Reading a Venue Before the Big Day

A site visit a few weeks out saves more stress than any amount of Pinterest boards. Walk it at the actual hour of the ceremony — light moves fast, and a beautiful room at 3pm can be unusable by 6.

Note where the sun sets relative to the altar, where guests will cast shadows, and whether the reception space has a wall plain enough for portraits later. Venues rarely volunteer this information; you have to go looking.