What to Consider when Choosing Your San Diego Wedding Venue
One of the very first decisions that has to be made when planning your wedding is also one of the biggest: where will you say you “I Do’s”?
People often have an idea of the type of setting they are hoping to get married in, but most don’t contemplate the realities of venues until the actual planning stages commence. Up to that point, the wedding is more of a fantasy, without any of the concrete details worked out.
Once that wedding becomes a sure thing, though, you need to figure out where it is going to happen, and soon – preferably at least 9 months to a year in advance. The best venues tend to book up earlier than you may realize, so getting in and signing contracts is crucial to ensuring you can have the venue of your dreams on the day you exchange your vows.
Going into this decision with a semi-flexible wedding date can be helpful. For instance, if you know you want to get married in May, but don’t particularly care about what day in May – the venue may be able to offer you more options than if you were searching for a specific date and time. In this way, selecting your venue can actually help you with that other big decision: setting the date. But if your heart is already set on the 12th of May, keep that in mind and begin searching even earlier for the right venue to meet your needs.
Beyond the date, there are several other points to consider when selecting your wedding venue:
Will the space accommodate all your guests?
This probably seems like an obvious question, but if you haven’t yet compiled your guest list – it may be a difficult one to answer. It’s true that most brides and grooms don’t yet have their guest list finalized when they set about choosing a venue, but having a range in mind will be crucial to selecting the right space. Most venues have a range of guests they are capable of accommodating and you won’t be able to go over that number once your decision has been made. So put your heads together and do some rough estimating before signing on any dotted lines.
Can you hold both the wedding and the reception at the same location?
While this isn’t a must-have for all brides and grooms, being able to host both the wedding and reception at roughly the same location has become the norm and something people typically strive for. Not only is this an added convenience for your guests, but it will also save you the stress of being shuffled from one location to another on your big day. Often larger venues like the the Inn Rancho Santa Fe, Estancia or Rancho Valencia will have dedicated spaces for each event. Larger venues can allow you to have a change of scenery while still remaining at relatively the same location.
Is there ample parking available?
The last thing you want is a guest having to park half a mile down the road and trekking towards your wedding in heals. The only thing worse is those same guests having to make that same trek hours later, after drinking and dancing the night away. Ask about parking and refer back to your previous guest list estimates before making any big decisions. Valet service is also an option for venues without parking. I’ve seen this done at places like La Valencia, The Thursday Club & the Darlington House.
Are they a full service venue?
Some venues, like the Prado & the Grand Del Mar will provide everything from chairs and linens to setup and breakdown of the space. Then, there are the venues that provide a blank slate, but expect you and your vendors to prepare the canvas however you want. There are pros and cons to both options and neither is necessarily better than the other, but it is important for you to remain aware of what you actually want and to select the venue that will best accommodate your needs.
Will your wedding have privacy?
Not all venues are created equal in terms of privacy. When getting married in a public location, like the Hotel Del Coronado, you need to be prepared for tourists and bystanders to stop and observe your big day. If privacy is important to you, ask how the venue works to separate wedding guests from the general public – and pay attention to how much traffic there is through the ceremony and rehearsal areas.