THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A WEDDING VENUE
September Oak Grove Ceremony and header image above by Love & Sol Photography
WEDDING VENUE CONSIDERATIONS
Your choice of wedding venue triggers a long chain of dominoes that shapes every wedding decision that follows: the mood, the logistics, the guest experience, and even which vendors you can hire. Couples must weigh a mix of practical and emotional factors to choose a venue that balances their priorities and helps create memories that will last a lifetime.
Carriage House Inn passed appetizers by Love & Sol Photography
PRIORITIES
If you know that you are a “foodie,” you might want to choose a venue with built‑in beauty, architectural charm, or natural scenery to reduce the need for heavy décor, allowing you to focus your budget on the menu without sacrificing elegance. If, on the other hand, your priorities are a relaxed atmosphere that happens to maximize your budget with delicious comfort food, you will want to choose a venue that partners with a wide range of vendors so that you can pick a caterer that offers the menu and price point you prefer.
Guest count significantly affects decisions, as well. While the price of a venue that hosts 80 guests and 140 guests might be similar, once you factor in the per person price of food and drinks, you may discover than an intimate guest count allows you to focus more of your budget on florals, add a photo booth to your DJ package, or include a second shooter with your photographer. If you have a large family and a million friends, you will want to prioritize a venue that can accommodate a very large guest count and budget accordingly, perhaps choosing to use the wedding party bouquets as centerpieces instead of purchasing separate arrangements or offering only wine and beer at your reception and skipping custom cocktails.
The Tack Room luxury guest room / dressing suite at Battlefield B&B in Gettysburg, PA.
BUDGET
Your venue often represents one of the largest line items in the wedding budget, so it’s essential to decide how much of your total spend you want to allocate to the space itself. Many experts emphasize starting with a clear budget before touring, since the venue cost influences nearly every other decision.
For example, two-day wedding packages at Battlefield B&B start at $9,000 for the high season and $8,000 for slower months. While the package does include a lot (ceremony/cocktail hour/reception venues, day-of coordination, tables/chairs/tablecloths, an extra day to set up and the morning after to pack up, overnight luxury accommodations in 2 rooms for 2 nights), there are still many other vendors to include in your budget, such as catering, bartending, DJ, photography, cake, dress/suit, and more. If your budget maxes at $10,000, then no matter how many wonderful things we include in our venue package, we are probably not the right fit for you, since we are sure you will want to feed your guests, have something to dance to, and photograph your wedding!
On the other hand, if you are expecting your wedding budget to end up somewhere between the PA state median ($20,000) and PA stage average ($36,000), then our venue will be worth touring to discover the value of all the elements we include and hear some of our suggestions for vendors that will match your priorities.
The timing of venue payments will also affect your budget. Some venues will require a 50% deposit to save the date, others a smaller deposit with more partial payments throughout the year. Knowing when you will be responsible for different parts of your budget will help you balance your vendor payments in the years and months leading up to your big day.
October in Battlefield B&B’s Golden Meadow by Earthmark Photography
SEASONS OF LOVE
Some couples dream of golden summer evenings; others imagine crisp fall air or the quiet romance of winter.
Different venues have different “high seasons,” so you will want to consider your priorities when you look at your date. If you are dead-set on a beautiful garden ceremony, it’s important to know when Spring really blooms in your area. Early April in south central PA can be stunning with crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths exploding everywhere, but the leaves don’t tend to develop on trees and bushes until late April, so the gardens still tend to look a bit wintery. It is also not unheard of to have snow in early April in Gettysburg! We usually recommend that couples celebrate spring weddings in May (or late April / early June) so that the garden is alive and the guests are comfortable outside.
Sunlight through slats in Historic Barn by Ashley Shultz Photography
On the flip side, if you are planning a fall wedding, it’s important to know when the foliage is in peak color (Sep-Oct) and when it starts to be too cold to enjoy gardens and any other weather-dependent structures, such as our beautiful Historic Barn. We always say that both the best and worst thing about the barn is the fabulous space in between the slats that let in wonderful breezes, gorgeous sunlight, and twinkling lights at night. During a temperate month, your guests will be thrilled to experience the magic of the Historic Barn. In February? Not so much…
Wedding Party celebrating a May Garden Ceremony by Julia Scarborough Photography with florals by Holly Frisch
AVAILABILITY
Wedding venues can book far in advance, usually well over a year in advance for popular dates and at least 6-12 months out on remaining dates. Starting your venue search early gives you more flexibility with dates and helps you avoid falling in love with a space that’s unavailable.
However, those with a shorter planning timeline needn’t be discouraged. Sometimes events get cancelled, opening up a popular date unexpectedly, and sometimes the universe mysteriously keeps a date from booking until the last minute, as if the date was waiting for the right couple to come along. Most venues have relationships with wonderful local vendors who can help a couple put together a spectacular wedding in a very short amount of time.
May Historic Barn reception by Julia Scarborough Photography
GUEST COUNT
A wedding feels different when everyone fits comfortably, when the rooms feel full but not crowded, when guests can move naturally from ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner and dancing. Venues with distinct settings for each part of your celebration create a sense of progression and storytelling throughout the day, as you move from garden to patio to historic building to fire pits and more. Be sure to ask your venue for floorplans of how the space works with different guest counts to help you visualize your celebration with your entire invite list, as well as with your anticipated guest count after RSVPs (75-85% of invited guests usually say “yes.”) Also, ask how a rain plan might affect layouts and location options.
