Event Type: Wedding

CEO and Co-Founder of PartySlate Julie Roth Novack sat down to talk with wedding planner and host of The Big Wedding Planning Podcast Michelle Martinez to discuss how to choose a wedding venue.

Choosing your wedding venue is an important yet challenging decision. Novack explains that this process should be two fold: the prep work to be put in before you schedule venue site-visits and the questions you need to ask during those site-visits.

Whether you are holding your ceremony and reception in the same venue or in separate venues, it is important to go into this process informed. Read on to learn the ins and outs of choosing a wedding venue from experts in the industry.

*Below is a summary of the Big Wedding Planning Podcast.

Thoughtfulness and flexibility are key when starting to research wedding venues. It is important to begin asking yourself some practical questions, like: “How far is too far to have my reception from my ceremony?” and “Do I have to use the venue’s list of caterers, or can I select my own?”

In answering these questions, keep in mind your guests’ experience, while considering your budget, approximate guest count, and event date.

Take the advice below before you begin your physical venue walkthroughs. Having the answers to these questions and a short list of venues that meet your qualifications for your ideal venue will make your process more efficient (and even enjoyable).

1. Have an Idea of Your Budget

First and foremost, have an idea of your wedding budget.

Novack notes, “At PartySlate, we are very pro getting a wedding planner. Some people may think they can’t afford one, but you could actually end up saving money by using a wedding planner.” She goes on to explain that wedding planners know the ins and outs of the industry and will be able to help you ask the right questions when choosing a venue that may end up saving you money in the long run.

2. Be Aware of Hidden Fees & Extra Costs

Venues often have set food and beverage minimums, rental fees, and insurance policies. These “hidden” fees will eat up your budget if you do not take them into account. There is a difference in prices between raw spaces, hotel venues, and event venues. Research a mix of these types of venues to discover which is most budget-friendly for you.

Novack offers advice saying, “Ask potential venues ‘what is your typical average contract value worth?'” She explains this will give you a more holistic and realistic view of venue costs. She continues, “Having that information is powerful because you might fall in love with a venue and then be heartbroken that it’s just not going to fit within your budget.”

The last thing to consider in your search for a venue within your budget is transportation from your ceremony to your reception, or the turnover of your venue from ceremony to reception. This logistic comes with questions that must be answered.

• Will the ceremony and reception be held at the same location?
• How far away and how will people get from one location to the other?
• Can the venue accommodate my ceremony and reception in the same space?
• Where will people wait while this turnover from ceremony to reception is happening?
• Will it be a good guest experience?

Again, Novack emphasizes, “You don’t need to know your exact budget at this point, but you need to know your ballpark budget in the key categories, like food and beverage, photography, entertainment, etc. You can’t make the selection on your venue in an isolated experience, you need to think holistically.”

3. Know Your Approximate Guest Count

Second, know the approximate guest count for your event.

Knowing your approximate guest count ahead of time will help avoid booking a venue that is too large or too small for your event. Novack recommends creating a list of “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves,” saying, “priorities matter because it may not be possible to get everything you love in one venue.”

Your guest count will factor into the decision of the style of venue and possibly even the style of décor you choose to go with. Indoor venues will accommodate guests in a different way than outdoor venues will be able to.

4. Be Flexible with Your Event Date

Third, ask yourself: Can I be flexible with my event date?

Novack urges couples planning their wedding to have flexibility. She continues saying, “I would really encourage thinking about four possible dates.”

She offers budget-saving advice by saying, “If you’re open to a Friday night or a Sunday night, you’re going to get a lot more flexibility than a Saturday night. Right now with the rush for people that have not been able to get married over the last year and a half, you will have more options by being open to another night of the week.”

Begin by talking with the most important people you’d like in attendance; ask them about any major date conflicts. Novack offers a solution to the technicalities of triangulating on a wedding date. A website called Doodle.com may be able to help you and your family or wedding party settle on a few dates that work for everyone.

Your event date will also help in determining your wedding style. Your wedding season will greatly inform your venue choice (and vice versa).

Find more inspiration in deciding which season to say “I do” in the articles linked below.

