Venue Backlash

This is ridiculous, like early high school stuff. Pay no attention to who has used a venue in the past, or who intends to use it in the future. If it suits you, by type and location, use it. There is no prize for being unique in any single thing about weddings. The combination of choices you make, is your style. How awful it would be if all the friends and family of a popular person would not use their venue. When it comes to places to lease or hire, good places should become popular because guests of one customer thought it a great place, and they book it as well. It would be objectionable if you took photos of her ideas for decoration, and reproduced it. But otherwise, don't consider this a factor. Anyone who comments on 5 others who used it and one who cancelled, tell them it is a good venue, and you all have good taste.

This is a venue where hundreds of people have had their weddings and receptions too. If it’s a popular venue than it shouldn’t be a surprise for other people you or your former friend to like it as well. As PP said, pay no attention. If you and your FH like it and that’s where you can envision your celebration. Go for it. Anyone who gives you backlash is a child, 100%, or petty.
My best friend/MOH booked her reception at the same venue as me. Even though I was sort of irritated by her decision, I was like “who cares.. it’s a venue!”
So book your venue! Have fun planning! It’ll be a great day! It’s your day!

I don't think I would worry about backlash. People can get married anywhere they want and just because you know someone else was going to get married there doesn't mean that you can't.

Even if you have your wedding at the same venue, it will feel like a completely different wedding. Your style and choices will be reflected in the decor, flowers, food, desserts, etc and it will be YOUR friends and family. The venue is just the background, the rest is what makes the wedding what it is.

She doesn't own the venue. In some areas, venues are limited so you have no choice but to use one that someone else did. No one is going to care that the venue is the same. Also countless people travel great distances with no issue for a wedding. Your wedding will be your style so it will stand out on its own. Nothing to worry about.

If you like the venue then I recommend you condider it.

Thank you, FI and I are considering this one and two others now! It really helped to narrow down our venues.

I wouldn't stress over it!

For one, she didn't even have her wedding there, so what would it matter?

and two, even if she did have her wedding there she only gets one day, it wouldn't matter if she did have her wedding there. You'd probably have had different DJ's, menu options, photographer, vibe, etc. It wouldn't be like two people were having the "same exact wedding"

My FH's cousin got engaged a couple weeks after we did, we booked our venue fairly fast with fear of venues booking up for 2022 when we wanted to get married. His cousin asked for the info on the venue I booked, and I gave it to her. She's getting married (if at all, I don't have much faith in this wedding) a whole year after we are, and its a popular venue in our area. Our wedding wont be the first wedding people go to at our venue and most definitely wont be the last, so what does it matter.