Things have been a little crazy around here, but that’s okay because Wedding Wednesday is back!
So, now that you’re engaged and you’ve picked a date, it’s time to find a venue. The first thing to think about is what kind of wedding you want. Do you want a traditional, church ceremony? Do you want to go the non-traditional route and have your ceremony outdoors? Do you want everything to be in the same location or do you want your ceremony at one location and your reception at another? Do you want alcohol at your reception? Some smaller, more community-minded or religious locations don’t allow for it. Also, how big is your wedding going to be? Are you having only close friends and family or are you likely to have guests numbering in the hundreds? It’s important to answer these questions first as they’ll help determine what type of venue you’ll need.
Personally, I knew I wanted an outdoor venue for my ceremony and I wanted something where I could have everything at one location. I didn’t want my guests to have to travel between two venues. I also knew I wanted beer and wine at the reception and due to the size of our families, I knew I would end up somewhere near the 200 mark on the guest list. I also knew, and maybe this is one of the biggest things, that I didn’t have a ton of money to spend on the venue. I wanted something nice and outdoors with enough space for both the ceremony and reception that allowed beer and wine and could accommodate 200 guests.
Virginia has amazing wedding venues, some that have even popped up in the (almost) five years since I’ve been married so there are lots of options in a variety of price points.
No matter where you choose to get married, make sure it’s the perfect spot for you. My husband and I ended up choosing Riverside Weddings by Clore. My sister had actually gotten married there years before, although quite a few changes had been made since then. It offered the outdoor location we were looking for, featured the river as a backdrop, allowed for wine and beer (with an easy-to-get ABC event license) and had a great reception space where everyone was able to dance the night away. Also, there was a cabin onsite that the bridal party was able to use for the wedding day prep. It ended up being exactly what we were looking for and our guests had a wonderful time.
capturing love stories since 2010
Located in a small town outside of Charlottesville, I love my couples and clients. I capture your story in a way that is authentic to your day and will stand the test of time with true to color editing. From the details to grandma trying the Cupid Shuffle, it’s all important and should all be photographed.
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