Ceremony Venue

There are many factors that couples consider for where to hold the ceremony. There are many choices. The obvious ones are a church of synagogue, but there are many others. We've seen weddings held at parks, museums, amphitheaters, mansions, hotels, libraries, a zoo, and even a movie theater screening room.

Here are some general questions to consider:

• Can the location accommodate the number of guests?
• Is the location typically used to perform weddings and do the people there have experience with wedding ceremonies?
• Is there space for a receiving line?
• Is there adequate parking?
• How far is it from the reception?
• Is the location available for a rehearsal?
• What is the cost of the location?
• If the location is outside, what are the mitigations for bad weather?
• If you can, find the names and telephone numbers of people who were married at the location so you can ask them questions about their experience.

House of Worship
For couples that are religious, the choice is often obvious since they want to pick a church or temple of their particular faith in the location of the wedding. Perhaps, this is the church you've been going to all your life, perhaps it's the most convenient church of your denomination, or perhaps it's been recommended by a friend or relative. Also, you don't need to be very religious to have your wedding in a house of worship, but it's definitely a very personal choice. If it's an interfaith marriage, it may be trickier to find a place that will marry the couple.

Questions to ask when picking a house of worship:

• Are there restrictions on the type of ceremony?
• Do you have your choice of officiant or does the location provide a list to choose from?
• What kind of music can you play?
• Are there restrictions on the faiths of the couple?
• Are there restrictions on whether one of the participants has already been married?
• Does the location require you to be a member?
• Does the location provide a discount if you are a member?
• Does the location allow filming and photos?

Public Venue
A public venue such as a museum or park can be a beautiful place to hold a wedding and may complement the values of the couple. Maybe you're both graduate students and wish to get married in a museum or library to reflect your shared values of education and the arts. Perhaps, you're met on a hiking trip and worship the outdoors and so you want to hold the wedding in a park, at a zoo, or near the water. Whatever the choice, public venues can be tricky because of all the rules and restrictions in place. You will want to make sure to go every detail of what you can and can't do at the location to make sure it fits your needs. You may even want to ask for the names and telephone numbers of other people who were married there so you can talk to them and find out if there were any gotchas.

Here are some ideas for non-religious locations:

• Public park or beach front
• Museum
• Concert Hall
• Theater
• Garden
• Zoo
• Library
• Art Gallery
• Country Club
• School/University

Home Wedding
It may seem appealing to hold a wedding at home, but it can be a difficult proposition. Most homes don't have the space or the right layout to meet the demands of a wedding.

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