Now that you know:

• Your budget
• Your ballpark guest count
• A few dates and a season that you know you want your wedding to be held
• Your short list of venues that meet these qualifications

You are ready to begin and schedule your venue walkthroughs.

5. Do Research to Prepare for Your Venue Walk-Throughs

Novack explains that on PartySlate, real events are posted to venue’s profile pages so couples planning their wedding can see what the space looks like with a real event happening. Not staged photos, not glamour shots, but photos from real events. This is important to look at before going in to see the space empty, so you can envision your event in the room.

See how a venue can be transformed to fit any wedding style, from modern to classic, in PartySlate’s Your Venue, Your Way series.

Hotel Venues

See how this stunning hotel venue, The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, offers versatile event spaces to be used for both a ceremony and reception. A natural flow from indoor to outdoor gives you flexibility in where to host you event.

Browse Hotel Venues

Museum & Landmark Venues

See how this wedding at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. transformed this stately space into a dreamy ceremony and reception space.

Browse Museum & Landmark Venues

Restaurant & Bar Venues

See how Cafe Brauer at Lincoln Park Zoo offers the ideal restaurant and bar space to host your wedding of any size.

Browse Restaurant & Bar Venues

Outdoor Venues

See how this open-air ceremony venue, The Meekermark, is perfect for any wedding style and season.

Browse Outdoor Venues

Raw Spaces

SPACE54 can be transformed into the wedding venue of your dreams with a state-of-the-art sound system, lighting, and a versatile raw space.

Browse Raw Spaces

“Just remember, the most important thing is having the people you love and that you care about the most in the room together with you to celebrate a milestone. Be open to the possibility that what you thought for your big day may not be. It could even be better than you originally thought, but I think the key is going in with a flexible mindset,” Novack says.

She notes, “I think you have to just keep in mind that a destination event may work for you, or it may not work for you.”

Find more advice on planning your destination wedding here: 41 Honeymoon Destinations That Also Make Perfect Wedding Venues

6. Decide Who Will Accompany You on Your Walkthroughs

Decide who should go with you to these site visits. Martinez and Novack both agree that you should choose one or two of your closest friends or family members, who’s opinions you trust, to accompany you.

Once on-site, Novack suggests walking through the venue the way a guest would experience it. From parking, to the entranceway, to the ceremony and/or reception space. Ask about the details of the space, from where the dressing room is, down to the details of the acoustics in the room.

You want to walk from beginning to end and take a video of the walkthrough, along with photos of certain details. You want to be able to rewatch these videos with the people helping you make these decisions and get their feedback. Talk to the venue manager as you walk through with the video. Ask questions and let the video pick up what you’re discussing. This will allow you to go back and take notes and remember every detail.

7. Prepare Questions to Ask the Venue Manager

• Ask about noise ordinances. Especially if you have an outdoor component to your wedding, this will be an important piece of information to know. The last thing you want is your party to be cut short because of a 9:00pm noise ordinance set in place by the city and/or venue.
• Inquire about potential layouts for the space for each part of your celebration.
• Ask about A/V capabilities so you’ll know what you’ll have to pay extra to have brought in.
• Request to see the restrooms (and coat check, if you’ll need one).
• Ask what basic rentals the venue comes with, and ask to see them. Keep in mind that you will most likely have your chosen linen covering the tables, but the chairs will be exposed. Look at the quality of the chairs, china, barware, and more  — so you’ll know the size of rental budget you’ll need.

Find more advice on choosing the right wedding rental chairs.

Concluding Thoughts

Although this is a lot of information, with the help of your wedding planner and loved ones, you will be able to select the best wedding venue for you and your significant other.

Novack advises, “I think the one thing I would say is in order to have fun with the process is to go in with a flexible mindset. The most important thing is that you’re with your friends and family, the people that love you most, to celebrate a huge milestone — not that you get that dream raw space that you imagined for the last five years that’s not available or out of your budget. Going in with a flexible mindset and doing your homework online will make your life a lot easier. Use PartySlate and other research platforms to your advantage and get as much information. Then, go in smart.”

