Searching for a wedding venue is all about finding a spot that matches your personality and style. We’ve interviewed hundreds of brides over the years about how they found their wedding sites, and wanted to share a few of them with you to provide some inspiration as you begin your venue hunt.

Photo by Evin Photography

“We chose to have our wedding and reception at my parents’ home because of the beautiful backdrop and landscape that was already present. We wanted an intimate setting with all our close family and friends , so it was absolutely perfect,” -Ashlie, married May 19 in her parents’ backyard in Tennessee. View more photos from this wedding

Once you have finally booked your venue, it’s time to pick your color scheme! You may think the colors are completely up to you; however, you should take into account the setting of your venue, the time of year your wedding is taking place and how formal or informal your ceremony and reception will be.  Remember, not only do you want your color scheme to set the vibe for your wedding but also complement the venue. Here are our favorite color scheme combinations to inspire you:

Historic Home = Yellow + Gray

Photo: Ned Jackson Photography

Photo: Sugar Branch Events 

Choosing a venue is one of the most important wedding planning decisions you’ll make as a couple. But, too often a bride will fall in love with the beauty of a place, sign the contract and forget that it should be custom-suited just like her dress.  Regardless of your guest list and budget, answering these questions before you book is a great place to start your search. Although it may be hard to find the perfect place that fits all your needs, you should look for a venue that suits your style from the beginning and not a venue that will cost thousands of dollars to make it what you want.

Everyone’s style is different, but we want to know what your venue’s style is. Which type of venue did you choose? Let us know in the poll below.

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Looking for a wedding venue that fits your needs can be one of the trickiest (and unfortunately, stressful) parts of wedding planning. Happily, once you’ve booked your venue, the rest of the planning process will fall into place easily (we promise!). But how do you even start searching for a wedding site? First, you’ll need to pick what venue “style” most suits your personality. Here’s a mini-glossary of wedding venue types to help you get started. And don’t forget to check out our Vendor Reviews to find the perfect wedding locale near you.

Photo by Anna and Spencer Photography

Ballroom: Want a wedding that’s grand, elegant, and formal? There’s nothing like a richly appointed ballroom. Ideal for black-tie weddings with a big guest list, ballrooms (either in hotels or other historic sites), often have in-house catering and rentals to make the planning process a snap. But it’s important to note: When choosing a color scheme for a ballroom wedding, you’ll have to take the room’s permanent fixtures into account – from the carpeting to the chandeliers to the wall color. You wouldn’t want your flowers and other decor to clash with what’s already there.

Photo by Erin J. Photography

One of the first things you need to do after you get engaged is book your venue. This week on the blog, we’ll be discussing all things venues to help you find a wedding locale that’s just right for your style and budget. You should start by researching wedding venues in your area and visiting a few. While you’re touring venues, be sure to think about the following questions, and be sure you know the answers before booking.

Ceremony: If you were hoping to host your ceremony and reception in the same place, be sure to find out if that’s a possibility (some venues do not allow ceremonies on premises). If it’s not, are there sites nearby where hosting a ceremony would be possible?

Payment: You’ll want to be well-versed in the venue’s payment policies – obviously what their package includes, but also when payment is due, as well as any taxes or hidden fees (ask about corkage or cake-cutting fees as well). It’s also important to find out the venue’s cancellation policy.

Guests’ Comfort: Your guests’ comfort should be your primary concern. What is the venue’s capacity and will all of your guests be able to fit comfortably? The site should neither be too small nor too big for your guest count. Also, consider your elderly or disabled guests – are all parts of the venue accessible to those who are unable to climb stairs? Make sure that bathrooms are large enough and comfortable (the last thing your guests want is to spend the evening waiting in line for the restroom!), and that the venue has some form of climate control.

Decor: If you’re getting married in a space that’s already furnished, make sure you are comfortable with all of the venue’s permanent fixtures (lighting, carpeting, etc.). You’ll have to make sure that your color scheme and flowers mesh well with what’s already included with the venue. If the venue is more of a “blank slate,” find out exactly what rentals you’ll need to bring in on your wedding day – tables, chairs, dishes and flatware, lighting, etc.

Timing: Is there flexibility as to when your wedding could begin or end or are there set times? When would your vendors be able to enter the space to start setting up and how long will they have after the event for break down?

Vendors: Can you hire any vendors you want or must they be from an approved list? Be sure you’re comfortable with the answer before moving forward.

What questions did you ask your venue before booking? Let us know in the comments!