I finally got engaged and immediately I started emailing different venues to get pricing and to set up tours. I was so excited I probably emailed around 30/40 venues. In my mind I thought venues were going to fit my budget because I see all these beautiful weddings by everyday people. Surely not everyone can afford to spend $50,000 on a wedding, right? Let’s just say I was in for a rude awakening.
Out of all the venues I messaged in Houston and Dallas the price ranged between $6,500 and $15,000. The majority of venues cost the amount I budgeted to spend on my whole reception. There are so many things I want a part of my day that I have struggled with picking a venue. Although some places can be expensive, I did find a handful of really good venues that we toured.
One tip you should look at when looking for venues is all-inclusive vs. DIY. Depending on your budget an all-inclusive price can be good. This way all you have to do is make a couple of decisions and then show up on your big day.
TIP: while an all-inclusive price looks great do not forget about little prices that can add up. For example, most all-inclusive places do not include photography, alcohol, attire, invitations, bridal gifts, brunch/lunch, engagement photos.
Some places with all-inclusive include décor and floral arrangements but I recommend making sure it is customized to you, not reused (unless its free). Some all-inclusive places include a cake, but make sure it will fee your guests, but don’t forget about the groom’s cake and other misc desserts you might want.
When thinking about alcohol there is so many options. If you have a large guest count with heavy drinkers, I would pay per person for all they can drink. If you have a small guest count with people who will not drink a lot, I recommend the pay by consumption. One other thing is that you see all of these cute alcohol rentals and set up vendors, but many venues require you use their bar for insurance and liability reason. Which is understandable. So, make sure you explain what you are wanting. I really want to do a champagne wall, and all vendors have been willing to work with me, some just want me to purchase the champagne through them, while some want me to pay for an extra bartender.
A big thing for me has been catering. I do not want bland food cooked that’s cold and seen at every wedding. Andrew and I are really wanting to be different. One option we have thought about is food trucks. Food trucks are a great way to get a lot of people fresh cooked food that they get to choose off a menu. The only down fall to food trucks is the weather, lines, and fees. Some venues will charge you a fee if you do not use their caterer. Most fees ranged from $500-750. However, the price of the fee and truck might still be cheaper than the caterer they offer. The plus side to using their caterers is that they usually come with linens, napkins, plates, silverware, and glasses.
The venues that are not all-inclusive could be good if you are on a tight budget. Then you can DIY everything and have it exactly the way you want. This can also be good in finding your own vendors at a price that fits you rather than paying fees and having to pick certain caterers. One downfall is that this can get overwhelming. So many options, so many crafts, not enough time. Another thing to think about is you need someone who will set everything up. If you are not doing all inclusive you might need a day of planner to help decorate.
My biggest advice for venue hunting is set a budget and stick to it. Be honest with your venue. We had a venue tell us that they would work with us on pricing and that makes a huge difference. Bring printed out questions. After our third tour our brains were mush and we couldn’t think of questions off the top of our heads. Take a lot of pictures! Venues can get confusing and run together so take pictures to keep them straight in your head. Most importantly have fun. I have gotten stressed too many times already and I just have to remember this should be fun and exciting not stressful! Happy hunting!
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