1) Picking a specific wedding date before finding your favorite venue.

Don’t rule out the best venues in town just because your first wedding date choice was already taken…….Instead, find your favorite venue First, and then be flexible with the available dates!

2) Not picking your venue/date soon enough.

Sure, you should make a shortlist of your favorite venues and visit them….but don’t let that decision-making take months. You are competing with thousands of St. Louis brides for limited weekend dates of relatively few nice venues. If its even close to your budget, get your date held and move on with the rest of the planning!

3) Using separate venues for ceremony and reception (when you don’t have to).

If the convenience of your guests is important to you, they will love NOT having 3 plus hours of dead time between ceremony and reception and all the extra travel required with having separate venues. And certainly, don’t settle for a hastily created ceremony area in a corner of a banquet room, hallway or patio…you’ll just be disappointed.

4) Picking a venue close by instead of something unusual or different.

Be willing to get out of your normal neighborhood a little and find something different. Your guests won’t mind driving a little bit to see a place possibly new to them. Go visit places that interest you, don’t just assume you won’t like a certain part of town.

5) Not picking an outdoor ceremony location that has a backup wedding chapel.

OK, so lots of brides want a beautiful outdoor wedding but what is their biggest worry? Sure, it’s Rain! Having a tent set up just in case it rains is very expensive and usually cost-prohibitive. Find a venue that has a charming rainy day backup area that is included with your rental (preferably a chapel) and you won’t be disappointed on the wedding day.

6) Overestimating your guest count.

Most wedding guest lists are in the 100-250 people range and going over this number tends to make your reception expensive. A guest over 250 will severely limit your venue choices. Keep in mind that about 20% of the invited guests will not be able to attend.

7) Picking a venue that requires traveling somewhere else for scenic photo backgrounds.

8) Not having a wedding coordinator experienced with the venue of your choice.

You might benefit from a friend or bridesmaid who wants to be your personal assistant on the wedding day but don’t confuse that role with the absolute necessity of a wedding coordinator very familiar with you and your venue. She needs to meet with you before the wedding, manage your rehearsal, and coordinate your whole wedding and reception. If the wedding coordinator is included with your package…..Bonus for you!

9) Not choosing a venue with lighted, on-site parking.

Again, consider your guests for this important feature that can greatly affect convenience and safety. Guests having the hassle of a shuttle, off-site parking, street parking or the concern for personal or vehicle safety are all factors to consider.

10) Not going with an all-inclusive wedding venue.

Couples can become overwhelmed spending countless hours trying to find services and Vendors for their Special day. With all-inclusive event space, these services have already be found for you and often at a discount.

Wow!…..you may say…..that’s a lot to consider when searching all over town for a venue that addresses All these concerns. I have Great News for you!! There is a little known venue in this area that actually designed their whole Wedding and Reception Venue to satisfactorily address All of these Wedding Day issues. Just a short drive from anywhere in the St. Louis Metro area is an easily accessed but still relatively unknown venue that has made brides who have found it over the last 20 years…..immensely pleased! The Larimore and its historic buildings was built over 160 years ago and the current owners saved it after years of neglect and brought it back to its Victorian-era Elegance and Romantic charm. Specializing in Garden or Chapel Weddings and Elegant Receptions for up to 250 guests, The Larimore has all the amenities that today’s bride demands. And yes……with lower-priced options……Any Bride with even a modest budget can afford to host their very special day at this fantastic venue. So do yourself a HUGE favor, go ahead and visit a couple of popular venues in town First and then schedule a time to meet with Dena the Wedding Coordinator, and tour this beautiful property…..we’re confident that this special place will quickly move to the Top of your list!