Venue stuggles

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I think that is part of my problem - I don't know exactly what I want and looking at the venues I'm being super picky but maybe it's just because I don't have a clear picture of what I'm looking for.

Do you know what kind of venue you want? Rustic? Golf Course? Whimsical? Etc.?

I am asking because I have been researching venues for almost 2 years now, so I can maybe help shed some light on places (and in some cases, prices) with some details of what I know.

I have also been using covid time to reach out to venues we think may work for us location, style, and budget-wise, having virtual tours, and asking a few more detailed questions. Maybe that is something that will help you out

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Yeah I totally get it. A lot of venues are kind of ugly or have not so nice features and the nice ones tend to be VERY expensive or small. I'm sure something will come along eventually though

Do you have a pinterest board? Maybe going through inspiration pictures will help you narrow down what it is you like and don't like about venues and that might help you figure out what you're looking for. I also think when you're able to go in person it will help a lot! There's so much you don't see in pictures.

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I think that's what I need to do. Maybe I'm jumping the gun on venues without truly knowing what I want.

I felt the same way when we were looking at venues too. There was one in particular that I absolutely loved and it was perfect because FH's mom worked there so she would have been able to get us a good price. Then when we did the actual walk around and tour I found out that to get to the spot where we'd have the ceremony you had to walk through the onsite gym. I was not having my guests walk through there. Even without anyone in there you could still smell the sweat and I just was not having it and some people told me it wasn't a big deal. But it was a huge deal to me. After all the searching though FH's parents offered their backyard to us, which has always been my true dream for my wedding. This is when I realized it's because I've always dreamt of the simpler backyard wedding that I always found some kind of fault with the other places we looked at because they were more for a big grand kind of wedding.
So think about what's important to you, and the look and feel that you really want and that might help to narrow things down. I also like Christiana's advice and make a list of needs, wants, dealbreakers

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I actually haven't even gone into a venue yet. I feel like that's part of my problem. But like you said, I'm seeing pictures and doing the opposite - I'm finding things I dislike and then having a bad taste in my mouth about the venue.

I may be overthinking the whole thing but I just feel like nothing fits what I want.

I felt the same way looking for venues, and unfortunately our venue is now demolished so we're going to have to find a new one when we have our postponed reception

When this was happening to me it was because I had seen a few pictures of the one we ended up booking, but it was the last venue we visited. Having the venue in the back of my mind made me find flaws in every other place we looked at even though I hadn't even seen the other venue. Do you think maybe something similar is going on with you? Is there a venue you've seen online or maybe one you saw in person but was out of budget that's still in the back of your mind?

Unfortunately I don't have great advice for you, but you're definitely not alone. I think the best thing to do is to make a list of needs, wants, and dealbreakers - sort of like when apartment/house hunting - and judge the venues that way. It might give you a new perspective on venues you originally discounted and help streamline your decision making.

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Extremely tough. I have only liked one place in Edmonton so far but on their website they say after 2022 no more weddings would take place there.

Its frustrating to deal with. I don't want the typical banquet hall/ hotel wedding because that's all they have here. So it's hard to find something different when its pretty much all they offer over here.

View quoted message I wish it was as simple as not being picky! It’s so tough!

I am currently going through this right now except in a different province. I originally was going to get married in the mountains but everything was too expensive. So we decided to stay in Edmonton to get married and I HATE EVERYTHING. I find everything ugly, Edmonton is not a nice place to get married. The banquet halls I find are not that nice, and if I was going to budget friendly to book one of these places I would have to spend thousands of dollars just to get it how I want it.

I don't know what to do and everyone is telling me to stop being so picky.