5 Unique & Beautiful Ideas For Your Wedding Venue

Guest post written by Amy Collett

One of the many stresses of planning a wedding is trying to make yours look and feel unique. You want something that reflects who you are, not a generic event that looks like every other wedding on Instagram. The right venue is key to this, and an unconventional venue can automatically inject personality into a wedding. 

In order to help you find your perfect solution, we’ve compiled some of our favorite unique wedding venues. 

If we haven’t met yet, hi! I’m Lindsey Nickel and I’m a local Sonoma and Napa wedding planner and the owner of Lovely Day Events. Since 2010, I have helped stylish, fun-loving couples (and their dogs) plan destination weddings. Our clients want the ceremony to be outside, the food to be outstanding, and the dance parties to be epic. If this sounds like you, you’re in the right place, so you might want to learn more about our wedding planning services.

Backyard Wedding

Let’s face it: many couples must decide where to cut and where to splurge when it’s time to tie the knot. If you’re in that boat, why not host the wedding in your own backyard? If you (or a generous family member) have the space, you can save a little money by taking your vows at home.

This means you might spend a bit beautifying your backyard for the occasion. For example, Horizon Structures suggests an arbor or pergola as a central feature, and decorates it with vines and flowers. It can be a lovely, lifelong feature for your home, and even raise its overall worth. In fact, if you’re planning to sell in the near future, the ROI is an added incentive.
Tending to the backyard and surrounding area is also important, so be sure the landscaping is up to snuff. Certainly, if there are other unsightly or dangerous areas that need addressing, now’s the time to do it. If there are downed limbs or trees, research and find professional tree removal services that can take care of this for you so you can concentrate on the big day. Be sure the company you hire has the right equipment, including a crane if the issue is high enough to warrant it.

Museum Wedding

Are you two culture lovers? Or maybe you’re considering a runaway wedding, then returning home for your reception after the honeymoon. Look into the options available at your favorite museums for a show-stopping spot steeped in history and significance. Larger museums will have more infrastructure in place but will tend to be pricier, so also consider looking into smaller, more intimate galleries. Art museums are popular, but there are also quirkier options like natural history or science museums. 

Public Park Wedding

Whether it’s your local city park or a grandiose National Park, this country’s public parks offer breathtaking possibilities. You’ll usually need a permit and there will be some limitations as to what you can install for the ceremony, but it’s often cheaper than a traditional venue. You can take your vows at the park, enjoy your honeymoon, and return home for a grand reception!

However, there are downsides. As explained by Martha Stewart Weddings, you can’t control who else is around, and you need to make provisions for transport, nearby accommodation, and a rain contingency. This is mostly a matter of careful planning and choosing the right location. 

Zoo or Aquarium Wedding

Aquariums and zoos can both make for gorgeous photo-ops, and they are a cute choice for couples who love animals. They are also great fun for guests, especially if there are going to be little ones attending. Wedding Wire has a great list of the best zoo and aquarium wedding venues across the country for you to consider.

So How Do I Choose?

There are many considerations when choosing a venue, including the size of your guest list, available dates, and vendor options. But you should always start with your interests. Your wedding venue should be a reflection of who you are as a couple, so look at the kind of places you love. It can be a barn, zoo, park, or museum, as above, but it can also be a shop, garden, or bar. 

The other thing you should be looking at is cost. However, it’s not as simple as “some locations are cheaper than others.” For example, according to Value Penguin, a park wedding can be costlier than many people imagine. As mentioned above, sometimes a hybrid arrangement can help you solve your dilemma, but keep in mind coordinating can be a challenge when your event is spread out.

Remember to take your time and to not let wedding stress get to you. The venue is one of the first things you choose, which means there’s usually no rush to choose it. Once you have chosen the right venue, the rest of the wedding will come together. 

With so many wedding venues to pick from in Napa and Sonoma, Lovely Day Events can help make planning your wedding much less stressful. Schedule a consultation by filling out our online form.

Author Bio:

Amy Collett is the creator of Biz Well, a website that helps professionals and entrepreneurs build and strengthen their personal brands.