Finding the Right Venue for an Intimate Wedding

Once you have a solid list of invitees, go ahead and make your best guesstimate as to who is likely to attend. You won’t have an exact head count of course until the last of the RSVPs arrive, but you can still venture out to find your dream venue.  

A small wedding offers a good number of options, not the least of which is the traditional catering hall, which can often feature a number of banquet rooms in varying sizes. So if that’s the type of wedding you have dreamed of, look no further than a local catering hall with a solid reputation. This one-stop-shop will typically provide a scheduled, well-rounded affair:  cocktail hour, seated dining, a dance floor with space for a band or DJ, and an experienced staff. Of course, there are many other options to think about:

A private room in a restaurant is a great place for an intimate wedding, as long as you’re willing to veer from the standard wedding reception formula. If you opt for this, select a restaurant that offers your favorite cuisine, exotic or ethnic foods.  And if the establishment is foreign to you, be sure to try it out way before booking it. 

If you live near natural, scenic settings – a beach, a lake, a preserve, the mountains – take advantage of your good fortune and host an outdoor wedding. Nothing creates intimacy and romance better than a gorgeous sunset. Be sure to check about permits and way in advance of the wedding date. (Also, make certain you have another plan in place in case of bad weather).

Consider an off-beat location such as a museum, an art gallery, a private mansion, a small inn or seaside resort. The unusual setting will be a welcome and memorable surprise to guests who are used to attending wedding receptions in traditional halls.