When it comes to planning a wedding, couples often find themselves facing dozens, if not hundreds of decisions. One of the most significant choices is determining what size the event will be and how many guests to invite. This one factor can influence where you get married, how much it will cost, and what kind of timeline you will need for planning. While this might not be the case everywhere, at our urban wedding venue in southern Indiana, we’ve seen a growing trend toward smaller, more personalized weddings. Here are some compelling reasons why we think more engaged couples in Evansville are choosing an intimate elopement over a larger wedding, and how our convenient all-inclusive elopement package, might be the perfect choice for your special day.

1. More Connection
A small elopement allows you to focus on what truly matters: the celebration of your love. With fewer guests, you can create an intimate atmosphere where you have the ability to spend more quality time with everyone who attends without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. This is especially important if you have guests traveling from out-of-town that you don't get to visit with often. Keeping the guests list small means you can share more meaningful moments with your closest friends and family.

2. Less Stress
Planning a large wedding can be overwhelming, with countless details to manage and expectations to meet. Opting for a smaller elopement makes things simpler and reduces stress, allowing you to actually enjoy the process of planning your wedding day. You can focus on the elements that are most important to you without getting bogged down by the complicated logistics of a larger event. A smaller elopement also significantly decreases the amount of time needed to plan your event. Large weddings can take months or even years to organize, with numerous vendors to coordinate and countless decisions to make. In contrast, a small elopement can be planned in a matter of weeks or even days, especially with an all-inclusive package that includes everything you need to have a stress-free wedding celebration. A quicker timeline and fewer decisions to make means you can spend less time stressing about details and more time enjoying your engagement.

3. Budget
Weddings can be expensive and costs can quickly add up as you guest list grows. By choosing an elopement, not only can you plan a stunning event with a smaller budget, you can allocate your budget more efficiently, prioritizing quality over quantity. This means you can splurge on the elements that matter most to you, like that designer dress you had your eye on or a dream honeymoon. You don't have to choose between a bland civil ceremony at the courthouse or an extravagant wedding that costs thousands. An elopement allows you to have a wedding celebration that really feels like a special occasion without breaking the bank.

4. Flexibility 
Having a smaller wedding offers unparalleled flexibility. You can celebrate your love in a way that feels authentic and true to who you are as a couple. Whether you want to incorporate some unconventional surprises into the big day (we love when couple have interactive games during the reception), write a unique ceremony, or have a non-traditional wedding theme, a small elopement provides the freedom to craft a event that is uniquely yours. Our all-inclusive package allows you to personalize every aspect of your wedding from the ceremony and decor to the music and drink selections, ensuring your big day is an unforgettable celebration that is true reflection of your style and personality.

5. Sustainability
Many modern couples are conscious of the environmental impact of their wedding. A large event can produce a lot of waste. Disposables plates and utensils end up in the landfill, excess food and flowers often get tossed at the end of the night, and many of the decor items that might have cost hundreds of dollars only get used once. A smaller wedding can often be more environmentally friendly. With fewer guests, there’s less waste generated, and you can make more sustainable choices in terms of catering, decorations, and transportation.

Choosing to have an intimate event doesn’t mean your wedding day should be any less magical; it means prioritizing what truly matters to you as a couple. At Main Street Wedding and Event Venue we specialize in creating customized experiences that are beautiful, meaningful, and memorable. Our expert staff ensures that every detail is taken care of, allowing our couples to fully enjoy their special day. Learn more about how our elopement package offers an affordable option for couples getting married in the Evansville area.

December may not be the most popular wedding month for engaged couples in the Evansville, but having a winter wedding can be a great idea! Your guests may already have time off work, everyone is in the holiday spirit, and of course, there's a ton of options for decor! Our modern indoor space at Main Street is easily customized to fit your wedding theme and even our outdoor space can be cozy with our patio heaters! Whether you go full-on Christmas or choose a more subtle approach, we've got a few tips for how you can celebrate the season AND your big day!

2. Use frosted pine cones and greenery.
These items are ready available during the holiday season, and can be used for a winter theme without being too Christmas-y. You can even trim some fresh pine branches from a tree!

3. Fill cylinder vases with fairy lights and ornaments.
These simple, but charming centerpieces lend some holiday cheer to your reception. You can add fresh greenery on the tables if you're feeling fancy!

4. Hang snowflakes in your photo booth backdrop.
Snowflakes are more winter than Christmas and are the perfect accent for a midwinter wedding!

5. Mix gold and silver for a holiday feel.
You don't have to use ornaments, but somehow mixing gold and silver just feels like Christmas!

6. Give your guests a custom ornament as a favor.
The best favor is something your guests will use. An ornament is something that they can cherish year after year! There are so many great options on Etsy. Find the one pictured here!

7. Christmas tree charcuterie boards.
You can't go wrong with charcuterie for your cocktail hour. Keep the holiday spirit flowing along with the drinks by incorporating a fun design!

Should you invite kids to your wedding?

This is one question that every bride and groom to be should ask themselves as they plan their wedding and create their guest list.

