If your wedding was a sandwich, the venue would be the meat! You can’t have a wedding without a location for people to gather and celebrate with you. There are many things to consider when choosing a venue for your wedding. Let’s take a look at them so you can easily book the perfect place for you.

Plan your budget.

This should be the first thing you do after he pops the question. You need to know what your budget is before making any other wedding planning decisions. If you have parent’s or in-laws who are contributing to your budget, make sure to include them in this step. Once you have a solid idea of how much you can spend on your venue, everything else will be much easier.

Small budget? No worries! There are many locations that are free or close to it. Consider looking into places like museums, parks, botanical gardens, farms or ranches, libraries, beaches, churches, and fields. Depending on the time of year, a backyard wedding can be cost effective, beautiful and convenient.

Get a headcount.

It is important to compile your guest list before settling on a venue. You may be surprised how many people RSVP “yes” or how many people your parents want to invite. You need to make sure that your venue can accommodate the number of guests attending your wedding.

Think about traveling guests.

Are you planning a destination wedding or a wedding where many people will have to travel to come to you? Consider where your traveling guests will lodge when attending your wedding. If you have a lot of guests coming from out of town, you may consider choosing a hotel ballroom for the ceremonies so that your guests can have a convenient place to stay.

If you’re planning a destination wedding, it’s nice to find a location where everyone can stay together. Consider a large AirBnB for your immediate family and wedding party, with a nearby hotel for other guests. Keeping everyone in the same location will reduce the chances of the Best Man being late!

Find out what’s included.

Many wedding venues include tables, chairs, tablecloths, decor and food in their pricing. This can take a lot of stress out of wedding planning, as the venue will take care of all these details. If you choose a venue without these things, check with a local rental shop and calculate the total cost to make sure it will fit in your budget.

Choose your style.

This is the fun part! Here’s where all your hours on Pinterest finally seem worthwhile. When choosing a wedding venue, make sure to stay true to who you are as a couple. Budgets, guests and inclusions should all be considered, but the most important thing is that the venue is somewhere you and your fiance will love. If a more modern aesthetic is your jam, look for art galleries or well designed restaurants. If you are more outdoorsy, make sure to plan your wedding during the warmer months so you can enjoy nice weather. There are countless ways to make sure the location fits your personality, so have fun and be creative!

Do your research.

The last step after all your planning is to find your location! The internet can be a great way to find venues, but consider talking to friends or people in your community. They may know of a hidden gem that would be the perfect spot for your “I do’s”. Make sure to scout out any possibilities in person, and when you finally find your venue, get it all in writing! Sign a contract that lays out every detail, to ensure there are no surprises on the big day!

If you follow these steps, choosing your wedding venue will be a piece of cake (wedding cake, to be exact). Your wedding venue will be the place where you get to celebrate your new life together, and it should feel as authentic as your love.