How Do You Find the Right Ceremony Location?

If your wedding is to be a religious ceremony and you already have a place of worship, selecting the location should be fairly easy -- simply secure your date as soon as possible. However, ceremonies -- even religious ones -- can often be held in many places, including country clubs, parks, hotels, homes, yachts, or a destination locale.

First, consider your guest list -- the number of guests is going to dictate the size and capacity of your ceremony site.

Next, settle on the style of your wedding, be it outdoor, indoor, formal, or informal.

Then, figure out how much of your wedding budget will be devoted to your ceremony.

Once all of these things have been determined, review ceremony sites online to find locations near you, and review images, basic information, and pricing to find options that fit your preferences.

Book appointments to view your favorite locations in person, and try to visit sites while a wedding is taking place so you’ll have an idea of how a room or beachfront can be transformed (or if there are any aspects of the site that you absolutely do not like).

The final decision is yours, of course -- just make sure you interview the catering manager thoroughly, ask about all the fees to uncover hidden ones, and get details on elements such as parking and cancellation policies before you sign a contract.