We get it. Weddings can be expensive, and every little detail adds up quickly. Since the pandemic, we have seen MANY couples opt for less traditional wedding venues for a variety of reasons. It could be lower budgets, lower guest counts, or their unique theme. When we say less traditional venues, we mean backyards, AirBnbs, museums, hotels, or even nature parks. But when it comes down to it, are you getting the most bang for your buck with these alternative venues? What amenities might you be sacrificing by not booking an event space that was built for weddings? As the wedding venue experts, we want to help you dive into the pros and cons of the most commonly booked wedding spaces. And, while we’re at it, we’ll share the perks of choosing a venue designed for weddings.
One of the biggest perks of booking a true wedding venue is that the building was literally designed for weddings. Typically, you have a ceremony site in a beautiful location that is easily accessible from the main hall and features a statement focal point; like an arch or covered pavilion. The reception space is separate from the ceremony site and is usually indoors, providing heating and cooling amenities for year-round comfort. These two spaces are guaranteed when you book a true wedding venue. Most venues have way better backup plans for inclement weather. Remember to always ask about a venue’s inclement weather plan.
When getting ready for your wedding, having a comfortable and beautiful space to spend the morning starts the day off right. If you are in a cramped hotel room or bedroom at a BnB, the room easily becomes unorganized and full of clutter within minutes of your wedding party’s arrival. We know from experience that clutter is the superhighway to stress, and that’s the last thing you want on your wedding day!
The best way to avoid clutter? Our dressing suites. These dressing suites have been designed with getting ready in mind. This means lots of outlet plugs, mirrors, seating, private bathrooms, hanging hooks, locker spaces, and a TV. Each member of the wedding party has a spot for their things, and you’ll still have enough space for your hair and makeup team too!
Speaking of vendor teams, let’s talk prep kitchen and space for your vendors. What even is a prep kitchen? Wouldn’t a full kitchen be better? The short answer – is no. A prep kitchen is always the better choice if your caterer prepared the food beforehand. This is because a prep kitchen is designed for prep only. There is ample counter space for plates, a large fridge and freezer to store food, and a large sink for clean-up. A regular kitchen has a lot of extras that a catering team doesn’t need.
Additionally, Kitchens are normally the focal point of a home or Airbnb, so the likelihood of your guests disrupting the catering staff is very high. In venues designed for weddings, the prep kitchen is away from guests, near the buffet table, and has all the equipment your catering team needs. At The Springs, there is even a separate entrance for easy and discreet loading and unloading.
When booking a wedding venue, staffing is a detail that you should not overlook. Weddings are the type of events each manager has been expertly trained on and has the most experience with. You are their top priority so you know they will be there for you every step of the way! Not to say that staff members at alternative venues aren’t helpful, but they are probably not as experienced in weddings. Weddings are simply not the bread and butter of these businesses. These types of event centers often have slower response times, which can be frustrating when you are wedding planning. If you are choosing to book an alternative venue, be sure that the staff you are speaking with is well versed in hosting events and that events are their main job priority!
If you are considering a park, Airbnb, or even a backyard wedding, keep in mind that there might be no staff at all. Sure, you can hire someone to help, but that’s another expense that would already be included at a wedding venue. Take our staff for example. At each Springs location, we have staff onsite 7 days a week to answer any questions, provide venue-related documents, and help ensure your wedding day goes off without a hitch!
When you choose a true wedding venue for your big day, you have much easier access to the venue for touring and planning purposes! Many hotels and Airbnbs will likely be booked year-round, making it much harder to go out and measure, plan, and walk through the space. If you can get out to your alternative venue, it normally takes more planning and possibly extra fees just to see it.
When you host your wedding in a public space like a park, botanical garden, or hotel, you will forfeit your privacy. Hot spots like these will almost certainly have regular guests walking around or other events going on in different areas of the grounds. Let’s face it, people are often just curious about the events going on so you will have all kinds of looky-loos and people that won’t be respectful of your space.
You are almost always guaranteed ample parking spaces when you choose a venue designed for weddings. This is not the case if you opt to book an Airbnb or choose to do a backyard wedding. We know that a large percentage of guests will use a ride-sharing app for transportation to your event, but you still need to consider your vendors. It becomes quite challenging for a caterer, rental company, bar service, DJ, and florist to set up for your event all at the same time if there are limited parking spaces. Make sure to think about all of the vendors on your big day and keep them in mind when choosing a venue. At wedding venues, like The Springs, there will likely be separate parking areas designated for your vendors. This gives vendors plenty of space, allows for easier set-ups/breakdowns, and keeps their vans and equipment out of view.
Often overlooked, restrooms can be a big make or break point for your guests. When you book a venue designed for weddings, you are guaranteed to have multiple restrooms. Nothing is worse than being a guest at a wedding, drinking most of the evening, and then having to wait in line or hunt down a restroom.
A beautiful view is great until your grandparent isn’t able to attend your ceremony because it isn’t handicapped accessible. That is why every venue at The Springs is handicapped-friendly. Where we have stairs, there is always a ramp alternative nearby. The biggest bonus? Many of our venues have just as gorgeous views as a national park or a beachfront property! We know your elderly or handicapped guests will always appreciate you considering their ease of movement on your big day. After all, lots of grandparents and great-grandparents are just as excited for this day as you are!
Ready to check out some of the best venues in DFW that were designed with weddings in mind? Click below to get started!
Many couples today are choosing an alternative venue. What might you be sacrificing by booking a space that is not designed for weddings?Are you getting the most bang for your buck with these alternative venues? Let’s find out what you could be missing!
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