From England to Italy
How to choose between the variety of wedding venues in Atlanta.
Atlanta, Georgia has the widest variety of fine art wedding venues and fine art photography vendors in the Southeast. There is a diner-menu-length of choices in photography styles and venue types. Whether you want the historic elegance of the Wimbish house in downtown Atlanta or the Tuscan tiles of Ashton Gardens in Lilburn, the diner-menu-length of vendors goes on and on. With so many choices, how do you know who to choose?
Believe it or not, this “Italian estate” is actually a vineyard in Georgia.
Choose your location first, then find a venue in that area.
Know your priority: do you want to stay close to home? Is there a dream location you’ve had in your mind for ages? Start there.
Know what you don’t want.
Here are some good questions to discuss with your future spouse to flesh out your wedding vision.
Do you mind getting ready at a separate location or does your venue need to come with extra space?
Do you care about having to “flip” your ceremony seating to make room for your reception?
Is there an adequate rain plan so that your experience isn’t shaped by bad weather? Many couples are concerned about what photography looks like indoors if the weather takes a turn on your wedding day.
Don’t compromise on your non-negotiables. Make a physical list of what you want to prioritize. Getting an offer from a venue within your budget is so exciting. It is easy to get wrapped up in a good deal and not realize something you’re compromising on will impact your wedding experience.
I have photographed weddings for six years and here are what my non-negotiables are.
Getting ready areas for both halves of the wedding party. So many venues have only one and the couple has to stagger their arrival and one spouse always pulls the short straw and doesn’t have a proper place to decompress before the ceremony.
Lots of natural light. The photographer in me needs windows and large doors!
Too much space. If you are wanting a party, having too much space in your reception venue can put a damper on dancing. Guests feel like they’re in the spotlight if they can’t disappear in the crowd.
This wedding at the Wimbish House is the perfect French renaissance revival backdrop for anyone wanting a Châteauesque wedding.
Don’t be afraid to tour venues. While this takes a lot of time, your education will be worth it. After three tours you and your future spouse will see things you love and things you…don’t. Actually seeing venues, not just googling them, will be the most valuable tool in your box of wedding planning resources. Second only, in fact, to industry professionals.
Talk to a Wedding Planner or Photographer first. We are here to help you, not to book a venue. Your coordinator, planner, and photographer are here to pass their expertise onto you and give you their years of experience. They will be able to tell you how your choice of venue might shape your wedding day experience. We are here for your to bounce your ideas off of!
