (either too small or too large) this is a great solution
Party all day, or night, or over several days!
CONS:
You’re literally building a venue yourself, so consider the amount of work that will create for you.
WARNING: This is NOT the least expensive option. Many clients think this will end up costing less money but it DOES NOT and ends up being MORE COSTLY. I warned you.
Now, go forth and start making those decisions!