7 Wedding Venue Features That Actually Matter

Brides, as you begin your wedding venue search, you’re going to find there are a vast array of features included or not included among different venues. How do you know what to prioritize? Here’s our list of top Wedding Venue features that actually matter when choosing a wedding venue for your day!

PS – We are a newly branded wedding venue right outside of Athens, GA. You can inquire about our venue here.

01. Guest Capacity.

This may seem obvious, but not all venues are created equal when it comes to their guest capacity. While some venues may be equally well-known in the area, this doesn’t mean they’re able to host your entire guest count. Be sure to check the venue’s maximum capacity before scheduling a tour to see if your wedding guest list will properly fit.

The Garden is has one of the larger guest capacities in the Athens, Georgia area comfortably holding 200 guests with a DJ or band in our ballroom.

02. Seamless Rain Plan

You absolutely must ask about the rain plan! Just because a venue can technically handle a rainy wedding day, it’s important that you know what the rain plan is and feel comfortable with it. Are you okay with your guests having cocktail hour under a tent while your ceremony is flipped into the reception? Are there indoor options for ceremony in the case of rain?

The Garden has one of the only completely built-in wedding day rain plans in the Athens, Georgia area. With ample indoor space among sitting rooms and The Grand Hall, your guests can simply walk from the ballroom to cocktail hour without walking outside at all. We also have two covered porches for guests who want to enjoy the outside without getting wet!

03. Onsite Parking

Believe it or not, depending on the city you’re getting married in, this one might be rare! If you find a venue with easy onsite parking for your guests, count that as a huge perk! If a venue does not have onsite parking, be sure to ask what their parking plan entails and how much it costs for the additional parking and shuttle.

The Garden has private, onsite parking for wedding guests as well as handicap parking spots and accessibility.

04. Experienced Vendor Team

This one you won’t really know until your complete your tour. Be sure to pay attention to how well you jive with team members of the venue. Remember, these people will be hosting your entire wedding day and you want to be sure you feel comfortable with them! While they may not be a prominent personality in the room with you, they will be taking care of you behind the scenes.

Meet The Garden venue team here!

05. Bride and Groom’s Suites

Be sure to checkout the bride and groom’s spaces for getting ready on the wedding day. Whether you plan to get ready at a salon and move to the venue or actually get ready at the venue, this will be a space you spend a lot of time in. If you know your basic number in your wedding party, you can judge if this space will make sense for you.

The Garden venue has both bride and groom suites onsite! The bridal suite has multiple rooms in the upstairs area of the house for spreading out a bit. Our groom’s cottage is separate to prevent any accidental meetings before it’s time.

06. Style & Vibes

This one is a bit more subjective, but you will want to be sure the venue style or vibe promotes the experience you hope to have on your wedding day. Do you want the hustle and bustle of a downtown wedding venue? Or do you prefer something more secluded and private?

The Garden venue is a secluded, secret garden wedding venue just minutes from Athens, Georgia without the busyness of downtown.

07. Venue Access Time

This one is a big deal. Some venue do not allow you in for very long prior to the wedding. This means that although you’ll have your ceremony and reception here, you may miss out on prominent photo time! Be sure to ask the amount of time included in your venue rental before a tour to know if it fits your expectations.

The Garden allows 12+ hours of venue access – ample time for getting ready, portraits and your full wedding day!

PS – Athens, Georgia brides, inquire here!