Weddings are one of the most special days in our lives – that's why it is so important to choose the right venue that caters to all of your needs. However, choosing a wedding venue is not as simple as it may seem. With limitless options and features available it can be difficult for you to know where to start. To help you, we have put together a small guide containing all the aspects you need to look into while searching for the best Houston wedding venue.
1. Space for Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, and Reception
Consider a venue that can easily accommodate the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We truly believe that by doing so, you and your guests will have a stress-free and seamless wedding experience. You won't have to worry about traveling to other locations as you can easily make the transition from your ceremony to your cocktail hour and reception. Sounds nice, right? You should also check to see if the venue offers both indoor and outdoor spaces for your ceremony. If the weather permits, you can enjoy both areas by exchanging vows outside, followed by dinner and dancing inside. Here at Addison Woods, you can be sure that your wedding will flow smoothly providing a seamless experience for both you and your guests.
Our beautiful cocktail lawn and reception barn Jessica Kent Photography
2. Picturesque Grounds
Your wedding will be the most magical day that you will remember forever, so it is important to have photos that reflect those memories. Make sure to choose a venue that offers a variety of backdrops and outdoor scenery to add to the beauty of your day. Trust us; your photographer is going to thank you for choosing a venue that is naturally beautiful. We understand that you don't want all your pictures to look the same; therefore, at Addison Woods, you have a variety of scenery to choose from including the historic oak trees, modern farmhouse reception hall, cocktail lawn, fishing pier, and more. Take a look at the photos on our Instagram and website to get inspiration from some of our past couples.
3. Unlimited Bar Packages
Regardless of whether your guests are big drinkers, every venue should have bar options. Typically, a bar will charge a fixed price per guest for unlimited drinks during the cocktail hour and reception. Unlimited bar packages are a great option as you put together your budget because you will know the cost upfront and there won't be any surprises at the end of your wedding night. As one of the top Houston wedding venues, our bar offers unlimited packages that help couples plan, budget, and save money!
Signature cocktails are such a fun way to kick off your cocktail hour! Angela Nobles
4. Flexibility on Vendors Used
No one likes being told who they can and can't work with on their wedding day! Look for a wedding venue that does not require you to choose from a set list of vendors. At Addison Woods, our ONLY required vendor is our bar, other than that, you are free to choose whichever vendors you feel comfortable with! That being said, you want to ensure that the venue you choose has a Preferred Vendors List. This list can help you narrow down your vendor search if it gets overwhelming. The Addison Woods Preferred Vendors List is a list of vendors that we have worked with and trust. Ultimately, using preferred vendors will save you time, money, and stress, as they know exactly how the venue operates and often offer special discounted rates to couples.
5. Location
Location is one of the most important things to consider while choosing a wedding venue. As your guests will be coming from different areas, the venue should offer easy access to major cities and highways. Our venue is in the prime location of The Woodlands, TX, just 25 minutes north of Houston, 15 minutes from the IAH airport, and located within two miles of I-45 Grand Parkway and Hardy Toll Road.
6. Somewhere New and Exciting
Historic venues can be beautiful, but many of your guests may have attended a wedding there before. Choose a venue that is new to your guests, somewhere they have not been before. Visiting somewhere new adds to your guest’s experience and will make your wedding that much more memorable.
7. Aesthetic to Match your Style
With several Houston wedding venues to choose from, look for the ones that offer simple, open spaces without any busy colors or decor. At Addison Woods, we purposefully created our reception and ceremony spaces to be clean, crisp, and white. This kind of “blank canvas” allows your imagination to run free and customize the space to be your very own!
8. All-inclusive Options
Let’s face it, most couples don’t care about choosing and vetting every single vendor they’re booking. It can be a lot to sort through all the various emails and contracts, so why not let your venue book any and all vendors that you don't want to? Addison Woods offers customizable packages where you can choose which vendors we book on your behalf. Put the stress of booking vendors aside and give yourself back some time to focus on the small details of your wedding that you really care about!
9. Incredible Bridal Suite and Groom's Cabin
Before booking your wedding venue, make sure there is enough space for both the bride and groom to get ready. From our experience, we have seen that weddings run smoother if the bride and groom get ready on-site. This way, they are more relaxed and can leisurely get ready without the fear of hitting traffic or getting a flat tire on the way to the venue. As one of the top wedding venues in Houston, we have large, stunning spaces for both the bride and groom to spend time in before the celebrations begin.
Our Groom toasting his Groomsman in Jaeger's Grooms Cabin Picture This Forever
10. Customer service
Understand the level of customer support offered by the venue. Ensure that the staff at your venue responds to questions in a timely manner and communicates clearly, to avoid any misunderstandings down the road. A supportive and agreeable venue staff is such an important factor in the success of your wedding day!
Choosing the perfect wedding venue is a huge part of the planning process. Once you have selected a venue, the rest of the pieces will start to fall into place. Do your research, ask questions, schedule a tour and pay attention to details while exploring some of the top Houston wedding venues for your dream day.
Are you planning on getting married soon and are looking for a top Houston wedding venue? Don't wait – Book your tour with us!
Here's another article that may be helpful – Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue. Your wedding is special for us too, and we promise to make it memorable for you and your guests!