She notes, “It should be a fun process. And just remember: it’s all going to be worth it.”

Listen to the full podcast episode.

People Also Ask…

How do I choose a wedding style?

Choosing a wedding style may come before or after choosing your wedding venue. While choosing your venue, keep in mind your wedding style if you have one. If you don’t already know your style, browse PartySlate to find endless wedding style inspiration.

Preppy Wedding Style

A preppy theme takes inspiration from both weekend clambakes and the most sophisticated soirées. Think clean lines, classic florals, and nautical décor elements that capture the beauty of the Atlantic.

Read More

Romantic Wedding Style

“Happily ever after” still begins with a romantic wedding celebration. PartySlate is here to make your wedding dreams come true — from ceremony to reception.

Read More

Classic Wedding Style

Needless to say, a classic wedding will never go out of style. Neither fad nor era will influence your style choices. You’ll be able to blissfully look back through your wedding photo albums on your 30th anniversary and not regret a single element of your ceremony or reception.

Read More

Modern Wedding Style

A modern wedding blends haute sophistication with dynamic presentation. Replace the classic soft wedding hues with bold colors and chic black accents. Swap traditional florals for hip textiles and unique materials like mirrored glass and ghostly lucite. Rethink straight lines with dramatic undulations and complex geometric designs.

Read More

Check out these Idea Slates for more wedding venue inspiration:

Hindu weddings are known for their celebratory atmosphere, beautiful rituals, and epic décor. PartySlate reached out to Rehana Bhaiji, Founder and Chief Creative Director of Siblana Events, a full-service event and floral production company, for insight into Hindu wedding traditions.

Bhaiji tells us, “Hindu weddings are an incredibly soulful and joyous occasion. There are about 2.5 million Hindus living in the United States today. Most are immigrants with children who are coming of marrying age. Each year we are getting more and more inquiries for décor design from Hindu clients, and we always are thrilled to have the opportunity to come up with event designs to suit our clients’ style.”

Keep reading to discover how to incorporate Hindu wedding traditions into your celebration — with a nod to your own personal style. You’ll also learn how Hindu weddings continue to evolve over the years, sparking new South Asian wedding trends, décor styles, and more.

See Meaningful Moments From a Real Hindu Wedding on PartySlate

1. What are Some Common Hindu Wedding Traditions?

Hindu weddings are culturally-rich celebrations with deep spiritual significance. The specific traditions will vary depending on where your family originates. Every community has their own cultural influences.

Bhaiji tells us, “The ceremony includes many rituals and customs that can vary among different Hindu cultures. What they all share in common, however, is a respect and deep desire to adhere to traditions that each finds dear to them. Most involve their extended families and friends who take an active role in the ceremony.”

Unlike most Western weddings, Hindu weddings often stretch over several days. Bhaiji says, “There are also many separate events that comprise a Hindu wedding experience, including an engagement party; a puja, an event with both families where they pray to remove all obstacles from the couple’s life path,” as well as other pre-wedding events.

The ceremony follows next. “The couple will have their wedding ceremony where the couple and their respective families partake in many spiritual rituals with a Hindu priest under a beautiful canopy called a mandap,” Bhaiji says. “Finally, there is the wedding reception where the couple meets their friends and family, and they dine together.” You can, of course, expect epic décor in all different styles. 

See some common Hindu wedding traditions below from real weddings found on PartySlate. Traditions may vary depending on region and culture:

Sangeet

For many Hindu couples, their wedding weekend kicks off with a lively Sangeet. Family and friends gather to celebrate the future couple with choreographed dances, delicious cuisine, and stunning décor. Expect vibrant color palettes, epic photo ops, creative themes, and more.

RELATED: How to Plan a Sangeet, From Two Top Wedding Planners 

Mehndi Ceremony

Today, many couples choose to combine their Mehndi party with their Sangeet. According to Bhaiji, “Mehndi is a pre-wedding celebration with dancing and a ceremony when the bride and her female relatives and friends paint beautiful, intricate designs on their hands with henna paste.” 

Haldi Ceremony

“Then, oftentimes, families will have a Haldi event,” Bhaiji says, “where the bride and groom are covered with a tumeric paste by the elders in the families as a ritual believed to rid the couple from jealousy, or the evil eye of others.” 

