As a newly engaged couple begins the wedding planning process they are confronted with many decisions and can easily feel overwhelmed with the amount of choices they have in front of them. Choosing the location for their wedding is one of the many decisions that needs to be made shortly into the planning process. These locations are called venue's. In most cases a couple will choose one or two locations for their wedding day activities. Lately however, I've seen a trend that leads guests to only one venue where the entire celebration takes place. I call these 'all inclusive' venue's.

And by definition they are, well, all inclusive. The venue offers space for wedding party preparation, the ceremony, and a ballroom or large meeting room for the reception. Everything for the entire event is provided-- it's all there! And in nearly every single case the venue has a caterer on-site for the couple's purposes. In addition, there may be other on-site vendors like a DJ, full service bar with bar tender, florist, and sometimes even a photographer.

Some examples of 'all inclusive' venue's are:
-A botanical or city garden with a guest or meeting house
-An inn or restaurant
-An event center
-A hotel
-A religious facility that has additional space such as a 'Fellowship Hall.'
-A vineyard
-A historic farm or plantation
-A museum with event space

A venue of this type does not require less planning but it does take away alot of the guess work as well as guaranteeing a basic support staff for the event. It's somewhat simpler financially because there may be multiple vendors under one roof and usually only one total fee.

The couple should be aware that they may be required to use some of the in-house vendors the location has on staff. Also, along with their wedding planner, they should plan on having at least a few lengthy meetings with the venue manager to cover all the details. They should be prepared to make a few choices as the these venues will have menu options, basic decor options, and even different ceremony and reception rooms to choose from (as is often the case at hotels), all to fit their tastes and desires.

These are the venue's where the customer gets the biggest 'bang' for their buck! They can still have their desired theme and creative design because these venue's provide an upscale facility to do so!


A venue that includes a large ballroom for the reception adds class and an elegant ambiance to any wedding celebration.



Only feet away from the reception pavilion, this ceremony at a public garden was an immaculate location for a late summer wedding.

Labels: Vendor Selection, Venues