Selecting a Wedding Venue in Alabama

So your love has popped the question and you said “Yes!” Congratulations! Now, let’s plan a wedding. I have photographed in many amazing locations around Alabama. So many brides have told me that it is so hard to organize a wedding day. I understand. When I planned my wedding near the Alabama gulf coast, I had a whole team of family and friends helping me. I’m not sure what I would have done without this group of ladies.

While researching wedding planning, I came across the article, “The Ultimate Guide To Your Ceremony,” in Brides magazine. In this article were some very useful tips when selecting the venue location. The article discusses the pros and cons to consider when selecting venue locations. Here are the highlights of what they discussed.

So let’s talk location, location, location….

The venue you choose is one of the first things to consider after determining the wedding budget. Keep in mind the locale will impact the look and feel of your wedding. It is during this part of the planning phase that you will want to consider the size of the wedding, the inclusion of religious or cultural traditions, and how much money you have budgeted to spend.

When considering the venue, you must decide on whether to have the ceremony and reception together or at separate locations. When choosing to have them at the same location, it keeps things simple. In this scenario, you can repurpose the décor and rentals, have one point person on site, and eliminate the need for transportation.

If you select a House of Worship, most of the work is typically done for you. Meaning they will have their own officiant, seating, musicians, and will work out the standard sequence of events. When selecting this option, you need to keep in mind they may place restrictions on décor, limit flowers, and regulate the elements of the ceremony such as the start time, length of the service, the readings, and the music, etc…. The cost of using the facilities is dependent upon whether you have a membership there. If so, you may donate a suggested contribution to the congregation. If you do not have a membership, you will pay a fee for use of the venue. Be sure to ask these and any other questions you may have if selecting a House of Worship.

If you select a beach, park, etc…, you will be responsible for everything that pertains to your wedding…including the officiant, chairs, music, sound system, and transportation for you and your guests if the reception is being held at another location. If you select a public locale, you will want to check with the municipality for all of the details on obtaining permits and make sure you are aware of and adhere to the noise ordinances.

So before settling on a venue consider the following:

• Is there a site fee?
• What items are included with the rental of the facilities, and what will you need to bring in yourselves?
• When setting the time frame, does this include the setup and breakdown needed for the ceremony?
• Are there any restrictions on the music or musicians that can be hired?
• Are there any limitations on the flowers or décor?
• Is there room for the bridal party to get ready on site, or will this need to be done off-site?
• Prior to the start of the ceremony, is there a place where you can stand out of view prior to walking down the aisle?
• Is there a designated location for your guests to park and/or is there valet service being offered?

All of these items need to be considered early on when selecting your venue. By doing so, you can keep your budget in check and minimize stress leading up to your big day. I’ve been asked as a wedding photographer what is my favorite type of venue. I work hard to tell a couple’s story and I am happy to photograph at all different types of locations. I always vote for a place that means something to the couple. For some couples, it comes down to tradition while others seek a certain feel to their day.

Source: “The Ultimate Guide To Your Ceremony.” Brides. April/May 2017. 216-218. Print.