Venue Decisions

I think you've already answered my first point for this: BUDGET! Which means that now you're really just deciding between two great venues. See how much your parents are willing to contribute, and if you accept, is it realistic for the two of you to pay the balance, if any?

So with that out of the way, my first real question is, have you seen either/both of these venues in person? If not, hop in the car and get there! As much as internet photos and budget spreadsheets are important to the planning process, so is how the venue makes you feel. I can honestly say that, yes, you will remember your venue and it will influence your overall feel on the wedding day, so you want something that matches your vision.

Once you tour both venues you'll have a clearer idea of what to consider:

- With the camp venue: this is a sentimental space for FH, free (heck yea!), and really a blank slate for y'all to make your own. But since it is not a traditional venue, you need to consider other things like: is there enough power/outlets to support a DJ? Is the mess hall the right set up for caterers to cook and prep? What kind of lighting will you have to supply if this is outdoors? Is there a large enough building in case it rains? Will you have to get an alcohol permit/bartenders? Map these things out, and see if the blank slate is really the cost savings you think it will be

- With the other venue, consider: Your husband is set on this, and you think it may be more you...explore that feeling, is it? Since this may be a more traditional venue they will likely already have things like outlets, lighting, adequate bathrooms, be handicap accessible, etc. and may also have some amenities included (ex: ours included chairs, tables, alcohol and bartenders). Like I said above, this one seems expensive up front, but likely has some cost savings that come along with being a more established event venue.

Weigh your options, talk with FH and go with the best fit! Good Luck

Just talking money, the camp, even though it is free, may not end up being the best value or least expensive option. Factor in that you'll need to find vendors that are located near your camp, not near where you live, so if you want to do anything like food tastings or hair/makeup trials you'll need to drive all the way up there multiple times before your wedding for those. Additionally, unless you are all able to stay on site at the camp for no charge, you'll need at least two nights of a hotel room for you and your FH, and your parents and wedding party members will as well if you want to do a rehearsal on site the day before and have all day to set up and make the place look how you want. You'll also be on the hook for the cost of buying or renting all of the decor needed to dress up the camp to look how you want it to for your wedding.

If the other venue is local and already "wedding ready" you'll save money on decor, travel, and lodging. It will also be easier to find and meet up with vendors if they are local. Even though $3,500 sounds like a lot, you may save when it comes to other costs and the convenience and overall time savings of having a local venue may be worth it. Plus venues that are traditional wedding venues typically have a level of professionalism, expertise, and service that you won't get with a place like a summer camp, where you may potentially be doing more of the work and coordinating yourself.

This doesn't even factor in all of the emotional and sentimental factors for either of you or which venue you actually like more. I would just say don't let the "venue fee" alone be what determines your decision. Good luck!

I agree about first being completely clear about exactly what your total wedding budget is. If others are contributing, I'd only count actual dollar amounts they have committed to (not vague, "we'd like to contribute" comments). Using only the money you are sure you'll have in hand to spend as wedding bills come due, then you can figure out how much you can afford to allocate to different items (including the venue). Most wedding calculators tell you that 50-60% of the total cost of the wedding will go to reception expenses (e.g., venue, food & beverage, furnishings, tableware, etc.). That means for example, if the total budget maximum is $10,000, not more than $5-6000 should be allocated to cover EVERY expense related to the reception. With a $3500 venue fee, that means you'd potentially only have $2500 for F&B, and everything else you need. Is that going to be enough? What's your guest count? Will you be happy with the catering you can afford within your budget? I'd also think about your guest list and try to figure out how the venue 1.5 hours away might impact your acceptance rate. Will your friends and family gladly travel (and probably stay overnight) for the wedding or will a lot of important people decline because they won't want to drive that far? Start with the total amount you are willing to spend, and then work backwards to figure out if the closer venue is even an option financially. Good luck!