What to Consider When Searching for your Dream Wedding Venue
Engagement season is in full swing, and we are ready to help make your dream wedding venue search easier! If you are recently engaged and are overwhelmed with how to start planning and finding the right wedding venue for you, keep reading! Below we’ve listed some things to consider before you schedule wedding venue tours.
1. Guest List
How many guests do you plan on inviting? Many wedding venues have guest minimums. Find a venue with guest minimums and a max capacity that align with your guest count.
2. Date/Time of Year
You may already have a specific date, day of the week, or time of year that you would like to get married in; however, it’s important to be flexible. Before you begin touring wedding venues, understand that many venues are fully booked for 2025, are almost fully booked for 2026, and are starting to book for 2027. If you are set on a certain season, you may have to be flexible by booking a Thursday or Sunday.
3. Pricing
We suggest doing some research to see how much wedding venues typically cost in NJ. Many wedding venues have additional fees that are not included in the per person price. Keep this in mind when reaching out to venues!
4. Location & Accommodations
Are the venues that you are looking at close to airports for guests who may be traveling? Do they have onsite overnight accommodations? Are the venues close to hotels? If having yourself and your guests staying close to the wedding venue is a priority, do a quick search to see what’s near your potential wedding venue. There are four hotels within 20 miles of Bear Brook Valley and an Airbnb just two minutes away from the venue!
5. Transportation
How will your guests get to and from your wedding venue? Check to see if there are local transportation companies, Ubers, or Lyfts near your potential wedding venue.
6. Back-up Options
If you're looking to get married outside, choose a venue that has a back-up option in case of inclement weather. Bear Brook Valley has four onsite ceremony options-- pondside, ballroom, the Stables, and the Cedar Pavilion.
7. Online Planning Options
If you aren't looking at venues that are close to home or if you work full time, it may be difficult to plan in-person. Ask if the venues offer an option to plan online so that you don't have to drive back and forth multiple times throughout the planning process.
Bear Brook Valley offers online planning tools to accommodate couples with busy schedules and couples who don’t live local to the venue.
8. Non-Negotiables
Are there certain things that are deal breakers for you when it comes to finding your dream wedding venue?
A few must-haves that couples often have:
One wedding per day
Onsite ceremony
Wheelchair accessible
Onsite getting ready suites
Delicious food
Onsite lodging
Your wedding venue will become your home away from home on your wedding day and throughout the wedding planning process. Find a venue that you love with a team that you feel comfortable with. Congratulations on your engagement and enjoy the wedding planning process ♡
Bonus: take advantage of this list of questions to ask when touring wedding venues!