How To Choose A Wedding Venue

Choosing the backdrop for your ‘I Do’ day is probably the single biggest factor that will impact the look and feel of your special moment.

But that doesn’t mean it should be a scary decision. If you want to know how to pick a wedding venue that is ‘just right’ for your budget, your aesthetic and your party size, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we’re unpacking all you need to think about when choosing a wedding venue. With our tips under your belt, you’ll be able to pick the wedding venue of your dreams.

We’ll be talking about:

• • Indoors Or Outdoors? Consider The Elements
  • Dry Hire Venues Vs. The Full Works
  • Set A Budget: But Do Your Background Checks
  • Consider Venue Capacity
  • Make An Appointment Before You Commit

Indoors Or Outdoors? Consider The Elements

There are a couple of binaries you can decide on before getting into the thick of wondering how to pick a wedding venue. This can dramatically narrow down your choices and stop the process from becoming overwhelming.

First up – do you want to have an outdoor ceremony? If so, you might want to rule out the middle of winter, or the middle of summer if you’re prone to exceptionally hot days. Outdoor weddings can be beautiful, but make sure there’s a sheltered area for shade or rain cover. If your heart is set on a summer wedding, consider that those fairytale vintage venues and old churches might not have air conditioning. Likewise, if you want a cosy, indoor winter wedding, you’ll need to make sure your guests are actually kept warm with adequate heating and lighting fixtures!

Typical weather is an important consideration when choosing between an indoor or outdoor space. But with this also comes an understanding of peak seasons, so you can understand when and by how much periods of high demand affect the prices, not just the day.

Dry Hire Venues Vs. The Full Works

Some venues offer packages for your wedding, whilst others will give you the venue alone (known as a ‘dry hire’). There are pros and cons to each.  

If you’re opting for an all-inclusive venue hire, you’ll have considerably less planning to take care of. Depending on the individual venue, furniture hire, bar supplies and service, catering and even music equipment can be taken care of under your agreement. You’ll have a higher upfront cost but a more accurate picture of how much you’re spending on the essentials. You may end up saving money if vendors are collaborating with venues, however, keep in mind that the venue might be adding a small percentage to make a profit on top of these collated costs.

On the other hand, you won’t have total control over your wedding planning. If you’re someone who wants everything exactly how you like it, this might not be the option for you. Therefore, a dry hire that provides the space and leaves the rest up to you might be more desirable. Whether you’re working with a wedding planner or operating solo, it can be a good idea to talk to your local wedding venue hire team for trusted vendor recommendations as a starting point for your own research.

Set A Budget: But Do Your Background Checks

It’s all well and good plucking a number out of thin air that ‘sounds about right’, but if you don’t have a realistic grip on current wedding venue hire prices in Australia, you might be surprised when it comes to putting your budget into action.

Research not just the average costs for venue hires in your city, but how they fluctuate depending on the season or in periods of peak demand. For example, summer weekends are prime dates (and also likely to get booked up in advance – so if you see one you like, go for the slot!) Once you’ve understood the rough prices for different times of year and different types of venue rentals, you can set a realistic budget with leeway for those that tick more or less of your boxes.

Consider Venue Capacity

Of course, bigger venues will generally have higher price tags. If you’re dreaming of a large wedding, or you’re a member of a big family, this will have to factor into your budget considerations. Before you get into the nitty-gritty of finding the perfect venue, jot down a list with your significant other of those you absolutely have to have present (or at least with a seat saved) for your wedding day.

Use this as your baseline, whether it’s 5 or 50, to help you narrow down the minimum capacity requirements for your venue. Some exclusive or historical venues will place a stricter limit on numbers, which might force you to decide whether it’s more important to have an intimate affair for your wedding, or a big blowout party, perhaps at the expense of a luxury backdrop.

Make An Appointment Before You Commit 

Just like with the dress, catering and even hair styling, you can ‘try before you buy’. Most wedding venues will be happy to schedule an appointment for you to scout out the venue together in person, ask questions and meet the team. This is a great opportunity to see if the place matches up to photo expectations, as well as consider if you could seriously see yourselves tying the knot under its arches. 

Even if you’re confident you’ve chosen one particular place as your ideal setting, it’s still important to visit in person, just to check the photos aren’t old and outdated, and to interact with the staff who’ll be helping plan and execute your big day.

Wish Upon A Wedding Venue: In Summary

We’ve delved into how to pick a wedding venue so that you can hit the ground running with your wedding day plans. However, don’t forget that we also have a pretty neat Melbourne wedding venue for hire ourselves – right here at Canvas House. With stunning vaulted ceilings, an exhaustive list of amenities to rival even the longest bridal train, and a team composed of decades of event planning experience, we’re more than just an empty space to be filled. 

So, if you’re looking for a wedding venue (and we’re willing to bet that you are), contact the team and send us an inquiry today.