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

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.