Trying to decide on a venue...

Re: Trying to decide on a venue...

• zizibet member

  

  January 2014

  Psychbabe, think about what you want your wedding to be like-meaning, outdoors, indoors or a mix. Think about the time of year you want to get married-if you want a winter wedding, the Carolinas might be a better bet than CO or WI. If you want a summer wedding, CO or WI is likely a better bet.
    Also, think about the total guest list, and how many would have to travel how far, as well as your budget, and look into things. I hope that helps.
     
  

  

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• psychbabe314 member

  

  January 2014

  zizibet said:

  Psychbabe, think about what you want your wedding to be like-meaning, outdoors, indoors or a mix. Think about the time of year you want to get married-if you want a winter wedding, the Carolinas might be a better bet than CO or WI. If you want a summer wedding, CO or WI is likely a better bet.
    Also, think about the total guest list, and how many would have to travel how far, as well as your budget, and look into things. I hope that helps.
     
  

  It helps a bit! No matter where we go, either everyone travels or 1/2 the guests travel. It almost seems better to make it fair and have everyone travel in that case :-) But, that is why I want to focus on that area of the U.S. maybe to make it easier for people to get to the location. Colorado is very far, and it is very expensive to stay here. Especially, if you stay near the places were most of the venues are. I know a majority of my side of the family would not be able to afford it.
  
  I might just have to ask for recommendations on the state boards to see if people have suggestions of where I can look into. I am trying to figure out budget wise if we can get a decent venue in the area that would allow us to chip in for traveling expenses of our family members.
  
  We are thinking fall or spring for the wedding.
  

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• jessicabessica member

  

  January 2014

  I would consider how easy it is to travel to each area from the areas where your guests will be coming from, as well as how expensive lodging is in the different areas. 
  
  Also, where are you, and what kind of planning experience do you want to have?  If you want to do a lot of DIY, I think it will be hard to be far from the venue yourself.  If you get married somewhere that is a distance from where you live now, I would recommend finding a venue with an on-site coordinator that you like (or find an outside wedding planner). 
  

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• firebabe6519 member

  

  January 2014

  I would also think about all the travel expenses you will incur between checking out venues and caterers. Unless you will have $ and time to travel to a different state it might not even be feasible.

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• psychbabe314 member

  

  January 2014

  @jessicabessica, I am in Colorado, as far as planning experience I have planned smaller events. Nothing this big, but I am set on having at least a day-of-coordinator. A planner would be good, we just have to find an area and see how it would affect our budget.
  
  @firebabe6519, time is not an issue luckily. Since FI will be out of the country for a year so I have time to locate a venue. Money makes it a bit more difficult, but we will work it out :-) If I did it somewhere within 5 or 6 hours of family in WI or in NC or SC then I could stay with family members and commute to only stay in the city for a day or so before going back with family. This would cut my costs.
  

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• psychbabe314 member

  

  January 2014

  Also @Jessicabessica, what do you mean by how easy? Traveling is never super easy (especially with kids), but is there something I need to look for more? I had found a venue I liked online just outside of Chicago so I was going to scope out nearby hotel prices and restaurants to get a feel for the pricing.
  

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• Cookie Pusher member

  

  January 2014

  I'd check to make sure there are a decent amount of flights that travel to/from each of the local areas of where you're considering having your wedding. If your guests have to fly and then travel multiple hours by car or have multiple lay-overs, etc. it might make them less likely to attend - especially if they are elderly or have children.

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• psychbabe314 member

  

  January 2014

  @cookie pusher, I did not even think about the lay-overs. I will check to see about flights straight into the area where the reception could be or at least reasonably close. Maybe a shuttle from the airport to the hotel and reception. Thanks!
  

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• AprilH81 member

  

  January 2014

  If you can, try to make your destination near a major airport (a hub airport is a bonus).  The bigger the airport the higher the chance that your guests can get direct flights.

  
  

  If you are considering NC/SC I recommend Charlotte.  Major city with a hub airport (US Airways, soon to be American Airlines) and you can find just about any type of venue (football, basketball and NASCAR venues, museums, churches, universities, lakes, country clubs, golf courses, hotels of all sizes, etc.).  And just a little bit outside of Charlotte you have a lot of "country" areas if you are looking for something more simple and laid back.  

  
  

  Charlotte also has a culinary school (Johnson & Wales) and you might be able to talk to them about catering or having your DOC come from there (they also have an event planning program).

  

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• psychbabe314 member

  

  January 2014

  AprilH81 said:

  If you can, try to make your destination near a major airport (a hub airport is a bonus).  The bigger the airport the higher the chance that your guests can get direct flights.

  
  

  If you are considering NC/SC I recommend Charlotte.  Major city with a hub airport (US Airways, soon to be American Airlines) and you can find just about any type of venue (football, basketball and NASCAR venues, museums, churches, universities, lakes, country clubs, golf courses, hotels of all sizes, etc.).  And just a little bit outside of Charlotte you have a lot of "country" areas if you are looking for something more simple and laid back.  

  
  

  Charlotte also has a culinary school (Johnson & Wales) and you might be able to talk to them about catering or having your DOC come from there (they also have an event planning program).

  Thanks, I will look into Charlotte!
  

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• Cookie Pusher member

  

  January 2014

  Hub airports definitely help, though that doesn't always guarantee direct flights. You can easily check on this by going to any of the airfare sites and typing in the cities - you'll know pretty quickly what flights are like between the two.

  I kind of like @AprilH81's suggestion of Charlotte - I loved it when I went to visit. The airport food was pretty decent too!

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• AprilH81 member

  

  January 2014

  @psychbabe314 I lived in Charlotte for 8 years so I'm somewhat familiar with the area...  I'm sure you will be able to find something to match your vision and budget there.  Good luck!

  

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• jessicabessica member

  

  January 2014

  psychbabe314 said:

  Also @Jessicabessica, what do you mean by how easy? Traveling is never super easy (especially with kids), but is there something I need to look for more? I had found a venue I liked online just outside of Chicago so I was going to scope out nearby hotel prices and restaurants to get a feel for the pricing.
  

  By "easy" I meant what kinds of flights are available and how close the venue is to an airport or major city.  For example, if the venue is close to a small airport that only has direct flights to 2-3 cities, that might make for some expensive and difficult travel for your guests.  Sort of along the lines of what @Cookie Pusher suggested.  Also, would guests need to rent cars, or will they be able to get by with public transportation (or shuttles that you provide)? 
  

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