How to Choose a Wedding Venue With Photography in Mind

Choosing your wedding venue is one of the biggest decisions you'll make while planning your wedding.

Obviously, you want somewhere that fits your style, your guest count, your budget, and the overall feeling you want for your day.

But there's one thing couples don't always think about when touring venues:

How is this venue going to photograph?

As a Minnesota wedding photographer, I've photographed weddings in all kinds of spaces—from barns and outdoor venues to churches, reception halls, and everything in between.

And I've learned that you definitely don't need the most expensive venue to have incredible wedding photos.

Sometimes a gorgeous barn surrounded by open fields gives me more to work with than a venue costing twice as much.

So when you're touring Minnesota wedding venues, here are some things I'd pay attention to from a photography perspective.

Look at the Getting-Ready Spaces

Your getting-ready space is going to be in quite a few photographs, especially if you're having full-day wedding coverage.

When you're touring a venue, actually walk into the bridal suite and look around.

Is there natural light?

Are there windows?

Is there enough room for you, your wedding party, your photographer, your hair and makeup team, and everyone's belongings?

And here's something people don't always think about:

What does the room look like?

A beautiful, bright getting-ready space can make a HUGE difference in your photographs.

That doesn't mean everything has to be white and perfect. I love character! Give me wood walls, beautiful furniture, mirrors, interesting architecture, or a cozy bridal suite.

What gets difficult is a tiny, dark room with no windows and ten people packed inside.

If photography is important to you, the getting-ready spaces are absolutely worth looking at before booking your venue.

Pay Attention to Natural Light

Photographers can work with all kinds of lighting situations—and we bring our own lighting when we need it.

But beautiful natural light gives us so many options.

Look for large windows, glass doors, open barn doors, covered patios, and other areas where natural light can come into the venue.

This is especially helpful for getting-ready photos, first looks, family photographs, and portraits.

And if you're planning an indoor ceremony, take a look at the ceremony space during approximately the same time of day that you plan to get married.

A room can look completely different at 11 AM than it does at 5 PM.

Walk Outside!

This is probably one of the biggest things I look for at a wedding venue.

What's around it?

You don't need acres and acres of perfectly landscaped gardens.

Sometimes all I need is a field with tall grass, a tree line, an interesting building, a pretty pathway, or an open area where we can catch the sunset.

This is one of the reasons I love photographing barn weddings in Minnesota so much.

Barn venues often give us SO much variety.

We can create completely different looks around the property without making the couple or wedding party leave the venue.

If you see a pretty field while touring your venue, just know your photographer is probably already imagining you standing in it at sunset. 😂

Find Out Where the Sun Sets

Speaking of sunset...

ASK!

If the venue coordinator knows where the sun sets on the property, that's incredibly helpful.

Better yet, look around outside while you're touring.

Is there somewhere with an unobstructed view of the western sky?

Are there fields?

Trees?

A hill?

A pond?

An open area behind the venue?

Golden-hour portraits are some of my favorite photographs to create on a wedding day.

You don't have to disappear from your reception for an hour, either.

I usually just need a little bit of time with the two of you when the light is right.

Consider Your Ceremony Lighting

If you're planning an outdoor ceremony, think about where the sun will be during your ceremony.

You don't need to understand lighting like a photographer does—that's our job!

But there are a few things worth noticing.

Will one of you be standing in direct sunlight while the other is completely shaded?

Will your guests be staring directly into the sun?

Is there tree cover?

Is the ceremony space shaded?

Again, none of these things automatically make a venue "bad."

They're simply things your photographer may need to plan around.

If you already have your photographer booked when you're choosing ceremony locations or times, ASK THEM.

I'd much rather have a couple send me a photo and say, "Which direction should we face?" than have them worry about it themselves.

Think About Your Backup Plan

This one is especially important for Minnesota weddings because Mother Nature does whatever she wants around here.

You can plan an outdoor ceremony in July and get rain.

You can plan a beautiful October wedding and suddenly it's freezing.

