You love the big city feel of New York. But you and most of your family live in Virginia. Your maid of honor works in New Jersey and has some great connections, but are there any good wedding venues there? When you’re looking for an East Coast wedding venue for your big day, these might be some of the things going through your mind. An “East Coast” wedding can be so many different things for different people. Fortunately, we have experience coordinating many different types of weddings across state lines. So, we know a thing or two about how to choose your wedding location and choose the right venue for your wedding style. Here are 7 things to consider when you choose your wedding location, as well as some of our favorite East Coast wedding venues. 

Consider Where You Live 

To have a destination wedding or to not have a destination wedding… that may be your question. And it is a great place to start when choosing an East Coast wedding venue for your big day. One thing to consider when making this decision is how familiar you are with your desired “destination” location. This may determine how much outside help you need from a wedding planner.

Consider Where the Majority of Your Guests are Located

While your wedding day is definitely all about you, it is still important to consider the guest experience. You want your friends and family to have an amazing time leading up to and on your wedding day. If a majority of your wedding guests live in a specific state, you may consider having your wedding there so they don’t have to travel too far to celebrate with you.

If you decide to have a destination wedding that does require a majority of your guests to travel, there are some things you can do to make sure the experience is easy and enjoyable for them. Simple things like having a crystal clear wedding itinerary will make travel plans easier to make ahead of time.  

Consider Travel Accommodations for Older and Out of Town Guests

Another thing to consider when choosing your wedding location is travel accommodations for older and out-of-town guests. If you stay close to home, you may be able to arrange for a family member to pick up Grandma for the wedding or a local hotel to shuttle a majority of your out-of-town guests to your venue. However, if you have a destination wedding, things can get a little trickier. More people will need transportation to and from your wedding venue. Though not impossible to coordinate, it definitely is a lot easier with a wedding planner by your side to smooth out the details and make sure nobody gets left behind.

Consider Significant Places to You and Your Fiancé

When it comes to where you get married, logistics aren’t the only thing to consider. It’s also fun to choose a place that holds significance or special memories to you, your fiancé, or you as a couple. For example, if you are both from New Jersey but got engaged on a beach vacation in Virginia, you may decide a destination beach wedding in the same area is super meaningful to you.

Consider the Weather on the East Coast 

The weather can dictate a lot about your wedding, including the date, the location, and the East Coast wedding venue you choose. For example, unless you want a winter wonderland wedding, avoid getting married in New York anytime between December and March. If you opt for an indoor East Coast wedding venue, you won’t have to worry too much about inclement weather affecting your wedding plans. But for an outdoor East Coast wedding, it’s always important to be prepared for the elements and have a plan B in place just in case. 

Consider the Size of Your Wedding

Once you’ve settled on the location–whether close to home or a destination–it’s time to hone down the venue type. One thing to consider for this is the size of your wedding. Will you follow the 2020 and 2021 micro wedding trend or plan the biggest, best bash of the year? The choice is yours, but it will determine where you can get married. Micro weddings allow for more flexibility and the use of non-traditional wedding venues that can fit 10-30 people. For a larger wedding, more traditional East Coast wedding venues are going to be your best option. 

Consider Where You Will Hire a Wedding Planner

Say, for example, you live in Virginia but a New York City wedding has always been your dream. Will you choose a wedding planner who lives in New York who knows the area but isn’t able to meet with you consistently? Or will you choose a local wedding planner who can be hands-on in your planning process but may not have all the best connections out of state? 

Well, if you’re having an East Coast wedding, we have good news for you: you don’t have to choose! At Antonia Baker Experience, we are local to Virginia and plan New York weddings every year. Our connections are strong, and we can help you find the perfect New York wedding venue and vendors for your destination wedding right from your home state. 

Some of Our Favorite East Coast Wedding Venues

Because we plan weddings in Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and more, you can’t imagine how hard it is to only pick a few of our favorite venues to share with you. However, we wanted to show you an array of options that might fit within your budget, style, and size. 

Indoor Virginia Wedding Venue

The Bellevue Conference and Event Center is the picture-perfect East Coast wedding venue for your luxurious wedding. 

Outdoor Virginia Wedding Venues

Stone Tower Winery is another breathtaking East Coast wedding venue. Rustic charm meets sophisticated elegance perfect for weddings of every size.

Great Marsh Estate offers a gorgeous, enchanting East Coast wedding venue on 121 acres of stunning outdoor scenery and views for the perfect wedding ceremony and reception. 

Indoor Maryland Wedding Venues

Hyatt Place National Harbor is right near the waterfront district. It offers multiple indoor venue options, as well as room blocks for your guests so transportation is not an issue!

For a charming, historic East Coast wedding venue, choose the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington D.C., and you won’t be disappointed. 

Outdoor and Indoor Pennsylvania Wedding Venue

The Mansion at Noble Lane offers six indoor and outdoor wedding venue spaces that are perfect for a classic wedding. If Pennsylvania is the perfect wedding destination for you, this may be the perfect place to say “I do!”
Looking for a different venue in a different state, let us know! We have so many amazing, breathtaking, gorgeous venues where we love to plan the most perfect weddings. Who knows, maybe yours will be next!