5 Easy Ways to Choose Your Wedding Venue Style

Ralph Lauren once said “style is very personal.” The famed fashion designer may have been talking about clothes, but this observation easily applies to wedding venues. Choosing a venue that suits your taste and style is easier said than done. While there are plenty of venues out there to choose from, sometimes too many options can be paralyzing. Feeling overwhelmed? Take advantage of these five easy ways to identify and choose your wedding venue style!

Explore 5 of our favorite ways to choose your wedding venue style:

1. Identify your wedding venue must-haves.

Sit down and create a list of wedding “must-haves” and “deal breakers.” Couples can do this separately and come together later to see how their lists compare. Identifying crossover areas will help point you both in the right direction. This exercise also has the happy side effect of helping you and your future spouse merge your visions of the perfect wedding into something completely unique.

2. Pick a source of inspiration.

If browsing wedding venues doesn’t make style inspiration strike, look to particular items you’ve always wanted in your big day. Have you always envisioned carrying a bouquet of thistle and white roses? Maybe a rustic farm set against a wintery landscape would be your ideal venue. Love the idea of wearing a whimsical boho wedding dress? Consider saying your “I do’s” on a sun-drenched beach. Inspiration is all around you if you search for it!

3. Consider your budget.

Do your research before falling in love with a certain style venue. While creating the big day you’ve always imagined is important, it’s equally important to consider your budget when choosing your venue style. You may love a certain style venue, but it’s all for naught if it’s not in your price range. Spot estimates can help you get an idea of how certain style wedding venues fit into your budget before you even set foot on site.

4. Keep your guests in mind.

This may be your special day, but your guests will be sharing it with you. Know your audience. If the majority of your guests are on the reserved side, then a swingin’ night time wedding downtown with dancing might not be the best choice. Balancing what feels true to you and what your guests will enjoy can be a challenge, but it’s important to consider when narrowing down your venue style.

5. Trust your gut.

There are many factors to consider when selecting your venue, but sometimes it just comes down to atmosphere. How does the venue makes you feel when you visit the site? If you’ve always dreamed about having a cosmopolitan-style loft wedding, but these wedding venues don’t give you butterflies when you visit, then consider expanding your horizons. This is one of the most important days of your life -- you should find a space that feels as right as your beloved!

UP NEXT: 10 of our favorite waterfront wedding venues.