How to Choose Your Wedding Reception Venue

Selecting your wedding venue is one of the first items you’ll have to decide after you get engaged. With websites like VenueHub making venue bookings easier, the difficult job is choosing the location. Once know where you want to get married, then all the other details, such as theme, colour scheme, menu, etc. will just fall into place. But selecting a Niagara on the Lake wedding venue isn’t just determining what you like; there are other factors to consider, such as parking, accessibility, price and how all of your guests are going to navigate here. We’ve come up with some of the most important things to answer the questions of how to choose your wedding reception venue.

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Style Me Pretty

What is your style? Do you fancy yourself sophisticated and are looking for a chic rooftop wedding? Maybe you’re a classicist and want to be married in a grand ballroom? These are the types of things you need to iron out before you start looking for wedding venues. As well, if you are searching for a single location to hold both your ceremony and reception, make sure your religious wishes can be accommodated.

A Little Personality

What modifications can be made to your site to display your personality? Some venues prohibit any changes being made to the existing décor, such as historical venues and churches. Make sure you find out if you can hoist up a piñata before you get excited at the prospect of doing so.

Logistics

If you have settled on your favourite park, you must realize that you, and you alone, are responsible for hauling in the chairs, the aisle runner, the décor, etc. If you’re not willing to take on that much work, then maybe an indoor venue with an on-site wedding co-ordinator is a better option. Make sure you don’t let your imagination run away with you before you check out what’s feasible. Another important point is to determine how accessible your site is, particularly if you have guests with mobility issues.

Lots of Room

This might seem obvious, but make sure your venue can accommodate all your guests comfortably. There is nothing worse than attending a July wedding in a hall where seating is at a maximum and the air conditioning quits. Make sure your venue provides ample room to seat all guests, as well as provides areas to move around freely.

Privacy Please

If you want to be the centre of attention on your wedding day in every way possible, then make sure you find out how many other weddings are taking place at your venue. If you’re getting married in a public space, be prepared for on-lookers and strangers to watch your nuptials.

Lights, Sound!

While these items are certainly not top of mind for most couples, you don’t want to get married in a basement. Check out how much light your venue offers, both naturally and what can be controlled. This is particularly important for the photographer, who will have to adjust to make sure they take great pictures even in low lighting. As well, find out what the acoustics are like to ensure everyone can hear your speeches and if you have hired live musicians that they will be heard in the best possible way.

Décor

What kind of backdrops or views does your venue offer? A beautiful view of a Niagara-on-the-Lake vineyard, a twinkling city skyline or a parking lot? Also, what does the décor look like? Is it updated, crisp and clean, or are there stains on the carpet and the walls are peach coloured? You need to think about every little detail when it comes to this, even the kind of chair covering they use; you want to make sure you feel comfortable in your surroundings and that you will enjoy seeing your photos for years to come.

Simple Site

Make sure there is plenty of parking for your guests and that your venue is easy to find for those coming from out of town. If it’s a little out of the way, can a shuttle bus or van take your guests from a central meeting place or can you tie white bows on telephone polls to mark the way?

The Fine Print

Although everything might seem perfect, make sure you are getting what you think you’re getting. Ask twice if you’re not sure. Read the fine print. Make sure you know exactly what costs are included, how much gratuities are and where you might be charged for set up fees, taxes and little extras.

Patti Wallington is the premiere wedding planner in Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Please enjoy reading this blog and the others we have listed. We offer a full slate of wedding services for Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake to both Niagara couples and those who live out of town.