Finding the Best Houston Wedding Venue for You

Planning a wedding is fraught with so much excitement and anticipation that the planning itself often seems overwhelming. To keep things on an even keel, brides-to-be should remember to take some time to savor the engagement before rushing headlong into planning the wedding itself.

Once the wedding planning train has left the station, though, the best way to ensure a smooth journey is to keep organized. While there are tons of wedding planning books and kits available, all that’s really necessary is a binder with lots of empty plastic sheet protectors. Sectioning the binder into ceremony, venue, food, music, transportation and dress categories will help keep important information together, and the sheet protectors will act as folders for inspiring magazine clippings, business cards and contracts.

Timing is also critical. A very short engagement may rule out certain sites and options, so unless time is of the essence, most brides are happier with a year to plan.

There are many options when planning Houston weddings. An initial and important decision is around the ceremony and reception. This will be a decision that will set the tone for the entire event. Churches and other houses of worship can be booked months in advance, as can reception halls. If the wedding date is set in stone, some Houston wedding facilities will likely be knocked out of the running, making the choice that much easier. When the date is flexible, all options are open.

In deciding on a Houston wedding venue, the first question to ask is whether the ceremony and reception should be held at a single location. If the bride and groom do want everything to happen on one property, they’ll need to be sure to only consider events that have the capability to host a ceremony and reception.

When a bride and groom find it important to marry in a church or other house of worship, it’s generally easiest on the guests to find a wedding venue for the reception nearby.

Working out a rough idea of the guest list before beginning the search for a Houston wedding venue can be very helpful. While it might seem easy to estimate the number of guests, once Dad adds his business partners, Mom adds the second cousins, and his family tacks on a slew of friends from the country club, the count can skyrocket. Having a fairly accurate count at the outset allows the bride and groom to focus on venues that are appropriate for both the size of their party and their budget.

Setting priorities is the next step. Some Houston wedding venues are known for their beautiful setting and scenery, while others leave wedding guests awed by their extravagant cuisine. Only the bride and groom, perhaps with their family’s input, will be able to decide exactly what is going to the most important focus of the event–other than the bride, of course!

The following questions are a helpful starting guide for newly engaged couples searching for their ideal venue for their Houston wedding reception.

How many guests does the site accommodate?

- Is there space for both a ceremony and reception at this venue?

- Will there be more than one wedding occurring at the same date/time?

- Is there an on-site caterer?

- Are parties required to use an approved caterer?

- What decoration options exist?

- Who will act as the main contact at the site?

- Will that person be present on the day of the wedding?

- What food/bar packages are available?