Most couples already have friends and family members who have children so this can be a tough decision. Children have a tendency to get bored and fussy quite easily, something that can turn your wedding into a noisy affair.  

If you do decide that you want to include children in your big celebration, you’ll want to make sure that they’re happy and entertained at all times. Here are a few fun ideas for keeping those little bodies busy during your wedding.

Create an epic kids table
Setting up a few kids tables with various activities is one of the best ways to keep smaller guests busy for hours, especially during the speeches. Add games, puzzles, activity and coloring books to the tables so that the kids can choose something that appeals to them. You could also add a few goodie bags to the table that contain treats, bubbles or a small toy.

Include them in the wedding activities
Children really enjoy helping out and being a part of the day’s activities so give them an important job to do such as handing out pamphlets. If they feel like they’re helping out, they won’t get a chance to be bored. Another cute idea is to give each child a disposable camera so they can snap some photos on the day.

Let them spend time outdoors
If the weather is warm on the day, set up a few outdoor games such as Jenga or activities such as hula-hoops. If the children are a little older, you can also set up a crafts table that they can use to create props for a photo booth or a wedding memento for their parents. Our outdoor patio would be great for this!

Set up a kids room
If you want to keep children entertained and away from the main festivities, set up a cool kids room or cave that contains beanbags, tables, movies and activities that they can enjoy. You can repurpose one of our getting ready suites for this!

1. Learn to say no
Planning a wedding is exciting and fun but it can also be one of the busiest times of your life. If you don’t want to end up being a nervous wreck a week before your big day, learn to prioritize and say no to any new commitments that would take away from other important wedding-related tasks. It’s really okay to say no every now and then.

2. Become the queen of organization
The more organized you are, the better your wedding planning experience will be. Keep a digital copy of all of your important documents, contracts, and information in one file on your computer or in google docs so that you can easily refer back to them when you need to. If you want to be able to bring important documents along to meetings with vendors, you can always create a wedding binder that contains all of the information you need. Plus, it makes for a great backup copy too.

3. Have a little fun
There’s no need for you to be a frazzled bride-to-be. Take out your calendar and schedule a few fun days in-between all of your planning. Make fun and time with friends a priority in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Sometimes it’s important to come back down to earth and remember why you’re choosing to marry your partner. Trying to control every single aspect of your day is only going to leave you wishing it was over. Go out and enjoy an afternoon with the girls where you don’t talk about the wedding at all.

4. Move your body
Exercise does wonders when you’ve got a lot on your plate. Sometimes you just need to take a breather and focus on your health. This doesn’t mean that you need to schedule an hour at the gym every day either. If you’re strapped for time, a simple 15-20 minute walk or yoga session will make all the difference to your stress and energy levels.

5. Just breathe
Take a complete timeout from wedding planning as often as you need to. Every bride deserves a relaxing soak in the tub or a heavenly hot stone massage to relieve some of the tension she might be feeling. (If you're a Main Street bride you'll actually have a spa gift certificate you can use!) It can be difficult to make time to simply relax but do your best to find the time, even if it’s just 30 minutes a week.

Your budget is one of the first things that you will sit down and discuss when planning your wedding. It also often causes the most stress during the planning process. Below are the 3 main things that affect your wedding budget and can potentially add to your wedding planning drama.

1. Where you wed. Your wedding location will play a leading role in the creation of your budget. Venues that are located in urban areas will generally charge more than smaller venues outside of main cities. Venues may also have different packages and policies that you'll need to consider. For example, some venues might require you to use only their preferred vendors, some of which might not fit in with your budget. Many venues also have minimum catering requirements that may go beyond your guest list. Some also charge additional fees for attendants, linens, security, and set-up/tear-down. It's important to look at what is included in the cost of each venue before you make a final decision on where you want to get married.

2. Time of the year. Wedding seasons make a big difference to costs. Planning to get married on a Saturday in the summer? Chances are you're going to end up paying a lot more for your wedding. Some venues and vendors charge more for in-demand dates during peak seasons, but they may have discounted pricing for Fridays and Sundays. Look at your budget and how it fits in with the venue and location you have in mind. Consider whether you or not you will be better off planning your wedding during another season or on a different day of the week to save on costs.

3. The number of guests. This is one area that can very easily get out of hand. The number of guests is going to affect a large portion of your budget, so it pays to be sensible about who you're inviting. Some venues will charge you based on a per-person fee and of course your catering cost is directly related to the guest count, so be sure you are keeping the guest list under control. Agree on how many guests you want to invite and stick to it as best you can. People will understand that you have a limit on how many guests you can invite, especially in the time of COVID.

If you want to stick to your wedding budget and avoid drowning in debt by the time you come back from your honeymoon, make sure you plan your finances before you even begin planning your wedding. Working with a wedding planner would be an added bonus as they can help you find the best prices and keep you on track financially!

