Wedding venue shopping can feel a bit like comparing apples to oranges, pumpkin spice lattes to peppermint mochas or funfetti cupcakes to apple pie. Every venue offers something different so it can feel impossible to decide which is the best fit for you and your event. It helps to figure out what wedding venue features you value most then find a venue that offers those things. But sometimes in the beginning you overlook or don’t know the value of features that will end up impacting your event in a major way. To help you out, we’re about to explain the true value of four wedding venue features that don’t get the attention they deserve.
Wedding Venue Feature #1 – Event Furniture
The value of a venue’s products and services can be hard to calculate, but certain offerings, such as event furniture, have an actual defined value. You’re not going to believe how quickly the cost of event furniture adds up. If a venue does not include furniture you’ll need to rent each item from a rental company paying the rental fee for each item as well as a delivery fee, setup fee per item and clean up fee per item. Not all furniture is of equal value though. For example, a wooden x-back chair is nicer and costs more than a metal folding chair. Make sure that the furniture provided by your venue is what you actually want for your event.
Here is an example of the value of our event furniture for an average 150-person event with a wedding ceremony, cocktail hour & reception held at Warrenwood:
The logistics of working with a rental company can become cumbersome too. When will they deliver? When will the rental company pick up your items? How do the items need to be stored? What happens if the furniture gets rained on? Working with a planner or coordinator usually helps to take the burden of these details off of you, but you can avoid them all together by choosing a venue that provides these items for you.
Wedding Venue Feature #2 – Time for Setup & Cleanup
No one does their best work when rushed. It is stressful and exhausting to feel like you don’t have enough time to do what you need to do to get ready for your wedding day. So don’t undervalue the time a venue includes for setup and cleanup. Everything seems to take longer than expected, people run late, tasks don’t go exact as expected or maybe you forgot something. It is comforting and calming to have plenty of time for you and your vendors to settle in and get things done. Even if vendors are handling everything for you, they need time to do their job too.
Wedding Venue Feature #3 – Space for All Events
Every minute on your wedding day will feel precious. Don’t waste time in the car traveling from place to place if you don’t have to. Cramming you and your dress into a car to go anywhere just isn’t ideal. Multiple locations introduces the possibility of travel delays like traffic, wrong turns, parking, etc. It also creates opportunities for things (rings, bouquet, shoes, etc.) to be forgotten or misplaced along the way. You save so much time by choosing a venue where you can get ready then host your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Instead of running from here to there, you can settle in and enjoy your day in one place.
Wedding Venue Feature #4 – Good Lighting
This one may come as a surprise to you, but good lighting is a super valuable wedding venue feature for several reasons. Your hair & makeup artists need good lighting to get you and your wedding party looking your best. Photographers need good lighting to capture all the details of your special moments. Your guests need good lighting to safely navigate around a property they aren’t familiar with after dark. Adjustable lighting sets the tone of the events of the day. Natural light from windows is ideal, but a well lit space of any kind will do.
BONUS Wedding Venue Features – Practical Amenities
Venue features like restrooms, parking lots, electricity and dumpsters aren’t glamorous. But, I’m here to tell you that you will have major problems if any of these items are too small or dysfunctional. If a venue doesn’t have these items at all then you are looking at additional expenses to meet these needs. Additionally, your wedding vendors will need certain amenities in order to do their job well. If a venue doesn’t cater to those needs then you may have to spend money meeting their needs. For example, you may have to rent a tent or additional catering equipment if your venue doesn’t have what your caterer needs. This isn’t make or break, but the cost can add up.
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Contact us if you would like to learn more about hosting your wedding at Warrenwood Manor!
Featured images were taken by Madison Renee Photography.
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