By Alexandra Dillard | Photo by Callie Rose Photography
When planning a wedding, many couples start by selecting and securing the venue.
After all, your venue will ultimately influence your celebration’s mood, logistics and design choices. From the rehearsal dinner to the ceremony to the reception, there are many options for your wedding landscape. Maybe you’re looking to keep things simple and streamlined by planning all your festivities in one spot, or maybe you want to treat your guests to several locations. Whatever you choose as your venue(s), take into account the aesthetics and overall vision, but also think about these important aspects:
- Location: How easily will guests be able to arrive and exit your venue? Is the venue located near hotels and/or other lodging options?
- Cost: Are you willing to adjust other budget items to accommodate a specific venue? Does your desired wedding date come with a higher, peak- season rate?
- Amenities & Decor: How much decor will the venue provide, and how much will you need to bring yourselves? How many restrooms are there and what are they like? Is it accessible to people with mobility challenges? Is there a catering kitchen for your caterers to use?
- Size: What is the maximum capacity? Will the venue be too large or too small for your guest list?
- Preferred Vendors: Does the venue have a list of preferred vendors you’ll be limited to?
RESORT
Hosting your wedding at a resort is a great option if you anticipate a lot of out-of-town guests. On-site accommodations ease transportation needs and help keep everyone in a central locale. Plus, there’s an added layer of guest safety, as no one will need to find a sober driver at the end of the night — they can just go back to their room! Many hotels and resorts offer a variety of celebration locations, from outdoor tents and gazebos to indoor ballrooms and hospitality suites. The value of all the amenities a resort provides is hard to overlook.
Locally, options include The Abbey Resort, Lake Lawn Resort, Lodge Geneva National (formerly The Ridge), Alpine Valley Resort and Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.
GOLF OR YACHT CLUB
Views and greens abound! Country clubs, yacht clubs and golf courses lend themselves to stunning panoramic photo opportunities and event backdrops. In addition to the aesthetic appeal, many of these venues come with white-glove service, and have multiple rooms available for the various stages of the wedding day. Opting for a private club also adds an extra layer of privacy and security to your special day. However, it’s important to note that many clubs offer events to their members only, so check before you get your heart set on one.
Local options include Hawk’s View Golf Club, Destination Geneva National and Abbey Springs Yacht Club.
HISTORIC SITE
Character abounds with a historic site or estate as a venue. By leaning into the splendor of the past, you can ease up on decor rentals and let the space speak for itself. These venues often feature sweeping gardens, breathtaking architecture and the irreplaceable historic details. If you’re looking for a timeless and welcoming venue, look at historic properties. But do your research: due to the quaint charm of the past, some historic venues lack modern amenities like ample restrooms or grounded power outlets.
Local historic spaces perfect for a wedding day include The Riviera Ballroom, Horticultural Hall and Maxwell Mansion.
BARN
Rustic charm comes naturally at a barn or farmhouse. Barns offer a lot of space, which is ideal for large weddings, especially if you intend to have both indoor and outdoor activities. The outdoor grounds give space for elements like a fire pit, yard games and maybe even some barn animal cameos. And don’t feel confined by the given rustic aesthetic; these venues are versatile and can be dressed up to create an engaging juxtaposition of glamor and homespun charm. For a breath of fresh air and a step away from the hustle of city life, a barn or farmhouse is a lovely choice for
a blissful wedding.
Local options include Boxed and Burlap, LaRocque Farms and The Landing 1841.
PRIVATE RESIDENCE
Private residences have sentimental value that a standard venue can’t replicate. They provide a completely private and intimate experience, as the venue is not open to the public. While this type of venue might not cost you anything to book (if it is a residence of a family member or friend), it might not necessarily save you money. In the end, you’ll likely need to bring in external coordinators, staff, set-up crews and more to ensure the venue operates cohesively as a dedicated event venue. But you can’t beat the emotional value of getting married in grandma’s garden or your childhood home!
WATERFRONT
No matter how high your wedding- day nerves might be, ultimate relaxation comes with getting married to the sounds of the lake. A waterfront wedding can take place in a variety of places, like on a chartered yacht, on a private beach or pier or at a lakeside restaurant or hotel.
Local options include Lake Geneva Cruise Line, Lake Lawn Resort, The Geneva Inn and Pier 290.
GARDEN
Gardens are charming and undeniably beautiful venues for late spring or summer weddings. Let nature guide your decor. During the festivities, guests can enjoy the fresh air and open space, which can be a refreshing change
from indoor venues. Ultimately, the versatility of garden venues guarantees beauty, whether your vision is a casual, bohemian vibe or a more formal, elegant setting.
Locally, check out Northwind Perennial Farm.
EVENT HALL
As the name implies, event halls are dedicated to events, so they offer a turn-key location with a blank slate for you to build on. The purpose of these venues is to host events like weddings or conferences, so you can be confident that they have every detail accounted for. Event halls are typically equipped with a variety of necessary wedding essentials, including sound systems, furniture and basic decor.
Locally, check out Burlington’s Veterans Terrace.
RESTAURANT
Restaurants can be perfect for intimate weddings, rehearsal dinners or bridal showers. Certain restaurants or bars have private rooms available for rent, such as Pier 290 and Chuck’s Lakeshore Inn, and some, like Rosewood, even have outdoor settings.
A bonus: you now have an automatic anniversary date night planned for years in the space where you were married!