June Bride and horse Burberry at weathered fence by Kelly Brewer Photography
STYLE and ATMOSPHERE
The venue sets the tone for the entire celebration. Some venues require you to build the mood from scratch. Others set a tone the moment you step onto the property. Historic homes, barns with patina, gardens with mature trees, and landscapes shaped by time all carry a sense of romance that can’t be manufactured. Whether you are drawn to a B&B for its cozy sense of home, a hotel for its ballroom aesthetic, a museum for a sense of grandeur, or a converted factory for a modern industrial feel, your venue choice will shape the ambience, décor choices, and even the emotional feel of the day.
Battlefield Bed & Breakfast overhead view of Wedding Garden, Solarium, Historic Barn, and B&B Farmhouse
LOCATION and ACCESSIBILITY
A venue becomes a gathering place not just for the ceremony, but for the entire weekend. Easy access, nearby lodging at different price points, and on‑site accommodations help guests relax into the celebration. When everything is close (parking, dressing rooms, restrooms, ceremony spaces, and reception areas,) the day feels seamless and welcoming. Ask your potential venue about the numbers of overnight guests it can accommodate, how room blocks work, and its ADA accessibility to the different venue spaces you will use throughout the day.
Late June Wedding at Battlefield B&B in Gettysburg PA by Wraven Design Photography
POLICIES, FLEXIBILITY, and CREATIVE FREEDOM
Every venue has rules, some subtle, some significant. Understanding catering options, alcohol policies, décor guidelines, noise restrictions, and set up and breakdown timing helps couples choose a space that aligns with their vision. If you are planning a New Year’s Eve celebration, you will definitely want a venue that allows events to last into the wee hours of the morning. If you want to have a relaxing experience personalizing your venue with your own centerpieces, ceremony décor, and more, you will want a venue like ours, where you have from 10am the day before the wedding to decorate the venue and until 11am the day after the wedding to collect your items.
Groomsmen lifting groom on dance floor at November Wedding by Earthmark Photography
LEVELS OF SUPPORT
Not all venues shape the wedding day in the same way. Some simply provide the space; others offer a team that carries the coordination weight so couples can stay focused on their celebration without having to wrangle logistics. Understanding these differences helps couples choose a venue that matches their comfort level, planning style, and expectations for the flow of the day. Minimalist venue rentals usually involve a couple being responsible for setting up all the tables, chairs, lighting, décor, as well as handling all vendor coordination, timeline management, cleanup, and parking. Some venues offer more of a middle ground, with a small staff present at the event, ensuring the space is clean, safe, and event-ready, and making themselves available if something on the property breaks or needs attention. Venues that include coordination shift the venue experience from “renting a space” to “being cared for.” The coordinator helps build the timeline, communicates with vendors, and ensures everyone knows where to be and when. They manage the ceremony flow, cue music, guide guests, and solve problems quietly in the background. Their staff often helps with setup, transitions between spaces, and end‑of‑night logistics. Some venues extend this support into partial planning, recommending trusted vendors, helping with reception and ceremony layouts, and offering guidance throughout the months leading up to the wedding. Whether you prefer a more hands-off approach from your venue or to turn your venue relationship into one that brings a sense of calm throughout your entire wedding planning process, be sure to find out what kind of staffing your potential venue offers.
Just Bartending staff pour drinks for a September wedding at Battlefield B&B by Love & Sol Photography
VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS
A beautiful venue becomes extraordinary when the right team brings it to life. Some venues require you to use their preferred vendors; others allow full freedom; others offer all of their services in-house. If you already have a photographer, caterer, or florist in mind, confirm they can work at the venue. If you are waiting to search for vendors until after you have selected your venue, take advantage of your venue’s experience with local vendors to create a wedding dream team with a proven track record and a familiarity with the space that allows the vendors to offer informed suggestions to bring your vision to life.
Early May couple kissing under umbrella by Shutter Every Moment Photography.
WEATHER CONTINGENCIES
If you’re considering an outdoor ceremony or reception, a solid rain plan is non‑negotiable. Look for venues that offer indoor alternatives or covered spaces that still feel intentional and beautiful. Covered porches, barns, solariums, and historic interiors allow couples to embrace the day as it comes, knowing every option is beautiful. Be sure to ask how far in advance you will need to decide to switch to Plan B. Some venues can change with a few hours’ notice; others will need to know 3 or more days out.
Historian with overnight guests
GUEST EXPERIENCE
The most unforgettable weddings happen in places that feel personal. Some couples choose venues tied to local history; others choose spaces that feel like a retreat from everyday life. Think about what your guests will see, feel, and do throughout the day. Venues with scenic views, interesting architecture, or comfortable gathering spaces elevate the experience. Some couples choose venues that double as weekend getaways, offering guests a mini‑vacation alongside the celebration.
There might even be location-specific add-ons that your venue offers. For example, our venue’s B&B offers overnight guests morning history presentations and fire-side ghost stories that bring Gettysburg to life. Ask questions about guest experience to hear an insider’s perspective on what your guests can expect when they come to your wedding; you might even learn some delightful surprises you will want to include for your guests!
Couple in Golden Meadow by Autumn Kern Photography
CONFIDENCE IN YOUR CHOICE
Once a couple finds a venue that aligns with their style, budget, guest experience, logistical needs, and wedding vision, everything else falls into place so you can hit the ground running. The venue becomes the anchor for the entire celebration, the setting where the day’s memories will live for years to come. Whether you are going with an award-winning venue with decades of experience in the industry or giving the new guy a chance, make sure that your choice of venue leaves you feel confident and ready to plan the wedding of your dreams.
Think Battlefield Bed & Breakfast might be your dream Gettysburg Wedding Venue? Schedule your tour today!