Photo Credit – Andre Brown Photography | Design – Tinted Event Design | Venue: The Whitley Hotel – Atlanta

He finally did it–he asked you to be his wife and you said “Yes”! Now, what’s next? Finding the ideal venue location(s) for your ceremony & reception is step 1 in your wedding planning process. While it can be such a relief to finally secure your date, things can get a bit overwhelming in the process without careful consideration. Here are five things to consider when selecting your ideal venue(s):

Set a Budget

You knew this moment was coming, but all you want to focus on is gathering the perfect images for your Pinterest board.  Now that all the excitement from your engagement has settled in, it’s time to sit down and talk numbers. The average wedding in Atlanta costs around $55,000 with couples allocating at least 20-40% of their budget for the venue.  Keep in mind that these are just averages; You have to determine how much you would ideally like to spend based on the look and feel you’re hoping for.  Since the wedding venue (ceremony/reception) will be at the top of the priority list it is crucial that you sit down with your fiance and parents and discuss the budget.  Discussing the budget early will assist you in your research and will help you narrow down your choices when selecting your ideal wedding venue.

Now go back to your rough draft and start making necessary changes. “Guesstimate” how many people will attend by subtracting __% of your total number. This step may seem time-consuming, but you don’t want to fall in love with a venue that can’t accommodate you and all of your guests. You also don’t want a space that is too large and feels empty if your guest list is a little more intimate.

Create a Guest List

Your wedding day should be reserved for the people that truly love and support you as a couple.  The guest list will be dictated by your budget and will assist you in choosing a venue that will fit the logic of your plans.  Start with a rough draft of everyone you want to invite and then double-check with your fiance and families to make sure you aren’t missing any important relatives or friends of the family.

To keep things simple, ask yourselves these questions:

1. 1. Have I seen them since I started dating my fiance?
   2. How would I feel if they didn’t attend?
   3. Have they encouraged/supported this relationship, in good times and bad?
      
      Now go back to your rough draft and start making necessary changes. “Guesstimate” how many people will attend by subtracting 20% of your total number. This step may seem time-consuming, but you don’t want to fall in love with a venue that can’t accommodate you and all of your guests. You also don’t want a space that is too large and feels empty if your guest list is a little more intimate.

Photo: Love in Motion Weddings | Design: Tinted Event Design | Venue: Foxhall Resort

What is your Wedding style?

Are you classic, vintage, modern, or rustic? Knowing your wedding style will help you navigate through the overall plan and design from start to finish. Discovering the look and feel that you’re hoping for will help you determine a venue that will highlight that style. If you’re going rustic, you might opt for barns or vineyards. If you’re going full glam, a hotel ballroom might be perfect for you. Understanding the parameters of bringing your wedding style to life makes shopping around for a venue a lot easier.

Dates & Season

Before scheduling any venue visits, you’ll want to make sure they have your wedding date available. For many couples, their wedding date is symbolic of their love story and usually, people don’t like to budge. Unfortunately, venues can be booked years in advance causing couples to either a) go with a venue they like, but don’t love or b) move the date entirely. If you aren’t set on a date, then great for you…you have more wiggle room!  However, If you are set on a specific date or even season, there are a few things to consider.  You’ll also need to consider what are the seasonal requirements i.e. A rooftop wedding in the spring may look beautiful in the photos, but with high pollen counts in Georgia, how will your guests feel? Having your reception down the street from the ceremony venue may seem convenient for guests to walk to, but not in the middle of the February cold season. Many things to consider when deciding the perfect time to tie the knot, but it’s YOUR date at the end of the day and you will have to cherish this forever. 

Photo: Andre Brown Photography | Venue: Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Hire a Wedding Planner

Hiring a Wedding Planner can actually help you to save both time and money. Your planner will know the logistics of the venue, what catering companies they work with and offer up advice on what location will best fit your vision.

Are you ready to start venue shopping? As a seasoned team of Atlanta wedding planners, we’re here to help you choose the perfect venue with our custom Venue Selection services.  Contact us for your complimentary consultation.

Venue & Vendor Resources:
The Whitely Hotel – Atlanta
Andre Brown Photography
Tinted Event Designs
Foxhall Resort
Love in Motion Weddings
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center