Venue overwhelm

Forgot to mention another factor in our choice. We got engaged last August, and within two weeks started looking for venues. We knew that COVID has had significant financial consequences for businesses, specifically on wedding industry. The one venue I really wanted to get married in was a concert venue, which concerts are still closed in our state. With no ability to gain income we were really concerned about them going out of business if COVID continued, and unfortunately it has. I follow the venue on Facebook as well and they have been honest about financial impact and have collected donations to help pay bills recently. The venue we did choose is owned by the county and they do event hosting as a side hustle. We felt it was a bit safer decision to go that route to for our money and planning concerns.

I reached out to several visited 3.
First one nice on inside outside was near streets with lights and looked misplaced. Expensive as well.

Second I went to the venue was sitting in the lobby while someone had a party people were looking. (I had an appointment too) I was ready to leave she came out. Told her not even interested since I wasn’t treated even fairly.
Third is the one I picked.
Don’t be overwhelmed. Go in and say do I want to be here dancing... does this place make me happy? Visit ones closer to you first. Then branch out. Remember to rate them too. Like are they accommodating you, nice, answers questions, and such. Then leave see others when you find that one you like you will know always sleep on it too don’t jump and say yes put money down. I visited the venue I picked 3 times before setting things up. Went to a bridal show there too (before Covid). Good luck. Take a deep breath

I reached out to about a dozen and got pricing information. We actually ended up only touring one venue and fell in love with it!

Honestly, I am incredibly picky, and I was when we got married, too.

My first thought was: no hotels, convention centers, or civic centers. I worked at a hotel with a convention center at the time, and had I wanted that kind of wedding, they would have gone over the moon for me, so I would have gone with them without question. But I wanted something different/unique (and still do).

That turned me toward historic venues, botanical gardens, and museums. I looked online at about 10. I was able to knock off two off the bat because the rental price was way out of my budget. I knocked off another three because of their locations - too far for people to drive.

I technically toured five, but I only scheduled tours for four. One, that was in town, was just bland - it was a historic house, but you weren't allowed to actually rent space inside the house, only the lawn, and they had about 80 restrictions, from what vendors you were allowed to use to what kind of décor you were allowed to have. And you could only rent the freaking lawn!

Another was an immediate NOPE when we drove there and saw its actual location. The venue was BEAUTIFUL. Absolutely fairy tale levels. ...and it was literally right next to a busy city overpass that was full of construction (everywhere you looked there were orange cones and huge orange MEN WORKING flags) and the only parking was three blocks away.

The last two, a garden and an art museum, their reception spaces were just conference rooms. Full-on meeting board style. The problem was that we were working on a very tight budget, and décor was the absolute bottom of the priority list - these spaces could be made to be beautiful if you had the budget for some draping and lighting, but we just didn't. We need a venue that was 90% beautiful on its own and just needed a little bit to make it look like a wedding.

On a whim, I mentioned to my sister (who went with me, and was equally disappointed in everything as I was) that there was one last place I'd liked the look of online, but I hadn't really considered it. She insisted we go, and immediately when we walked in, we were floored. I didn't really have a "THIS IS THE ONE!!!" moment with my dress, but I definitely did with the venue.