Baraat

The groom’s arrival, known as the Baraat, is an elaborate and lively event. The groom, along with his family and friends, parades to the venue with music and dancing. Baraat entrances can include everything from horses and elephants to colorful smoke bombs. 

​​Milni Ceremony

During the Milni ceremony, the bride’s mother welcomes the groom with a prayer. The bride’s family welcomes the groom’s family, as well. He is blessed with rose water and given a Shagun, a good luck token. This beautiful ceremony represents the two families joining as one.

Ganesh Pooja or Ganesh Puja

Before the bride enters, the ceremony begins with a prayer to Lord Ganesh, the provider of good luck.

Kanya Aagaman

The Kanya Aagaman signals the arrival of the bride. Who escorts her will often depend on where her family originates from. Some brides will arrive on a doli, an ornate carriage, whereas others will walk down the aisle under a beautiful canopy.

Mandap

A mandap is the traditional ceremonial structure for a Hindu wedding ceremony. Traditional mandaps are built from wood, but more modern mandaps will feature everything from lucite and metal to lavish florals and billowing drapery.

RELATED: 33 Best Wedding Mandap Ideas

Jai Mala

During the Jai Mala, the couple exchange floral garlands. This ritual marks their first union as a couple and signifies their acceptance of each other.

Kanya Daan

The Kanya Daan is one of the most emotional moments of a Hindu wedding ceremony. The bride’s father or parents give their daughter away by putting her hand into her spouse’s hand, joining them as one.

Mangal Pheras or Mangalpheras

Mangal Pheras means circling the sacred fire. The couple completes four rounds around the sacred fire. Each round represents the following promises: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (prosperity), Kama (love, fertility, and family), and Moksha (spiritual liberation).

Saptapadi

During the Saptapadi in South India, the couple takes 7 steps together to signify their 7 vows. In North India, the couple’s garments are tied together. Next, they make seven circles around the ceremonial fire. Each round represents a blessing they request of the gods. 

Mangalsutra or Mangala Sutra

The groom ties the Mangala Sutra, a sacred necklace, around the bride’s neck to symbolize their union. The color of the beads will vary from region to region. 

Vidaai

During the Vidaii, the bride says goodbye to her family. As she leaves with her spouse, she throws a handful of rice over her shoulder. This is another deeply-emotional moment of a Hindu wedding ceremony.

Hindu Wedding Reception

After the beautiful ceremony, it’s time to celebrate with an epic reception. You’ll often find lavish centerpieces, creative lighting, and a royal throne for the couple. Of course, you can expect lots of song and dance, as well.

Pro Tip: Find wedding décor inspiration on PartySlate. Make sure to save your favorite photos to an Idea Slate (just click the heart in the top right corner), so you can share your top inspiration with your wedding design team. 

Need to find the right design & floral company? Use PartySlate’s curated venue directory to find a design & floral team near you. You can also filter for South Asian-owned companies right from the directory.

2. How Have Hindu-American Weddings Evolved Over the Years? 

In the United States, many couples are choosing to marry outside their faith and/or culture. As such, cultural celebrations evolve and take on new traditions. South Asian wedding trends, in particular, vary from year to year. 

“As cross-cultural weddings become more popular,” Bhaiji says, “we have found couples shortening their ceremonies to allow time for both faiths to be celebrated.” The look of the celebrations are evolving, as well. “Typically, in the past, couples stuck to more traditional décor for their mandaps. Now, we are finding couples who want to create trendier, modern structures that can easily transition to a reception backdrop.”

For couples looking to combine tradition with their own personal style, it’s especially important to find the right vendor team. “At Siblana Events, we love guiding couples on how to best represent their personalities and design tastes while still being mindful of the cultural and religious needs for their events,” Bhaiji says.

See some how some multicultural couples on PartySlate celebrated with two ceremonies below:

Outdoor Hindu-Muslim Wedding

We adore how this Hindu-Muslim wedding brings the beauty of the outdoors to their celebration. Click the link to see how both ceremonies featured a unique geometric structure with marquis tenting, so the beautiful greenery was always in view.

