How I’d Pick A Wedding Venue

We get asked for wedding venue recommendations fairly often. And we even get asked to come with couples to inspect venues just as often. Sometimes a couple is torn between a couple of good choices and they want a second opinion on which might work better for their plans. We are always happy to oblige but I thought maybe if we committed some of the considerations we think about to "paper"that it might help a lot more couples.

Don't get me wrong of course we are definitely willing to assist our couples, but I wanted to give you a couple of things to consider from a photographers perspective. If I were looking for a wedding venue Id think about these things.

Quiet Corners

I always want one or two little areas where I can pull the couple aside and then capture something super cute/quaint/personal/intimate. Little areas that are unique due to the view or decoration, something that looks like it was staged just for pictures. This is one of the reasons we include engagement sessions and site visits with almost every package. Most weddings run a little behind schedule and they try to close the gap by taking time from the photographer. So it helps to have a plan of exactly what you want to do when you pull the camera out.

Big Outdoors and Stunning Backdrops

I love a fantastic outdoors space. Somewhere I get a huge view of rolling hills and greenery and the like. One of those views where it feels like you can see for miles. Or alternately a really distinguishing item in the background like the Eiffel Tower or the water feature at the Bellagio.  However lots of wedding spaces don't have this kind of area so I've gotten to be an expert at making small outdoor spaces feel big. You can do that with big backdrop set pieces like the nations capitol in the first picture below. Or a wonderful space like the second picture below in Baltimore harbor, with the walkway over the water.

And this third picture feels like you can see for miles but in reality there is a lot of industrial complex one degree to the right and a rather large parking lot one degree to the left. In fact the couple asked me after they got their pictures if this was photoshop. Nope, just 20 years of practice.

Lovely, warm and unique interior spaces

Notice how this full wall of glass in the first picture gives you a stunning view? I like warm interior spaces that can provide a unique feel to a picture.

So that's all I have today, stay tuned as Helen is making the next post.