one / Have a Vision

Your wedding venue is the foundation that your wedding day's look and feel will be based on! As you brainstorm venues, get clear on the vision you have for your wedding day. Is it a candlelit ceremony under the stars?  An elegant reception at the Space and Rocket center or a historical library? A summer day filled with sunshine and bright florals? Get on pinterest and find inspo, talk with your partner about their thoughts and ideas, and give yourself the freedom to explore a variety of different ideas.

two / Budget and Prioritize

Before you get too far into your venue search, you'll want to make sure you're on the same page about how much money you want and have to spend on your wedding day, and where you want it to go towards. Do research on realistic wedding costs in your area, spend time talking with friends and family about what they prioritized and what they would prioritize if they could do it again, and have a general plan for what you want to spend in each area of your wedding.

three / Guest List

Who do you want around you on your wedding day? Your list of non-negotiable wedding guests is an important part of choosing your wedding venue. Whether you're envisioning an intimate evening with just your closest friends and family, or an all-out party with everyone you love, you'll need an idea of numbers as you're doing your research. Spend time thinking about who you want around you while you get ready, your ideal ceremony space (and it's max capacity), and how you want your tables set up at the reception.

four / Planner

An experienced local wedding planner is the secret to making your dream day a reality. They'll know the best venues and vendors to work with, have experience flipping a ceremony site into a reception, keep up with all the emails and contracts you'll be needing, and have the perfect backup plan if something goes crazy with the weather. (You know how Huntsville gets in the spring!) I highly (highly!) recommend hiring someone to handle the bulk of the wedding planning, if you want to actually be able to enjoy the wedding. You can find a list of local, Huntsville, AL based wedding planners on this blog post!

five / Idea of Wedding Date

Until you have your wedding venue officially booked, you don't have a wedding date — you don't have anywhere to get married! Work with your partner, your planner, and any essential guests to find your ideal wedding date, as well as a couple of backup dates in case your dream venue isn't available on that day. If you aren't particular about a specific date, start with a season and go from there.