Gwinnett Wedding Venue Tour (Part 1)

Hi everyone!  I'm too excited about today's blog post.  I was recently invited to tour some of Gwinnett County's best wedding venues.  The tour was exclusive to event planners and sponsored by the Gwinnett County Convention and Visitors Bureau.  We toured a total of 7 venues, and I have great pictures and information to share with you below.

 Hudgens Center for the Arts 

Located on Sugarloaf Parkway, this venue is truly a hidden gem.  There is an outdoor and  indoor space for wedding ceremonies and receptions. My favorite part of the venue is the beautiful sculpture garden.

Payne-Corley House

The Payne Corley House was simply breathtaking.  It's definitely for the bride who craves elegance in an  intimate setting.  In addition to ceremony and reception space, Park Cafe restaurant is onsite and can be rented for smaller ceremonies or bridal showers and rehearsal dinners.  

550 Trackside

The next venue, 550 Trackside, is a historic building that has been fully restored and now serves as a rental venue.  It's filled with lots of intricate details and designs imported from various cities around the world.  I loved the warm colors and airy ambience.

Sugarloaf Country Club

For our next stop we were whisked away to the beautiful grounds of the Sugarloaf Country Club.  The ceremony space is perfect for the bride who wants to marry near water with a picturesque view!  In addition to a tour, we enjoyed lunch in the grand ballroom.  The butternut squash soup with caramelized apples was delish!

 So, did you enjoy this virtual tour of venues?  See any that you would like to check out?  Let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for part 2 of the tour.

Happy Planning!

Raven J.

5 Tips for Selecting a Great Venue

Selecting your wedding or event venue is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your special event.  There are lots of things to consider such as the obvious: location, the number of people the venue can hold, and of course whether you find the venue aesthetically pleasing.  I  would like to share a few things that I think are often overlooked, and that you should keep in mind when choosing your venue.

1. Space- There should be enough space for eating, drinking and dancing.  Be sure that there is a dedicated area for the cocktail hour, dance floor, and that the venue will still be roomy enough once the room is filled with tables and chairs.

2.  Catering- Some venues will have an in-house caterer or a preferred caterer list.  This may sound very convenient at first, but be sure that you will be comfortable with using their caterer before signing the contract.

3.  Decor Limitations-  Always ask about decorations.  Venues often have rules regarding what can be hung from the wall or ceiling, using rose petals, and sparklers, just to name a few.  You want to make sure that your selected venue will accommodate your event design or at least know up front what you may have to compromise on.

4.  Wheelchair Accessibility-  Is the building wheelchair accessible?  Are their lots of stairs to climb?  Will the guests be able to utilize elevators?  

5. Parking- Yep, no one wants to search for a park on your big day. So please make sure that there is ample parking to accommodate your guests.  Also be sure to find out if parking is free, if the guests will have to pay, or if valet parking is available.

Happy Planning!

Raven J.