5 Things To Look For In a Wedding Venue (from a photographers POV) | Connecticut Wedding Photographer

5 Things To Look For In a Wedding Venue | Connecticut Wedding Photographer

So you are looking for your dream wedding venue, maybe you have your eye on a specific one, and you’re about to say “Yes” and start your wedding planning for real. As a Connecticut Wedding Photographer I’ve captured weddings in all types of venues, from barns, to mansions, to vineyards across New England. Once you check off the main factors that make a wedding venue appealing, guest count, accessibility, local things to do nearby, budget, if you can bring in outside caterers, the getting ready space or indoor & outdoor options, not to mention your vision and the desired vibe for your wedding day to name a few. It’s important to consider what your photos could look like at your venue. 

Table of Contents: 

- Light Light LIGHT! 

- Getting ready space 

- Rain Plan /Timeline

- Portraits 

- The Season

Light Light Light: 

It seems like a no-brainer, that light is a vital aspect when thinking about photography, but I am going to tell you not just the importance of it but WHY. Editing style. Editing style for photographers is the one thing that separates one Connectitucut Wedding Photographer from another. To make it really simple, a brighter “light & airy” or natural light photographer wants all the light and a “moodier” photographer tends to be more flexible with the light source and often likes shadows and more play with light. Keep in mind this is the artistic type of differentiation and it is not always super black and white. 

How does this affect your venue choice? 

With the large variance in venues across New England and the country the one thing I believe is underestimated is the type of light that you’re getting within your venue. Did you know the color of the walls can even affect the look of your photos? A good example of that is barns (wood) vs white & neutral walls. 

When it comes to the ceremony: what time is your ceremony? Where is the sun? Is it casting harsh shadows or illuminating the ocean behind you? Some of the most important photos often argued are the ceremonies, so having a space that adds to your vision AND has even light is so key. A space with a good viewm even light over spotty lighting or one party squinting into the sun is ideal. 

In the case of no shade at all it is better to have the sun BEHIND where you are standing which means you and your future spouse are facing east and west respectively. 

Getting Ready space | What does it look like? Do you even have one? 

Getting Ready Space: 

Many Venues offer Bridal Suites, but not all Bridal Suites are the right fit for the need of photography. I always recommend that brides lean towards a getting ready space that has at LEAST one larger window for natural light. If a room LOOKS really good but lacks natural light it is 100% doable to take photos, but not everyone loves the look of flash or external light that is not natural. 

When you’re caught in the whirlwind of getting ready to say “I do”  it’s easy to have tunnel vision and not see the space around you the same way your photographer does! It often happens that the bridal suite/getting ready space becomes filled with makeup and clothes, and everything that’s needed for your wedding day. If this becomes the case, with 5 years of experience in the wedding world, I specifically will take my bride elsewhere to take getting ready photos like the dress zip or first look with bridesmaids etc. I always include this in my tips for people when planning this portion of the say, only bring what you can carry. 

Timeline: 

Like I mentioned above some venues don’t have a getting ready space or the space does not fit the needs of the couple. With that in mind often a secondary location (hotel air bnb etc) is used to capture this part of the day if this is a priority. That affects the timeline because you have to travel between venue and getting ready space. If you are looking for a photographer with a limited budget for time, picking a venue that has everything on site would be ideal for you to maximize your coverage and experience with your photographer(s)

Rain Plan: 

If you live in New England, you know how the climate has dramatically shifted to hot / rainy summers, and cold snowless winters. When looking at a venue the logical choice is to plan for a beautiful day with sunshine and birds singing. We know that is not always the case and liking the backup location (even if it’s not as much) is also important. Making sure it is well lit (despite rain) and has room for photos. 

Story time: 

There have been multiple times in my career where there was inclement weather or something that landed the couple and ceremony indoors in a beautiful space, but holding many flaws that can dramatically impact the kind of photos we got. One of the biggest issues with rain spaces if the number of guests and chairs that get put down leaving no room on the sides to capture guests' reactions or alternative angles of the couple. 

Portraits: 

So the reception space is GORGEOUS and the ceremony space has an epic view…but the rest is a parking lot. Consider picking a venue that has 3 photo options, one for reception, one ceremony (rain and indoor), one for portraits and family photos! Variety is the spice of life and having options of where your favorite and best images are being taken is the cherry on top of a gallery. 

The Season: 

I’m going to say another controversial concept, season affects editing style! Why? Because the light! In the summer there’s more greens and hot bright sun, in the fall as a Vermont Wedding photographer we have intense colors of red orange and yellow that are stunning but when reflected onto green or skin can alter an image! In winter there’s the white of snow that leaves a clean look to your photos but not much color so it’s edited because the light bouncing off snow just makes things look whiter or lighter.