From rustic barns, to elegant ballrooms, contemporary museums to industrial warehouses, St. Louis offers a plethora of wedding venues to choose from. So where do you start?
STEP ONE: Consider Your Budget First
Since there are so many different styles and sizes you can choose from, prices can range anywhere from $1,500 – $9,000 just to rent event space, so it’s important to consider EVERYTHING when planning your budget.
According to the 2020 Wedding Report, the average wedding in St. Louis cost $22,000.
Once you land a total amount, that you feel comfortable with, THEN you can start actually planning your wedding. Why is this important? Without stating a number, you leave yourself vulnerable to overspending, which will only result in buyer’s remorse, making it very difficult to enjoy the whole wedding day experience. Trust me, I’ve seen it.
STEP TWO: Create Your Guest List
I know what you’re thinking… “Dori?! C’mon! Can’t we start touring venues yet? I’ll think about my guest list later!!!”
Wellllllll…. You can, but let’s be realistic. It doesn’t matter how much you love a particular venue, if you won’t be able to fit all of your guests inside of it. Right?!
Creating The Perfect Guest List is another article, for another blog post, so I’ll skip ahead….. Once you’ve tallied up the names on your list, remember that on average 20% of your invited guests will not be able to make it, and now with COVID concerns still lingering, that number might even be as high as 30%.
I’m telling you this because it will help you to zero in on the realistic number for your headcount.
For instance, your invited list tallies up to be 200 guest…. Then you subtract 20% (40 people) you will most likely have around 160 in attendance on the day of your wedding.
STEP THREE: Consider Location & Logistics
YAY!!!! Now you’re ready to tour! Well, almost!
Your wedding day is all about you and your boo, but I also want you to consider your guests, as we take a look into where to host your Big Day!
Questions To Ask Yourself:
1.) Is there a location that is centrally located between my relatives and my fiancé’s relatives?
2.) Do we have a lot of out-of-town guests that will need lodging accommodations?
3.) Are there some specific St. Louis hotspots we MUST have our photos taken on our wedding day?
4.) Do we have any handicap guests, or loved ones with mobility issues?
STEP FOUR: Style & Concept – Now that you’re ready for the fun stuff! What are you envisioning for your wedding day vibe? Are you wanting something Rustic Chic? Maybe something Classic & Regal? Below, you will find a guide I’ve created for you….. 6 venue venues per category, sorted by direction from St. Louis County.
ruSTIC CHIC
North – Pere Marquette Lodge
South – Maison Du Lac
East – A Fair Barn
West – Sunflower Hill Farm
Central – Stone House
INDUSTRIAL
North – City Museum
South – Moulin Events
East – 612 N. Events
West – The Factory
Central – Majorette
CONTEMPORARY
North – Grafton Winery
South – Mad Art Gallery
East – Hyatt at The Arch Rooftop
West – The Foundry Art Centre
Central – Contemporary Art Museum
BALLROOM
North – The Center Special Events
South – LiUna Event Center
East – The Regency
West – The Christy of O’Fallon
Central – Spazio Westport
HISTORIC
North – WOW Furnishings
South – Casa Loma Ballroom
East – The Olde Wix Factory
West – Grand Opera House
Central – Mahler Ballroom
REGAL OR FAIRYTALE
North – Larimore House
South – Silver Oaks Chateau
East – Barnett on Washington
West – Hermann Hill Weddings
Central – The Jewel Box
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