You can get wind, snow, thunderstorms, or an absolutely perfect 72-degree day.

We really never know. 😂

So if a huge reason you're choosing a venue is its beautiful outdoor ceremony space, ask:

What happens if we can't use it?

Look at the backup ceremony location.

Would you still be happy getting married there?

Does it have enough room for your guests?

Does it have decent lighting?

Can it be decorated?

A good rain plan can save you SO much stress during the week of your wedding.

Remember That Minnesota Winter Weddings Get Dark EARLY

If you're planning a late fall or winter wedding, this is a big one.

Minnesota daylight changes dramatically throughout the year.

A 5 PM ceremony during the summer can still leave us with hours of daylight.

A 5 PM ceremony in December?

We're probably doing most of your outdoor portraits before the ceremony.

That doesn't mean winter weddings can't have beautiful photographs—they absolutely can.

It just means your photography timeline becomes even more important.

If you want outdoor wedding-party photos, family portraits, and couple portraits in natural light, talk with your photographer BEFORE finalizing your ceremony time.

Sometimes moving things around by even an hour can make a huge difference.

Look for Variety, Not Perfection

You do NOT need a venue where every single corner is Instagram-worthy.

I would much rather have several different areas that we can use throughout the day.

Maybe there's a beautiful barn for the reception.

A field for sunset.

A shaded area for family photographs.

A pretty tree line for wedding-party portraits.

A porch for a first look.

And a fun indoor area for photos after dark.

Those options allow us to create a gallery that feels varied instead of taking every photograph against the exact same background.

Don't Forget About Family Photos

Nobody gets overly excited touring a venue and thinking:

"Wow, this would be a fantastic location for Grandma's family photo!" 😂

But hear me out.

Family portraits usually involve gathering quite a few people at once, including grandparents and sometimes family members who have difficulty walking long distances.

Having an easily accessible area with good lighting can make this portion of the day go MUCH more smoothly.

If your dream portrait location requires hiking half a mile into a field, that's great for bride-and-groom portraits.

Grandma probably doesn't need to come with us.

Your Venue Doesn't Have to Be Expensive to Photograph Beautifully

This is probably the biggest thing I want couples to know.

Expensive doesn't automatically mean photogenic.

And rustic doesn't automatically mean inexpensive or basic.

I've photographed weddings where a simple field, beautiful light, and a couple completely in love created photographs I adored.

Your venue should feel like YOU.

If you love elegant ballrooms, choose one.

If you want a barn surrounded by fields, PLEASE choose the barn.

If you want to get married outside with your closest people and celebrate under string lights afterward, do it.

Don't choose your wedding venue because you think it's what a wedding is "supposed" to look like.

Choose somewhere that makes you excited to imagine your wedding happening there.

Your Photographer Can Help Before the Wedding Day

Your photographer doesn't just show up on your wedding day and start taking pictures.

At least, that's not how I approach weddings.

Photography is part of the planning process.

We can help figure out when portraits should happen, where your first look would photograph beautifully, when we should sneak outside for sunset, how much time we need for family photographs, and how to build everything into your timeline without making your entire wedding feel like one giant photoshoot.

Because ultimately, I don't want you spending your wedding day worrying about photography.

I want you enjoying your wedding.

I'll worry about the photographs.

Looking for a Minnesota Wedding Photographer?

Hughes Photo & Video LLC photographs weddings throughout Minnesota and beyond, with both wedding photography and videography available.

My photography style focuses ontrue-to-color editing, natural skin tones, genuine moments, beautiful portraits, and documenting your wedding day as it actually felt.

Whether you're planning a Minnesota barn wedding, an outdoor ceremony, a traditional church wedding, or something completely different, your wedding doesn't need to fit a particular mold.

It just needs to feel like the two of you.

And if you're still searching for the perfect venue, keep the things above in mind—but ultimately, choose somewhere you can picture yourself getting married.

I'll figure out where the good light is. ❤️