Romantic Hindu-Fusion Wedding

We love how this Fusion Hindu wedding featured a mandap with dreamy pink drapery and delicate white blooms with a subtle pop of color. The Western wedding ceremony maintained a similar romantic vibe with a backdrop of dramatic mauve drapery and the illusion of floating floras.

Elegant Multicultural Hindu Wedding

We love how this elegant multicultural Hindu wedding used ethereal white tenting for both wedding ceremonies. Each ceremony featured the same white and red florals for a seamless transition from one ceremony to the next.

Elegant Chinese-Hindu Wedding

We love how this Chinese-Hindu wedding featured a traditional Hindu wedding ceremony before transitioning into a vibrant reception with symbolic Lion Dancers to to celebrate the bride’s Chinese heritage.

RELATED: Must-Know Multicultural Wedding Tips, From a Top Planner & Real Couples

People Also Ask…

Where can I find a venue for my Hindu wedding?

A lot goes into choosing the perfect wedding venue. Luckily, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Head to PartySlate’s curated venue directory to find the ideal match. Look for “featured” venues that have been vetted by PartySlate.

Use the filters to narrow your search by location, guest capacity, amenities, and more. If you see a venue you like, make sure to click into their PartySlate profile to see real wedding albums and videos from their event space. You’ll also be able to explore the venue’s different event spaces and browse important FAQs. 

Where can I find South Asian-owned wedding companies?

Unlike other wedding directories, PartySlate’s curated vendor directory allows you to specially search for South Asian-owned wedding companies. This way, you are more likely to connect with a wedding vendor that is familiar with your family’s traditions and cultural expectations.

Make sure to use the filters to further narrow your search. Find the right vendor by vendor type, services, location, and more. Lastly, don’t forget to click into their PartySlate profile to see real examples of their work.

A Persian wedding honors family traditions while elevating beauty, love, and nature. Friends, family, and even acquaintances come together to celebrate the happy couple. In addition to time-honored rituals, Persian weddings often feature a lavish reception filled with feasting and dancing. 

PartySlate reached out to Haleh Tafteh of Details by Haleh to learn more about this stunning cultural celebration. Keep reading to discover Persian wedding traditions, how these traditions vary by religion, and other valuable insights. 

Plus, you’ll discover video footage and wedding albums from real Persian weddings — so you can see how each tradition can be beautifully incorporated into your celebration. Make sure to click “See More” to discover other beautiful details from any given ceremony and reception.

*All answers from Haleh Tafteh of Details by Haleh

1. Who has a Persian wedding?

As the name suggests, people of Persian heritage and culture partake in a Persian wedding. Ninety-five percent of couples choose to follow a traditional Persian wedding ceremony, no matter how modern they are.

Most Persian wedding traditions originate from the Zoroastrian period. Zoroastrianism is an ancient religion, the first monotheistic religion in the world dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. These rituals point to nature, love, and the spiritual world.

2. What is the average guest count for a Persian wedding?

Iranians like to make a big bang, and everyone is invited — from acquaintances to close family members. You can expect an average guest count of anywhere from 300 to 1000 people. 

When it comes to cost, nothing is spared. The day is filled with laughter, joy, music, dancing, and feasting. As Massoume Price, a social anthropologist, wrote in her piece on the Iranian Marriage Ceremony, ‘For Iranians, marriage is an event, which must be celebrated not quietly but with glory and distinction. It is the most conspicuous of all the occasions and is celebrated in the presence of a fairly large assembly.’

3. What are some common traditions and rituals included in a Persian wedding?

Khastegari

The first step before the wedding can take place is the Khastegari stage, also known as the courtship or the proposal. Back in time, and often still to this day, the family of the eligible bachelor would seek a suitable bride, usually of the same background for their son. The family would then set a date to meet with the elders, typically the parents of the bride, for a meet and greet. During this stage, the groom and his family would visit the bride’s home with sweets and flowers. As times have modernized, and young couples have started dating and choosing their own partners, they often still follow tradition and ask the elders for permission before the engagement takes place.

