You’ve found the perfect venue… And then seen the price tag! Suddenly your dream wedding seems unobtainable. But hang on, your friend has a relative who owns a “rustic” barn. You can hold the wedding there, get the pictures you want and save money. It’s a no-brainer. Right? Read on to find out what you need to know before using a private venue for your wedding, and avoid a DIY venue disaster.

  1. The barn looks the part, but will it keep your guests warm and dry? Make sure the roof doesn’t leak, and there’s an appropriate and safe heat source.
  2. Do you or the building’s owner(s) need insurance? Depending on the venue you’re looking at (is it a working farm?!), insurance may be required, and can vary in price.
  3. Will the vendors you have work on a private property and in a space that hasn’t been designed for weddings? For example, what kind of footing does the venue have? Are there areas in which food can be prepared that are up to code?
  4. You’ve got the venue and your vendors have agreed to work there. But you get to the night before and realise there’s nowhere for the popcorn machine to plug in! Make sure that the venue has appropriate internal/external power sources and that the equipment won’t blow out.[1]
  5. Budget, budget, and budget again. Doing a DIY wedding can seem a like an easy way to save money, but costs can quickly mount up. For example, your guests will need fully-functioning toilets they can use in their nice clothes. If the venue doesn’t have appropriate plumbing, you’ll need to rent portable washrooms.
These are some of the key items you’ll need to think about but each venue has its own challenges, and so this is not an exhaustive list. Of course, using a wedding planner will help you deal with these issues and save you a lot of stress and avoid a DIY disaster. I’d love to hear from you and talk with you about how I can help!

[1]This information is provided as guidance only. Please consult a qualified electrician if you have concerns about your electricity requirements.

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