For starters, congratulations on your engagement!
This is an exciting time that also requires a fair bit of planning. Generally, one of the first steps in wedding planning in choosing the perfect wedding venue. Selecting the right venue can be one of the most thrilling yet challenging parts of the process. The wedding venue you choose will set the stage for your entire party. It will influence not only the appearance of your day but will also affect the overall atmosphere of your wedding day. To help you in your wedding planning journey, I have written a guide to finding the perfect venue in West Virginia!
Step 1: Understanding Your Vision
Start by defining your unique wedding vision. Your venue should match your style, whether that is bohemian, classic, modern, whimsical or something else. Think about what color scheme you would prefer for your day. Take time to gather inspiration through magazines or Pinterest to clarify what resonates with you. Here is a helpful Pinterest link to the Evermore Ridge wedding venue Pinterest board! This is a great place to start especially if Evermore Ridge is a wedding venue you are considering for your day.
Step 2: Set Your Budget
After defining your vision, it’s vital to set a realistic budget. In and around West Virginia, you could spend anywhere from $2,000 at a simpler venue to upwards of $30,000+ for luxury spaces. Remember to also consider additional expenses like catering, decor, and rentals. Every venue has their own preference on how they provide pricing to their clients. Some venues include lots of extras in their pricing, while others have lots of addons that are an additional cost. For instance, Evermore Ridge wedding venue offers decor (check out the link below that takes you to our decor album on Facebook), chairs and tables, but we do not include catering or coordinating in our pricing. Once you set your overall budget, keep in mind that a general rule of thumb is the venue takes about 40-50% of your overall budget. Lastly, prioritize what matters most to you and find ways to save in other areas.
Step 3: Consider Your Location
The location of your wedding can greatly influence the guest experience. For Charleston, WV and the surrounding area, consider proximity to hotels and attractions, particularly for out-of-town guests. Evermore Ridge wedding venue is only a few short miles to the New River Gorge National Park, Babcock State Park, Hawks Nest State Park, Summersville State Park and Summersville Lake. The amenities and attractions in the surrounding area are growing at an exponential rate. It is the perfect mini vacation for your out-of-town guests!
Step 4: Venue Capacity
Before even looking at venues, it is important to come up with a realistic guest list. This means, taking the time to sit down with your fiancé and making the dreaded guests list. All venues have a maximum guest count, and it is vital you know how many guests will be invited to your wedding. Make sure you count kids (or don't if you want an adult only wedding)! At Evermore Ridge wedding venue, we can comfortably accommodate 150 people indoors and have a maximum guest count of 175.
Step 5: Amenities and Their Worth
As you evaluate venues, pay attention to the amenities they offer. Does the venue have a bridal suite, area for the groom, kitchen, guest bathrooms, etc.? These amenities can highly enhance your experience and are worth the comfort and luxury they provide. Evermore Ridge wedding venue includes a bridal suite, grooms lounge, caterers prep kitchen, men and women guest bathrooms and we are always looking for ways to add to the comfort and overall experience of our venue.
Step 6: Availability and Booking
Once you've identified potential venues, check their availability. Popular venues may book up quickly, often a year in advance during peak seasons. Particularly, if fall weddings appeal to you, you may have a more difficult time finding an available wedding venue. October is the most popular month to get married in West Virginia. On the other hand, if your date is flexible, you may find better options and rates during less popular months.
Step 7: Personalization and Restrictions
Every couple desires a wedding day that feels uniquely theirs. Investigate how much freedom you have to personalize the space. Some venues may limit your decor choices or dictate entertainment options. Look for venues that are flexible, but knowledgeable. You want to be able to create your vision, but it is also important to keep everyone safe and prevent mishaps that can quickly ruin your day. At Evermore Ridge, we work with each couple to make sure their vision comes to fruition while also following guidelines to keep guests happy and safe throughout your wedding day.
Step 8: Questions to Ask Potential Wedding Venues
When visiting potential venues, it’s important to come prepared with questions. Here are some key ones to consider:
What is the capacity of the venue?
What is included in the rental fee?
Are there any hidden costs?
Can we bring in our own vendors?
Are there any restrictions we should be aware of?
How many events do you host in one day?
What is the cancellation policy?
How long will our vendors have to set up?
Are there any vendors you don’t allow?
Do you offer any planning tools that will be helpful?
What types of decor do you include in the venue rental?
Do you offer wedding planning services?
Do you offer a payment plan?
What are the rules about alcohol?
Step 9: Talk it Over
After visiting venues and gathering all necessary information, compare your options based on your priorities and what each venue offers. Try to envision your wedding day at each place. This decision can sometimes take time, while other times couples know as soon as they see a certain venue that "this is the one!"
Step 10: Say "YES!" to Your Dream Wedding Venue
Contact your dream venue as soon as you decide, sign the contract and make your initial payment- one big wedding planning step is complete!
Thank you so much for stopping by our blog, we hope you found this guide to finding your perfect wedding venue helpful. We want to use our weekly blog to increase awareness and support for locally owned wedding venues. Locally owned wedding venues tend to provide a higher level of expertise, service and dedication. They also have far less turnover than corporate-owned or investor-owned venues. As you plan your wedding, we hope you will consider a locally owned wedding venue like ours. You can find locally owned wedding venues on this wedding venue map. Below is a little shout out to fellow locally owned wedding venues around the country! We are so thankful for the support of our locally owned wedding venue from all our previous and upcoming couples at Evermore Ridge!
The Hidden Abby
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