Top Two Priorities When choosing a wedding venue

1. Find a venue that fits your style/vision

The top two priorities when planning a wedding are your venue location and photographer. Secure these first as they can book out 1-2 years in advance. Look for a venue that will suit the theme of your wedding. Barns are a great choice for casual country or western weddings, while some hotels offer glamorous reception rooms for a formal wedding. The venue you choose will have a large impact on the overall feel of your images. Here are some great places to start:

Custer State Game Lodge Event Barn
The Barn at Aspen Acres
Elkhorn Ridge Resort
The Farmhouse Barn

2.Natural Light is a top priority!

Natural light is a photographer’s best friend! Because of this, we suggest choosing a venue that has large windows with natural light and neutral walls/ceiling. When light neutral colors are present it allows the light to reflect off the wall and/or celling. This is also helpful when the sun sets and flash is required for your photographer. Take note of what your venue looks like at different times of the day.

If you desire to have the first look, bridal party, and family formals taken outside, keep in mind shade is preferred! This helps eliminate uneven light and squinting. The Custer State Game Lodge is one of my favorite venues for it’s size, variety of ceremony/reception locations, as well as some of the best catering in the Black Hills area! In the family photo below I was able to use the height of the building to provide adequate shade.

All photos in this blog were taken using natural light at the Custer State Game Lodge.