The Nitty Gritty of Renting Out a Historic Location for Your Wedding
If you want a wedding for the ages, one of the best places to start is with your venue. Booking a historic or notable venue, from an old estate to a modern museum, is absolutely one way to make your wedding memorable. There are, however, a few key things to keep in mind when booking a historic location for your wedding:
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You’ll Need to Work Around The General Public
Think you can have your wedding during the day and close down the museum? Think again. Unless the area is sectioned off from the public, you’ll have to wait to start your wedding. At the Mark Twain House & Museum, for example, the only location you can reasonably expect to host a wedding during the day is on The Terrace. Even then, of course, you’ll see visitors wandering in and around the museum.
The Cafe, and also the Hal Holbrook Hall, are only available for hire in the evenings. Similar rules apply at all museums, so booking your event in the summer is a good way to ensure you still have plenty of daylight left for your big day.
Only Wedding Photos Are Allowed to be Taken in the Galleries
While you aren’t completely restricted in terms of access to the rest of the museum, you won’t be allowed to bring food or drink throughout the establishment. In some cases, the only people allowed into the galleries are the wedding party, and that is specifically for the wedding photos. That’s why it’s important to choose a location or hall that embodies the beauty you’re after, so you get the best of both worlds without having to sequester your guests away.
These Venues Typically Have Preferred Suppliers
One of the other key things to keep in mind is that historic venues typically have their own wedding suppliers that they use. While you may be able to switch these suppliers for your own, that won’t always be the case. It’s also a smart idea to check out the suppliers they’ve partnered with to see if they’re a good fit for you in the first place. You may be frustrated that you can’t choose your own caterer for your wedding at the Connecticut Science Center, for example, but then realize that their exclusive partner Riverhouse Catering provides exceptionally delicious meals in various packages.
You Might Have to Rent Through Them
Since these locations have a list of approved suppliers that they work with, they may also require you to rent things from a dance floor, to entertainment, to even photographers through them. In other cases, the venue will simply give a list of approved suppliers for you to get in touch with on your own.
They Have Smaller Guest Capacities
If you plan on having a massive wedding, then you need to choose your location carefully. Some venues are quite small, and as a result, only book intimate weddings of fifty people or less. Others can easily accommodate up to 300, or even more, depending on how large the space is, what the space is, and your budget. There’s no wiggle room here either. Exceeding capacity is illegal, and the venue won’t let you do it.