6 Myths About Country Club Weddings

Planning your wedding is one of the most exciting periods in your life. While family and friends will offer advice, you might still have questions clouding your judgment. One of the most challenging choices is where to host the reception.

If you’re considering local venues, you’ll want to review the six most common myths surrounding country club weddings because uncertainty can throw a wrench into planning.

Most brides assume they need to be a member of the country club to use it as a wedding venue. This myth is partially rooted in fact because some clubs require membership. However, this is not always the case. You should speak to the wedding coordinator for the venue directly to get a final answer.

Since requirements vary between clubs, it’s best to contact a few different locations for pricing, guidelines and requirements.

Most country clubs are massive and designed to accommodate hundreds of guests. Yet, this shouldn’t deter you from having a small reception. Most locations have several rooms to choose between, which will accommodate a wide range of sizes. To eliminate this issue, make a guest list early on to nail down a general idea of how many people should be coming to the ceremony.

Many bridal parties question whether they’ll be able to customize the reception. People fear that having an assigned wedding planner will limit their options for the event. A country club will have to follow standard rules and restrictions, but that will be the case with any venue. While pre-made wedding packages may have set decorations, it doesn’t mean you’ll need to stick to their design. Most country clubs help you customize the reception to fit your needs.

When you consider other venues, you’ll have fewer options for catering — it’s rare to find an all-inclusive location that offers a range of dining cuisines and experiences. At a country club, you can have fine dining and pizza all from one trusted kitchen.

A country club is a business, and even with your wedding taking place, they’ll likely still entertain guests in other parts of the property. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll feel locked away in one corner of the building. You and your guests will have full access to whatever areas of the club you book in advance.

Weddings are expensive.

In 2019, the average wedding cost $33,900 for the ceremony, reception and physical goods such as the ring and wedding dress. With this number in mind, country club pricing is on-trend or potentially lower than the average. Prices vary based on the location, the number of guests and amenities.

If you’ve been dreaming of a June wedding, you’ll need to reserve the date as early as possible. Bookings fill quickly during peak season regardless of your venue.  If the date is a deal-breaker, you should address this concern up-front before touring the property or working out details.

Now that you know the truth behind these six prevalent country club myths, you’re ready to make a venue decision. To combat uncertainty, you can make a spreadsheet to weigh the pros and cons of each option. Ultimately you need to do what works best for you and your soon-to-be spouse.