Wedding planning is no easy task; choosing a theme to set a budget is filled with important decisions and lots of work. But the reward of planning a successful wedding is huge; you get to enjoy an unforgettable day with your partner, family, and friends.
One of the most important decisions you make along the way is choosing your wedding venue. And if you are planning to host your wedding in the Sioux City area, you could feel overwhelmed with the many alternatives available. That is why we have a list of venues to help you through the process.
And we have also put together a couple of tips to help you make the right decision once you choose your potential wedding venues; because the right venue must have more than enough space for your guests, you need to think about details such as accessibility vendor policies, and aesthetics. But let us start by inspiring you with beautiful locations for your upcoming Sioux City wedding.
Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center.
A wedding venue with a centrical location and just streets away from the Missouri River is ideal for a luxurious and romantic wedding. They offer spaces like The Ballroom and Banquet Hall for intimate and large celebrations, with capacities ranging from 50 guests up to 425 guests.
The best part of all is you can celebrate your reception, and your ceremony and any other wedding-related event before or after you say I do. Their staff is friendly and will help you conceptualize your event and plan it with attention to detail. They also offer on-site catering with customized options, staff for setting up and tear down, and accommodation for your guests.
Downtown Courtyard & Convention Center.
The historic 4th street in Sioux City holds a hidden gem for your upcoming wedding; Downtown Courtyard and Convention Center is a wedding venue located in the heart of the city. And they offer not only amazing spaces but a staff to help you plan the wedding of your dreams.
It is ideal for couples who love the city downtown and want to celebrate in a glamorous and setting. They have many available spaces to accommodate your wedding, the Gallery has space for up to 450 guests, and the Ballroom is perfect for smaller gatherings since you can fit up to 180 guests.
Plus, they offer other spaces to accommodate your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, and even engagement parties. Here you will find three exhibit halls with a combined surface of 30,000 square feet, 10 meeting rooms, and even a greenhouse-style atrium space.
The newest Downtown Courtyard offers accommodation for your guests from out of town, a Bistro, indoor pool, fitness center with views of downtown, an outdoor patio, fire pit, and complimentary parking.
The Warrior Hotel.
A city landmark with almost a century of history in the Iowa skyline, The Warrior Hotel has been fully renovated, making it an elegant and modern space while keeping the original charm of the Art Deco palette, furnishings, and overall details.
If you are looking for an elegant and classic style, look no further. The Warrior holds an amazing history and architecture with a beautiful and imponent staircase and a Ballroom with statement decoration and 4,000 square feet to accommodate up to 220 guests.
Some of the Warrior Hotel's services for your wedding are catering with custom menus, a dedicated wedding specialist on-site, and even a list of professional and trusted vendors for your decoration, entertainment, and flowers.
Out of town guests will have a special stay in one of the many rooms with art deco decoration and extra comfortable beds. Plus, they will enjoy the views of the city through large windows that also allow natural light to come in.
How to choose the perfect wedding venue?
Now we know all about the most interesting spaces for your Sioux City wedding, it is time to review some important details you must consider before signing the dotted line. After all, your wedding venue will take most of your budget, and it will be where your guests will enjoy the night and witness your union.
But how can you know if you are making the right decision? What questions should you ask while you visit potential wedding venues? Do not worry; we have you covered with the most useful tips to choose the perfect wedding venue.
1. Choose a theme and then a venue.
Imagine you find a venue that matches your budget and the size you need for your wedding, and they include catering, lighting, and even an open bar, perfect right? Well, it would be if it had the rustic style you are looking for instead of sparkling and elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, along with an art deco style all over the building.
Always have your mind clear regarding the style you prefer for your wedding décor before falling in love with a venue. This will help you unify your wedding concept and spend less money trying to cover the real style of the wedding venue.
2. Keep your budget in mind.
While there are fantastic, gorgeous wedding venues to convince you to sign the contract instantly, you should have your budget in mind before deciding. Perhaps you can take a loan or get some money from your savings to indulge yourself, but remember your wedding is a celebration of love and the beginning of your marriage, which means more spences will come after.
3. Ask all the hard questions.
You will find venue staff to be extra friendly as you tour from one venue to another, they will talk about all the features and unique characteristics of their venue, after all, they are selling. But before rushing in to say I do to your wedding venue, you need to find out about their cancelation policies, what all included means, and even about penalties for bringing your preferer vendors. So here are some questions you need to ask before signing a contract.
- What is the rental fee, and what is included?
- Does the rental service include set up and tear down along with cleaning service?
- Do you have a list of preferred vendors?
- Can I bring my vendors?
- Does the price include taxes?
- Can I see the included linens, tables, and chairs?
- How many hours does the rental include?
- Do you offer extra hours, and what is the cost per hour?
- At what time can the vendors start setting up decorations, lighting, etc.
- Is the deposit refundable, and under what conditions?
- Can I have my ceremony and reception here?
- What is your postponement and cancellation policy?
- Do you have a rain plan?
- What are the insurance requirements, is it included, or should I look for it?
- Can I bring my liquor?
- Do you have a corkage fee?
- Do you have minimums for catering and bar?
- What are the policies regarding decoration, what can and can't be done?
- What are the power specifications?
- Is there a sound system?
- Do you have parking space on-site?
4. Location.
One of the most important details about your wedding venue must be the location, how accessible it is for your guests? is it near to where everyone lives? Is it easy to get there for out-of-town guests? You must also think about traveling times from your ceremony location to your reception if they happen in different spaces. Think about traffic and distance before deciding.
If you are considering secluded locations or venues like farms and natural settings, keep in mind how your guests can get there, if the venue is near the main highway and if it has a smooth terrain so anyone can attend regardless of the car they own.
5. Always follow your heart.
The most valuable piece of advice we can provide is for you to stay true to your personality as a couple. Nowadays, you can get overwhelmed with the big production weddings have; it all seems taken out of a movie, which is all right if you like that style. But whenever you find yourself choosing things you usually would not choose, take a step back and analyze if you are being drowned in the social media wedding ideal.
Your wedding day should reflect who you are as a couple and what makes you unique. If you like beer instead of fancy champagne, then have a beer at your reception. If you prefer a laid-back wedding venue without seat designations and a special table for the couple, then go for it.
6. Find a venue with amazing surroundings.
It will be an incredible experience for your guests, especially if you are planning your wedding in the Sioux City area because here you will find nature all over, for example, Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, where you will have 1,000 acres of woodlands, prairie, and fun trails. The Loess Hills Scenic Byway draws visitors from all over the world to its 640,000 acres of land.
And if you happen to find the ideal venue with amazing natural landscapes, please do not hesitate and contact me to film every moment of your unique celebration. After all the months you will spend planning your big day, you will notice your wedding day passed too soon, and the best way to relive it is through a magnificent wedding video. Contact me so we can start planning the wedding of your dreams today.