How To Choose The Perfect Venue For Your Wedding Social
One of the most important decisions you’ll make while planning your wedding social is where to hold it.
Everything from the venue’s size to its location to its staff can affect the vibe of your event. But what do you do if this is your first time planning an event? What exactly should you look for in a venue?
There’s no reason planning your wedding social should be stressful. As you start looking for venues, consider these five key factors.
Find an Accessible Location
How accessible is your venue? Your close family and friends will show up no matter where the venue is, but the bulk of your ticket sales will come from outside your inner circle. What you don’t want to do is give those people any excuse not to show up. A quick way to do that is by making your wedding social a pain to get to.
The easier it is for people to get to your event, the more likely they are to show up and encourage their friends to buy tickets as well.
Keep in mind that picking an accessible location for your wedding social doesn’t mean you automatically pick a venue downtown. Think about where your guests will be coming from, and look for venues in that area.
In addition to selecting a convenient location, look for a venue that offers enough parking - hopefully free parking! - for your guests.
Consider Your Budget and Guest List When Choosing a Size
After thinking about location, the next thing you’ll worry about is whether your venue is large enough.
Also ask yourself whether your venue is too large.
How many guests will you invite? Out of that number, how many do you think will buy a ticket? Picking a venue that is too large will eat into your profit margins if you don’t sell enough tickets. Additionally, it’ll make your wedding social look sparse and poorly attended.
Of course, you should still think about whether your venue is big enough. The last thing you want is a crowded wedding social that’s at best uncomfortable and at worst a fire hazard. Make sure there’s enough room not just for people, but for the following as well:
- Food table
- Silent auction station
- Display for the prizes
- The DJ
- Coat check
Visit The Venue and Take a Tour
No matter how busy or overwhelmed you are, check out the venue in person and ask for a tour before making a commitment. This is an opportunity for you to gauge the venue’s layout and visualize your wedding social within the space. You can also get a feel for how friendly and organized the staff seems. Come prepared with specific questions for the manager to see how experienced they are dealing with different situations.
Ask About Existing Food Partnerships
Some venues have existing partnerships with vendors and require you to use those caterers. If you’re planning to bring your own food, confirm these details before signing a contract. This way, you won’t lock yourself into using a vendor whose food your guests may not like.
Check Out Reviews
Look up the venue online to read about the experience other guests had. If you notice a trend of bad reviews repeatedly highlighting the same issues, don’t pursue that venue any further.
On the other hand, let’s say you find a venue you like with positive reviews, but one review mentions an issue with accommodating the DJ. When you take your tour, ask the manager about it to understand what changes they’ve made to ensure that issue won’t crop up during your event.
By thinking about these five factors, you can avoid last minute mishaps, stay on budget, and guarantee a great time for your guests.
Need help finding a great spot? Check out our venue finder tool to get one step closer to your perfect wedding social venue.
