Lindsay & August got married on a beautiful day in June! Although the couple isn’t from Brookings, it did hold a special place in their hearts. They wanted to host their wedding in Brookings, South Dakota after meeting at the well-known downtown establishment – Rays Corner, while attending South Dakota State University. Lindsay and August, thorough in their wedding planning, opted for a longer engagement and wanted to ensure everything was well planned for their special day. After booking Hitch Studio, their wedding planner and decorator, the wedding venue was one of the other first things they booked for their day! They knew they would have a large guest list, so finding a venue that would accommodate large numbers was critical for them.
The wedding day began at The White Frame, downtown Brookings, where the girls gathered to get their hair and make-up done, relax and fully prepare for the full day ahead. They had ample space, natural light, elegant décor, lounge furniture and a cozy ambiance! The bride had a first look with her dad right outside, with scenic downtown buildings in the background.
Next, they headed to McCrory Gardens for the first look and photos with the talented Erica Lynn Photography and Luke Larsen Films. Thankfully, the rain held off and the garden’s created the perfect backdrop for outdoor pictures. Erica + Luke did a beautiful job of capturing photos and video, making everyone laugh and keeping the large wedding party, family members and a total of five flower girls + ring bearers on task!
After the ceremony at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings, the couple to greeted everyone in the large foyer! Guests headed to social hour in the Arena at the Dacotah Event Center (formerly Swiftel Center). Upon entering, they were able to take photos at a photo area and kids helped themselves to coloring sheets and crayons, to keep them busy during social hour. The venue is truly all-inclusive with onsite catering and bar, a designated Event Manager, security, set up and tear down of equipment, linens, napkins, glass and tableware, with multiple staging and lighting options. The Arena is a flexible space that allows for a large or small guest count, while still making the space feel intimate with the bistro lights hanging above.
Tables were decorated in blush, terracotta and neutrals by Hitch Studio with a rustic and boho style!
Selecting the venue for your wedding is a significant decision to be made in the planning process. The venue is the setting where all the memories will be made on this special day! You’ll encounter many decisions throughout the planning, and it can feel overwhelming at times. Before selecting a venue, it’s important to consider your budget, number of guests, venue amenities, travel and accommodations for guests, weather contingency and the overall style and vision of the wedding.
Read more here on how to choose the perfect wedding venue!
Helpful tips for deciding on a wedding venue
- Visit multiple venues
When it comes time to start looking into venues, don’t feel limited. Gather information on as many venues as you can. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it will be beneficial to have those important questions answered like guest list, budget, location, and style, before touring venues. Getting to see a venue in person will help assess the physical space and get a feel for the ambiance! Be sure to ask trustworthy friends or family to come along so you have someone to help you compare and think of questions you may not think of – plus, it’s more fun with you have a fiancé or friend with you! - Ask a lot of questions
Don’t be afraid to ask ALL the questions! This can be unfamiliar if you’ve never planned a wedding or been a part of a family or friend’s wedding. I highly recommend purchasing a Wedding Day Designer which has pages of questions to ask ALL wedding vendors! Another recommendation is reviewing venue websites; most will have a page of frequently asked questions. Otherwise, your trusted “I do crew” is another great resource when it comes to questions to ask. - Trust your instinct
You may be faced with hard decisions when it comes to the final decision. Remember to trust that gut feeling! It’s easy to get caught up in all the “what if” questions and considerations but always come back to what is important to you, your fiancé and what venue resonated and aligns most with the vision of your wedding!
Happy wedding venue hunting! When you’re ready to decide on wedding decor, Hitch Studio has you covered with our decor collection.
Things to consider when booking your vendors; we’ve put together checklists of questions to ask in our Wedding Day Designer!
Below are sneak peeks at these questions:
Questions to Ask Your Your Ceremony Venue
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Makeup and Hair Stylists
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Decorator
Questions to Ask Your Musician/DJ
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Caterer
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Florist
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Bar Tender