Chapel of the Incarnate Word- San Antonio, Texas. Photo courtesy of Bend The Light Photography.

Venue shopping can be a fun and also difficult task.  There are so many options that will make your head spin.  So how do you choose the best venue for your wedding? Don’t worry, we are here to help!

Here are few tips to ensure your wedding venue matches your style, personality and most of all, budget.

1. Determine your budget before you start shopping for a wedding venue.  Try to stay about 10-12% of that budget for your venue.  You don’t want to become venue poor, which is VERY common.

2. Location! location! location! If all of your guests live locally, you pretty much have your choice of venue locations in that area.  However, if many of them are coming in from out of town, you will need to consider where they will be staying and its proximity to your wedding. If most of your guests are from out of town, a hotel reception would be extremely convenient.

3. Speaking of hotels,  they can offer a great convenience and comfort for you and your guests.  They also have package deals where you only have to meet a food minimum and you get a ballroom, dance floor, tables, chairs and linens.  It can be a great deal!  However, keep in mind that the food minimum does not include tax or the standard service charge (between 20-25%). So if a hotel offers a wedding package with a $20k food and beverage minimum, that actually equates to about $26,629. The ++ behind a dollar amount can add up quick.

4. As far as style goes, be flexible. You may have a modern wedding style, so you will want to choose a venue with a modern flair.  If you fall in love with a vintage style venue before you have determined your wedding style, you will want to tailor your style to match.  Nothing is more weird than very modern decor in a vintage castle setting. And fighting against your venue style could cost you more money in the end.

San Antonio has some of the most unique and beautiful venues in the country.  Whether you want a contemporary museum wedding reception, or want to exchange vows in the oldest church in Texas, you will find it all here in San Antonio.  Give us a call and we can help you find the best venue for you.