The Importance of a Venue’s Layout for Your Wedding Day

Layout for Your Wedding Day

When planning your wedding, it’s easy to focus on where you are going to get married. But, beautiful venue aside, have you considered how the layout will effect your day? Part of what impacts the flow of your wedding is how a venue is arranged. 

So why is it that the layout is just as crucial as a design?

1. Flow of Events

Think about how your guests will move through the day. For example, consider if everyone can move from the ceremony seamlessly to cocktail hour then to the reception without feeling cramped or disoriented.  It’s all about keeping things smooth.

If your ceremony and reception are in one location, it might be great to have an area for guests to hang out while the venue staff flips the space. The last thing you need is for people to just be standing around all awkward, not quite sure what they should do next. If you have the space a separate cocktail area can be a life saver!

2. Ceremony and Reception Spaces

It’s also advantageous to have different spaces for the ceremony and reception. It gives the two parts of the day a certain vibe, and helps to separate it so that everything doesn’t feel like one huge long blur.

Even if the venue does not have two completely different spaces, consider locations that are flexible enough to establish a difference. A great indoor/ outdoor option or simply two pieces of the same area lets you keep those two events distinct and special throughout your day.

3. Seating and Socializing

Something else to consider is how the design impacts socialization. You want the room to be conducive to free moving and talking, but you also do not want its layout to seem like a maze or labyrinth. Too many walls or awkward spaces can make guests feel isolated or like they’re not in on the action.

Round tables can be great for dinner because they encourage conversation, but make sure there’s still room for people to move between them easily. The ideal layout should enable the reception line to circulate without bumping into one another. Nobody wants a crowded dance floor where they’re elbowing for space!

4. Dance Floor and Entertainment Setup

When it comes to the dance floor, where it’s placed matters! You do not want it wedged in the literal corner which will make people nervous to get up to dance. A central dance floor makes it easier for people to participate and helps maintain a high level of energy.

Also remember to consider where the band or DJ is going to play. They need to be close enough to the action without blasting people at nearby tables. Check they have room for their equipment and that the sound can be adjusted to work with your space.

5. Photo Ops and Backdrops

A good venue layout would have some picture-perfect spots. Not to mention those beautifully created spots like a stunning garden, a lot of light indoors or an epic archway.

If you want those unforgettable moments with your soon-to-be spouse (such as the “first look”) or simply an open green space to take stunning wedding photos with all of your family and friends, make sure there is ample room available. You should also not have to walk miles from one hall to the other to get a perfect shot.

6. Accessibility for All Guests

This is something that can be easily forgotten, but it’s really important. It is important for guests to easily be able to move about, including older guests and anyone with mobility issues. Is there an elevator or ramp if needed? Do they have restrooms that are easy to access?

Think about the vendor set up and mobility as well. The more complicated your design, the harder (and possibly more expensive) it will be to move guests around, and the harder it will be for your photographer, caterer or band to do their work effectively.