How to choose my wedding venue?

 We all agree that one of the most important components of a wedding is the venue.

The venue will be the scenario that will give your wedding the personality, style and vibe that you envision.

The most important thing is to organize your priorities and to know what you are expecting from a wedding venue. 
If you are not sure which these priorities are, you can ask yourself: 
Which kind of background I want for my wedding? 
Which kind of vibe I want for my wedding? Do I want it formal or maybe something more relaxed? 
Do I want an open space or Do I prefer a Ball Room? 


I understand that this process could be very overwhelming since there are thousands of options out there so I would love to share some valuable tips to choose your wedding venue:

1.- THE GUESTS LIST

A guests list will always help you have a better idea of how big your wedding will be, with that, you will know if that dream boutique hotel will fit your guests list or if you will need to choose a bigger place.
Also, knowing well your guests list will help you consider the different needs of your guests, maybe you have a grandpa who cannot walk for long distances so you will need a venue with easy accesses.

2.- THE BACKGROUND

I recommend you to try to envision yourself in a beautiful beach, in an elegant terrace or an exotic jungle saying I DO.

You can communicate your ideas to your Wedding Planners so they can advice you with their options based on your needs and style.
That will help you have a better idea of important things like: how you want your photos, which kind of makeup and hair style will suit you better, which kind of shoes will be the best option for you and for your guests, etc.

Also another important thing about the background is to consider the budget, that will give you the guideline of how much decoration you need to add to the place.

3.- THE LOCATION

In a Destination Wedding, you need to be aware of the accessibility of your venue; you and your guests will be traveling from your hotels to the wedding venue and of course you want a short, fun and smooth trip for everyone. You do not want your guests to get lost and miss the welcome cocktail!

4.- THE VIBE

Your wedding will reflect the vibe that you as a couple want to share with your love ones. Think about how you prefer the style of your party. For example, there are brides that love formal and elegant and some others love bohemian and relax, what is your vibe?

5.-THE BUDGET

Designating a portion of your budget to your venue is not a simple decision. The venue fees range goes from $2,500 to $15,000 depending on location. The average percentage of
Wedding budgets that couples consider, is from 10% to 15%, sometimes 20% if the venue includes something extra?

6.- THE BACK UP PLAN

If the venue is an outdoor place, you may experience natural disasters like rain, hurricanes, wildfires, etc. Make sure the venue has an indoor back up plan, if not, you have to check in the venue has a proper space where you can install a professional tent and perform the event under it.
Never forget to read what the venue policies cancellation says in case of rain or acts of God; it will save you from a horrible headache.