Non Traditional Wedding Venues: Ideas For an Overbooked Year
Everyone’s talking about the wedding boom this year. Ever since you-know-what, it seems like every single wedding venue is booked out, fully booked and overbooked. If you’re a couple trying to plan a wedding, finding a venue could be a real problem. Especially if you’re on a budget.
You could try waiting a year or two. You could plan an elopement wedding. Or you could look at non traditional wedding venues, or dates, in order to start planning your wedding this year.
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Consider Waiting For an Available Wedding Venue
If you’ve got your heart set on a wedding with all the trimmings, you can push your wedding back by a year or so. On the plus side, this would give you more time to save up some money. If you start booking now, you can get the venue and the vendors that you want. If you have the time and patience for a long engagement, waiting for your dream venue could be worth it.
Plan an Elopement Instead of a Traditional Wedding
Lots of couples are planning weddings, when they really want to elope. Some couples want to elope in order to save time and money. Some couples don’t like being the center of attention. And some couples want to elope in order to avoid difficult family situations.
Your Wedding is For You
If you’re thinking about eloping, but afraid of judgement from other people, remember that your wedding is for the two of you. Here’s a little pep talk, just in case you’re worried about what other people will think:
“But so-and-so will be disappointed if we elope!”
That’s ok. Let them be disappointed. It’s not your job to manage other people’s emotions. And you don’t owe anyone a wedding. If the two of you want to elope - that’s a good enough reason to do it!
Plan a Special Event For Two
If you do decide to elope, make it super special for the two of you. If you’ve got the budget, you can go all out on the location. Choose an amazing photographer, if that’s important to you. Spend your entire budget on a 5 star trip, meal or ceremony that’ll make the two of you the happiest, and enjoy your wedding day.
For more about planning an elopement, read this next: How to Plan an Elopement Wedding
Plan a Weekday Wedding
It used to be considered a little sketchy to book a wedding on a Tuesday or Wednesday. But nowadays, everyone’s a lot more understanding. As long as you’re considerate of your guests, a weekday wedding can be a lot of fun for everyone. Since you need to fit the reception in after most people’s regular jobs, you won’t have time for a full schedule of events.
How Long Should a Weekday Wedding Be?
A 3 hour reception is ideal for everyone. Start by deciding what’s most important to you. Do you want all your guests to watch your ceremony? Is it important to you that you serve dinner? Or would you rather have a fun dance party?
What Should You Do at a Weekday Wedding?
Once you decide what’s most important, plan your wedding timeline around that. For example, if you want to serve your guests dinner, skip the cocktail hour and get your guests seated and served first thing. You’ll still have time for cake and dancing afterwards.
Plan a Cocktail Wedding Reception
If you’re really looking forward to the dancing, consider planning a cocktail wedding instead. Start your reception at 7:00 pm, so everyone has time to eat dinner before they arrive. Serve your guests signature drinks and appetizers, turn up the music and get dancing!
If you like the idea of appetizers and cocktails, read this next Cocktail Wedding Reception: Ideas for a Cocktail Menu and Wedding Timeline
Plan a Sunday Brunch Wedding
The most popular times book up the fastest. If you find a great venue, but they’re all booked up for Friday and Saturday, consider planning a Sunday brunch wedding, instead. A brunch wedding can be any style you like. You can choose a relaxed buffet or an elegant plated meal.
As a bonus, you might be able to save some money, too. Breakfast food is a lot less expensive than a full dinner. Plus, your guests won’t expect a full bar on a Sunday morning. You can offer champagne or mimosas and your bar bill will be a fraction of one for a Saturday night reception.
If you’re interested in a brunch wedding, read this next for more info: Tips For Planning a Brunch Wedding Reception
Plan a Restaurant Wedding Reception
Planning a wedding reception with 100 guests or more will require a full banquet hall or room rental. If you cut your guest list, you’ll have more options for your wedding venue. A great option for a small guest list is a restaurant wedding.
Planning a restaurant wedding is easier than a traditional venue. You won’t need to set up or clean up, like you would at a DIY venue.
No Minimums
You won’t have to meet minimums if you host your wedding dinner at a restaurant. Booking a traditional caterer or hall usually requires you to guarantee a minimum number of guests, from 100 to 125, depending on your contract. With a restaurant, you can book and pay for a smaller number of guests.
Save on Decor
You’ll save a ton of money on decorating costs, too. You won’t need to decorate an entire hall. If you want to personalize your tables, you can add menus or place cards, but you won’t need to pay for centerpieces, linen rentals or chair covers. The restaurant is already decorated perfectly.
For more about planning a restaurant wedding reception, read this next Restaurant Wedding Reception: Affordable Venues For a Wedding Reception
More Ideas For Alternative Wedding Venues
Traditional wedding venues booked up fast for the next year or two. If you want to get creative, you might still find some openings at your local civic centers, parks, or small businesses that other couples might not have thought of. Check out smaller spaces to see if you can find anything that would fit your guest list.
Community centers
Gardens
Clubs
Church halls
Local parks
State parks
Bed and breakfast
University or college
Cooking school
Local cafe
Tea room
Library
Planning an At Home Wedding
The easiest venue to secure is your own home! It’s free and you can plan any type of celebration that you’d like.
If it’s winter time, you could plan an open house style celebration, with drinks and finger foods. If it’s summer, plan a buffet, a picnic or an I Do BBQ wedding in your own backyard.
If you don’t have a yard, check with your apartment or condo building. Lots of buildings have community rooms that you can book for the day. Or ask a friend or relative to host for you at their own property.
Thinking about a backyard wedding? See how to set your budget and start planning: How Much Does a Backyard Wedding Cost?
Have a Great Time at Your Wedding
It’s always taken a lot of time and money to plan a wedding. But with so many rescheduled and new engagements, couples looking for a venue are being more creative than ever. Lots of weddings are going to be held in non traditional wedding venues for the next few years.
As long as you’re considerate of your guests, you can have your wedding on any day, at any time, in any space. Make sure your guests have a place to sit, and offer a meal or snacks that fit the time of day.
If your guests are comfortable and well fed - they’ll have a great time at your wedding. And so will you!
Wedding Planning Book
For more about finding alternative wedding venues and planning a menu, check out the book, Affordable Wedding Venues and Menus:
