How to Compare Wedding Venues When You Can’t Visit Them All

Beau & Gary
Jan 3
2 min read

Planning a wedding from out of state comes with a unique challenge: you don’t get unlimited weekends to tour venues, ask follow-up questions in person, or “circle back later.”

When you can’t visit every venue you’re considering, how you compare them matters more than how many you see.

Here’s how to make confident, informed decisions — without the stress — even when you’re planning from hundreds (or thousands) of miles away.

Start With Transparency, Not Aesthetics

Beautiful photos are easy to find. Clear information is not.

When comparing venues remotely, pay close attention to how transparent a venue is before you ever tour. If pricing is vague, inclusions are unclear, or answers feel intentionally broad, that uncertainty usually compounds later.

A venue worth touring should be able to explain:

What is actually included (not just “available”)
What staffing looks like on the day
How pricing works from booking through final payment
What changes — and what doesn’t — after you contract

Transparency early is a strong indicator of how smoothly the rest of the process will go.

“All-Inclusive” Only Matters If It’s Clearly Defined

Many venues use the term all-inclusive, but definitions vary widely.

When comparing venues you can’t visit easily, ask yourself:

Are vendors merely recommended, or truly included?
Is catering (the food), bar, DJ, photography all included?
Who coordinates those vendors on the wedding day?
Is design support part of the experience, or an add-on?
Who handles setup, breakdown, and cleanup?

A truly all-inclusive venue removes guesswork — especially important when you’re planning from afar and can’t be onsite to troubleshoot.

Evaluate the Process, Not Just the Property

Out-of-state couples benefit most from venues with strong systems, not just scenic views.

Look for venues that offer:

Online estimates or pricing tools
Digital contracts and payments
Centralized communication
A defined planning process from booking to wedding day

When everything lives in one place, planning remotely feels organized instead of overwhelming.

A beautiful venue without a clear process often creates unnecessary stress — particularly for couples coordinating everything from a distance.

Ask These Questions Before You Schedule a Tour

To narrow your list efficiently, ask these questions before traveling:

What is included in the base price?
How many weddings do you host per day/weekend?
Who is our primary point of contact?
How are vendors coordinated on the wedding day?
How does planning work for out-of-state couples?
Are contracts, invoices, and payments handled digitally

The answers will quickly reveal which venues are built for destination planning — and which are not.

Fewer Tours. Better Decisions.

When you’re planning from out of state, the goal isn’t to see every venue. It’s to see the right one.

Choosing a venue with clear pricing, defined inclusions, and a proven planning process allows you to move forward confidently — without second-guessing or unnecessary trips.

Planning a Destination Wedding in Tennessee?

At Beau Cheval in Wartrace, we specialize in helping couples plan seamlessly from out of state through a truly all-inclusive experience, clear systems, and thoughtful guidance from start to finish.

Explore Our Destination Wedding Experience