When my husband and I decided to open a wedding and event venue in Evansville, there were a lot of decisions to be made. We had to create an entire business plan from scratch. We knew we wanted to make sure we offered all the best amenities. But who decides what's best? Every client has different priorities for their wedding or celebration, and every venue is different. Some have gorgeous views, some have all-inclusive packages, some are smaller and more intimate, and some can seat 300 guests. Of course, our brainstorming was somewhat limited by what we were able to do with the real estate we were purchasing, but there were still so many possibilities. Although we won't be finished with renovations until 2022, here are the main amenities and services we decided to prioritize for our venue, to best serve our clients and their guests.

Getting-Ready Suites
Weddings are an all-day event. With our private suites, there's no need to drive all over town. You can get prepped, get married, and get ready to party all in the same space. No worries about members of the wedding party getting lost, or leaving important essentials behind on the way to the ceremony. The suites are on opposite sides of the venue, so you don't have to worry about the groom catching a glimpse of the bride before she walks down the aisle! (Unless you're taking first look photos, which are always so sweet!) Each suite has access to restrooms and we even provide snacks and drinks! What more could you ask for?
 
Indoor and Outdoor Space
Would you like an outdoor ceremony? Cocktail hour on the patio? Dancing under the stars? We've got you covered! Our 2500 sq ft outdoor patio is large enough to accommodate your ceremony, reception, or both! We also have two indoor spaces that can be used for your ceremony, reception, and cocktail hour. We can host your event from start to finish!

Something Borrowed Collection
Our décor collection is stocked with all sorts of treasures that can be used for your event! Vases, votives, centerpieces, linens, table numbers, signs, and more. All are included as complimentary with our all-inclusive rental package! You can purchase items and try to sell items on Facebook after the wedding, but why worry about scammers, taking and posting pictures, and maybe even shipping? Let us help make planning and paying for your wedding as painless as possible. We even have larger items like furniture and ceremony arches that are available for rent.

Caterer's Kitchen
You may not think this one is not so important, but your caterer will thank you! Our large and fully equipped kitchen includes a commercial refrigerator, freezer, microwave, 3-basin sink, and lots of counter space! Your caterer will have plenty of space to prepare and serve your meal. This will make dinner service faster, smoother, and easier for everyone!

Professional Bar Service
Both my husband and I have experience working as bartenders, so it was important to us that we were able offer amazing bar service to our clients. We have high expectations, and as they say, if you want it done right, do it yourself! So we’re proud to include in-house bar catering. We provide 1-2 licensed bartenders to serve during your event as part of your rental package. Options include an open bar (the client covers the cost of drinks for all guests), cash bar (guests pay for their own drinks), or a combination of both. Sometimes the client will contribute a certain amount towards bar costs, maybe $500, and then after that it converts to a cash bar; or the client can cover beer and wine but guests pay for any liquor drinks. We can customize a bar package just for you, and we can even create fun signature drinks!

Staff and Security On-site
When it comes to events, always expect the unexpected. Lots of things can happen when you have over 100 people gathered together to celebrate and have a good time. That’s why we always have at least one staff member on-site during every event. Whether it’s greeting vendors during arrival and set-up, keeping paper towels in the bathroom stocked, or clearing tables after dinner, our staff is there to handle anything that comes up related to the venue. We also include an off-duty Evansville police officer to serve as security, which is almost always an additional fee at other venues.  

​Uber/Lyft Credit for Every Event
Our central, downtown Evansville location means that parking may be a bit further away, but the flip side is that we’re easily accessible by Uber and Lyft. We highly encourage the use of ridesharing apps to get to our venue, and especially to get home safely after celebrating. In order to make it easier for guests to get a ride home, we decided to offer a $250 app credit for each event. That credit can be used toward either Lyft, Uber, or both, based on your preference, and can be split however you think is best. Whether you decide to use it to cover the full cost of getting the bridal party back to the hotel, or split it up into $10 vouchers that can be used for whomever needs it, we’re happy to provide that additional convenience, knowing that it will help keep our clients and community safe!

Event Planning, Design, and Coordination
As a Certified Wedding Planner, I absolutely LOVE getting to work with my clients throughout the planning process. Choosing your venue is one of the first of hundreds of decisions that you will make while planning your wedding. As a planner, I assist you from beginning to end and help you manage all the details, including décor and design, budget, vendors, guest list management, timeline, and everything the day-of. If you just need help pulling together your vision, I also provide event design services. I will work with you to create an overall theme for your event, craft a comprehensive mood board, and generate digital renderings so you can see what your event will look like in our actual space! A day-of coordinator is an absolute life-saver, and the very minimum that each client really deserves, so you can be a guest at your own event. A coordinator will handle your timeline and all the moving parts on the big day. This can include managing the rehearsal, supervising set-up, dealing with vendors, and making sure that everyone knows where to be. Although these services are not included in the rental fee, we offer deeply discounted rates for our clients!

Transparent Pricing
The value we provide with each event speaks for itself. There are no hidden fees or surcharges. You'll know everything up front, so you can budget accordingly. The total cost for each of our rental packages and add-on services is available on our website. Simple, easy, and honest.