One of the first and biggest steps to planning your wedding is deciding the perfect venue to host your nuptials. But how do you know where to start? There are so many gorgeous places, especially in Utah, from the famous ski resorts to the countless gorgeous event spaces up and down the Salt Lake Valley.
If you’re an out-of-state bride looking to have your destination wedding here in Utah, or if you’re a long-time local, we’re here to help you weigh the pros and cons of choosing a resort over a venue, or vice-versa. As the premier wedding planning service for Utah destination weddings and beyond, here at Aspen Events we’ve seen all kinds of different weddings in every kind of venue. Here are a few of the things we’ve learned over the years, to help our brides decide where to start their happily ever after!
Resorts
The first and probably most appealing benefit of having your wedding at one of Utah’s incredible mountain resorts is that almost everything is included. From the food to the staff, most resorts are equipped with everything you’ll need on the day of your wedding.
Choosing and organizing catering for your wedding can feel daunting for some brides, but if you decide to host your wedding at a resort, they’ve got it all covered. Whether it’s in-house catering or an in-house bar, many couples will find it much easier and more convenient to have the resort take care of all their food services. And, the best part is that it often comes with a wait staff and basic china packages, so you can have the full luxury experience. It helps take away the stress of hiring more people because the resort already has the people you need!
Speaking of people, many resorts also provide couples with a venue coordinator, who is involved in every step of your planning process and invested in making sure the space is exactly what you want in a wedding venue. Having a rep who is so familiar with the resort as your go-to person for any questions regarding your wedding is extremely helpful.
Along with the wait staff and venue coordinators, resorts have many other staff who are extremely efficient, providing fast flips and seamless schedule transitions. They can take any space from ceremony seating to dinner tables in no time, and from dinner tables to a dance floor.
And because resorts are so big and inclusive, there are lots of options for plan B spaces in case the weather is acting up on your big day. As much as we try to plan for, it’s hard to plan for perfect weather.
Another great thing about resorts is that you aren’t restricted by a rental period, meaning you can usually drop off your decorations the day before and after without having to deal with late pickup fees.
Something to be aware of is that most resorts require you to have a wedding planner or a coordinator. Luckily for you, we know of some really great ones with lots of experience. (Hint, they’re called Aspen Events!)
To top it all off, you can book a room for you and your guests to stay the night before or the entire weekend of your wedding, which means you don’t have to stress about transportation. And, you can have every event from the rehearsal dinner to the after party all in one place!
And of course, the best part about choosing Utah’s resorts for your wedding is the incredible backdrops and views each one of them provides. We definitely have our favorites, but all of them are one-of-a-kind, and you simply can’t go wrong when it comes to Utah’s stunning landscapes.
Venues
While we love all the benefits of having your wedding at a resort, venues provide a few of their own perks that many of our couples prefer.
The main one is the price. Venues will typically take up much less of your budget, leaving a little more wiggle room for other things. Venues also tend to have fewer requirements when it comes to which vendors you can or can’t use—but some still do. You can hire whichever caterer you want, and you don’t have to use whatever is on-site. Either way, that’s also a little more wiggle room for you and your fiance to choose who gets to help create your dream wedding day.
Along those same lines, there will be fewer travel fees for you, your bridal party, and your family and friends (and your vendors). Many of our favorite venues are right in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, or near enough to our favorite local Utah cities. This makes venues much more convenient for everyone if that’s a priority for you.
And with convenience in location means convenience for transportation—Ubers for example won’t drive up to resorts for your guests who aren’t staying the night. Having your wedding at a venue makes it easier to hire transportation for your drunk uncle, but most importantly your getaway car.
Venues are also typically prettier on the inside because that’s their main focus. While resorts have a gorgeous view of the mountains, venues take everything into consideration when they design every minute detail of their space, so every wedding is beautiful from every angle. When a venue is designed with weddings in mind, they’re bound to be breathtaking.
Your Wedding, Your Way
Whether you choose to have your wedding at a resort, venue, or even in a backyard or at a museum, the most important thing is that it’s what you want. At Aspen Events, we prioritize bringing your vision to life, wherever that might be. Each of our planners has plenty of experience in creating and cultivating the most beautiful events, and that all starts with you!
Book a call with us any time, and we’d love to work with you to help you decide what venue—or resort—is perfect for your big day.
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