January 13, 2010 – I know most of you have had your venue picked out for your big day quite some time, but if you’re anything like me, the task of picking a venue for the event and reception seems daunting. So, the following are some interesting tidbits to think about for those of you that are struggling to pick a location.

Of course you can choose from hotels, churches, banquet halls, etc. But if you want something a little different there are a lot of places to check out. Choosing a personalized venue can be very romantic. It could even be the place where you first met your fiancée!

Here are some neat ideas:

• Museums and other historic sites
• Ranches, or beautiful old barns
• Bars/lounges and restaurants
• Live theaters
• Public parks
• Libraries
• Amusement parks
• Campgrounds
• Zoos or botanical gardens
• Golf clubs
• College campuses
• Cruise ship
• Ski slopes
• Sports venues
• Old railway stations
• Vineyard/Brewery
• Top of a sky scraper
• Lighthouses
• Orchards
• Aquariums
• Racetracks

Aside from making your event unique, there are other advantages to picking an atypical site as well. (1) You will probably have many more dates to choose from. Any ladies who have seen the popular movie Bride Wars know what I’m talking about. Picking a date, and then finding out that some other bride snagged your venue of choice is so not ideal. (2) You may get a better deal. Be careful; a lot of popular venues have packages that seem expensive, but actually include a lot. It’s easy to rack up the costs on the little things when you pick a more unusual venue, so take your time and do your research. If you’re having a small event, chances are you’ll save some money, but for larger events, package deals may be your best option.

Think you’ve found the perfect venue? Go over this quick checklist. Can it reasonably accommodate all the people on your guest list? Does it have enough restrooms? Is it kid-friendly (high chairs, safety etc.)? If needed, does it have handicapped facilities? Is there enough parking? Consider out-of town-guests. Is this a venue where they can reasonably stay? Some locations only let you choose vendors from their list. Can you hire your own vendors? Consider your date. Is this a reasonable location during your time of year? Some venues change their rates according to the season. Most importantly, take time for you and your fiancée to visit venues before committing to one.

Have fun planning, and enjoy working together with your fiancée to create the perfect celebration for you both!