Take It From the Pros: Pick Your Venue First!

With engagement season officially here, newly engaged couples often feel pressure to set a wedding date right away. In fact, one of the first questions people often hear after sharing their engagement with family and friends is, “When’s the date?” However, we advise finding the right venue first, before setting a date.

“The venue sets the stage for the entire event,” said Alyssa Keith, event expert at Wedgewood Weddings. Keith has been helping couples plan their big day since 2011 and has given this advice to thousands of couples. “By touring venues first, couples can see if a location matches their ideal aesthetic and then find a date that works.”

Keith advises couples to research venue options that fit their wedding vision first, whether that’s a historic mansion, intimate vineyard, or sprawling garden. Couples should tour spaces in person when possible to get a feel for the ambiance and layout.

"I always recommend that couples pick their venue first before cementing a date. Venues book up quickly, so it’s helpful to keep an open mind before getting attached to a certain date,” Keith explains. “When you find a venue you click with, it’s easier to then choose a date that venue can accommodate.”

In addition to prioritizing venue over date, engaged couples may also want to explore holding their nuptials on a weekday instead of the traditional Saturday. Historically, weddings have taken place on all days of the week, as exemplified by famous couples like Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd's wedding on a Friday back in 1842 or Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' Sunday nuptials in 2012.