Things to Consider Before Choosing an Unconventional Wedding Venue

Unlike weddings of the past, where convention and tradition dominate, modern weddings are a place to unleash your creativity and challenge your guests with activities and sights that they may not expect. And the best place to start is with an unconventional wedding venue. Instead of the standard church ceremony and reception to follow, it’s the venue that tells your guests that this wedding is different. The party favors, decorations and invites are all opportunities to play up your individuality, but it starts with the venue.

Whether you’re looking for stunning views or a beautifully manicured outdoor area with golden light shining down on you and your closest friends and family, there’s no shortage of ideas for venues when you’re planning a wedding. From a DIY wedding in a restored warehouse or rustic barn to a beautiful pitch on the grounds of a luxurious resort, unconventional wedding venues are out there if you bother to look.

Do they have amenities?

Before you go with that remote location in the middle of nowhere, you’ll want to consider whether you can actually pull off a wedding in a place without the amenities you need to make it happen. Common amenities like bathrooms and a full-service kitchen and bar are expected, and if you’re looking at an unconventional wedding venue that lacks the basic things you and your vendors need to help pull it off, you could be setting yourself up for a disappointing ceremony, cocktail hour and reception where it’s up to you to figure out how to make it all work.

What about the decor?

While a waterfall or a flower field makes for a stunning visual, you and your wedding planner are still on the hook for making it look like, you know, an actual wedding. That means lights, flowers, arrangements and centerpieces, as well as tables and chairs in an area where everyone can feel comfortable. Your backdrop can help jazz up the ceremony, but you’ll have to pull double-duty to make the rest of it feel like an actual wedding, not a short field trip to some strange place.

Is there power and water?

When it comes to unconventional wedding venues, one of the first questions you should ask is whether there’s power and water. Power for your lights, the music and other entertainment, and running water for your caterer to prep and clean up with. If it’s an especially remote place without much of anything, you’ll have to bring in restrooms, trash disposal and generators to power it all. If you’re hiring a band, they may even need their own power source lest they blow the power that the rest of the venue relies upon — or maybe it’s better to go acoustic for a more intimate setting.

What about permits and insurance?

Typical venues host events all the time. And they’ll have all the necessary permits and insurance you need to throw the wedding of your dreams without getting bogged down in legal issues. But unconventional wedding venues won’t have any of this. You might even need to do some research to determine if having your wedding there is illegal, or that you can hold a gathering in the space. Booze is also an issue for alternative venues that don’t come with their own alcohol permits, which means you may not even be able to legally serve drinks to your guests. To avoid any problems, you’ll want to seriously vet your venue before you move forward — you might even need liability insurance to protect yourself in the case of a mishap.

Where will your guests park?

Unconventional wedding venues that are off the beaten path may make for a great picture and an inspiring moment or two, but for guests that need to trek half a mile after parking in the middle of nowhere, they may not “get it.” And for good reason — no one wants to huff it when they’re looking forward to some drinks and relaxation, and without proper parking close to the venue you’re sending a subtle message of neglect to your guests. Avoid this by setting aside some easy parking for every guest that shows up. They’ll appreciate it and have a better time at your wedding.

What about noise or curfews?

For locations that don’t typically host events or weddings, you might be inadvertently walking into a noise ordinance or curfew problem. Your venue could be the most interesting place in the world, but if everyone has to leave before it gets dark, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Additionally, some remote locations may have noise restrictions, which could mute your band and your reception entertainment before you have a chance to kick things off. 

Will you have reliable heat and air?

Outdoor weddings under the sun or unconventional wedding venues that have you melting in a hot and stuffy building can be disastrous if you don’t plan things right. A short and sweet ceremony in the hot sun is doable as long as everyone can duck into an air conditioned building immediately after. But to expect your guests to suffer through hours of summer heat is something that they’ll remember and hold against you. If it’s going to be hot or cold, you need a contingency plan, whether it’s cool misters or a respite in a nearby building.

Who’s responsible for setup and cleanup?

While all-in venues handle basically everything so you don’t have to lift a finger, unconventional wedding venues may not have the necessary capabilities to pull it off, especially when it comes to the laborious setup and cleanup. If you’re doing it all yourself, or hiring someone to come in at the last minute, you should inquire to see if you can setup the day before and cleanup the day after. With no one else vying for the space, you’ll avoid a hectic setup and tear-down on the day of your wedding, precisely when you should be enjoying yourself. But don’t think that you’ll have nothing to do on the special day — most things like flower arrangements, food/drink and the band you hire won’t be able to setup on anything but your wedding day, so be sure you leave some time for any day-of setup.

What will it cost?

If you’re booking an unconventional wedding venue, don’t forget the hidden costs. You may be able to land the venue for a steal, but after permits, licenses and bringing everything in, as well as travel time and unforeseen issues, the venue itself could end up being your smallest expenditure. But if you budget correctly and determine everything you need up front, you’ll be ahead of the game and more able to deal with and be able to pay for everything you need to make your wedding a success.

For more about throwing an unconventional wedding, look to the experts at Occassions4.us. We’ve partnered with five fabulous venues in the greater Las Vegas area to help you plan the wedding of your dreams, and the best part is that we’ll do it all so that you don’t have to lift a finger. Contact us today to find out more!