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.