Bale Boroon

If all goes well, and the bride says yes, we enter the second stage, also known as Bale Boroon. A gathering is thrown with close family and cousins. The couple exchange rings, and typically a conversation of the Mehrieh takes place. The Mehrieh is a legal writing from the groom to the bride, usually of a settled agreement of gold coins, money, or a house that can be honored at any time if the bride chooses to do so. It’s a means of giving a feeling of security to the bride’s family for her future in case of a divorce. 

Persian Wedding Sofreh Aghd

After this, the Persian sofreh aghd or ceremony takes place. The couple sit in front of a sofreh, meaning spread. The sofreh symbolizes the traditional union of the couple in front of intricate elements. The elements include a mirror which signifies eternity, candles which signify light, nuts and eggs that represent fertility, and coins that represent wealth and prosperity. 

Close female friends and members of the family are invited by the officiant to partake in the sugar blessing part of the ceremony. A sugar cloth is held over the bride and groom. As the officiant weds the two, the sugar blessing ladies grind and tap two sugar cones over the couple. The sugar raining over their heads blesses their sweet futures. 

Lastly honey is exchanged between the two. The couple dip their fingers into a goblet of honey and feed each other the sweet nectar to symbolize the sweetness of beginning their lives with one another.

Reception

The reception features a lavish night filled with dance, music, laughter, and a feast fit for royalty. The night ends with a flower petal dance also known as Gol Baroon. Guests form a circle around the couple and throw flower petals on them as they dance and cheer, signifying beautiful wishes for the newlyweds.

4. How do ceremonies differ depending on religion?

Unlike other wedding ceremonies held around the world, religion does not play a major role in Persian ceremonies. The main elements of a Persian ceremony reflect on unity, love, nature, and spirituality. 

However, different rituals of the couple can be incorporated into the ceremony. For example, the main book of their religion could be one of the centerpieces of their spread, although many opt for poetry books from Iranian poets like Khayyam, Hafez, and Rumi to emphasize the importance of literature as it portrays love and unity. 

Your officiant may be a religious figure: a Sheykh, Imam, Rabbi or Priest. If you’re having a Jewish Persian wedding, men may wear kippahs. The signing of the contract may be labeled differently. For example, those of Jewish faith call theirs a ketubah, those of Muslim faith call theirs aghd nameh. Most Christian couples will stand at an altar facing each other, while Jewish couples will stand under a canopy called a chuppah. Having said all that, the foundation of the Persian ceremony remains the same.

5. How have Persian-American weddings evolved over the years?

What’s fascinating is even though the majority of Persian weddings originated from the Zoroastrian period, over 4000 years ago, they are still celebrated today with very little change. We must keep in mind that over the millennia, Iran has dramatically changed: through empires, war, revolution, and technology. That said, the traditions are still carried out in the same manner. 

Even with the migration of Iranians all over the world, and as more and more 2nd-generation Iranians marry non-Iranians, the celebrations have become more customized and symbolic to beautifully represent both cultures. This festive event, where months of planning and preparation take place, beautifully lends itself to include the rituals and customs of other cultures. 

People Also Ask…

How many days is a Persian wedding?

While traditional Iranian weddings will often span several days, Persian-American weddings are likely to follow the Western tradition of a single-day event. That said, it’s important to do what feels right for you and your family.

Where can I find a venue for my Persian wedding?

Head to PartySlates’s curated venue directory to find a wedding venue for your Persian wedding. Make sure to use the filters to narrow your search by location, guest count, amenities, and more. 

Lastly, if you see a venue that you like, make sure to click into their PartySlate profile. You’ll find real examples of their work, testimonials, FAQs, and more.

Where can I find vendors for my Sofreh Persian wedding?

PartySlate can also connect you with the top vendors for your Sofreh Persian wedding. Head to the curated vendor directory to begin assembling your vendor team. You’ll find wedding planners, florists, photographers, entertainment companies, caterers, and more.

Use the filters to narrow your search by location, services, vendor type, and other factors. Moreover, make sure to click into their PartySlate profile to see real wedding albums of their work and to learn more about their business.