Pick the Place, Set the Feeling: An Event Pro Explains How Venue Choice Shapes a Wedding

How the venue becomes the first sentence of a wedding story

Where you hold a wedding does more than decide the floor plan. It signals tone, raises expectations and shapes how guests feel from the moment they arrive. In a recent HelloNation feature shared via a PR release, event planner Jenny Lashuay of BGR Event says venue choice is the fastest, clearest way couples can shape the atmosphere they want for their day.

Lashuay’s point is simple: the building or outdoor space speaks before the couple does. A barn suggests something relaxed and cozy. A gilded ballroom screams formality. A rooftop hints at a skyline party. The HelloNation piece and the accompanying PR release use these contrasts to show how a single decision—where to sign the contract—changes everything else that follows.

Meet Jenny Lashuay of BGR Event: the planner behind the advice

Jenny Lashuay runs BGR Event and works with couples to turn big ideas into real days. She plans details that most guests never notice until they matter: the way a room feels when people walk in, where light falls on faces at sunset, or how a dance floor opens up after dinner.

Her experience comes from years of building weddings in different settings. That hands-on work gives her a clear lens: some choices affect mood instantly, others only show up later when logistics go wrong. That’s why Lashuay emphasizes venue type early in planning. It’s the fast lever that changes the guest experience without needing weeks of design work.

How barns, ballrooms and rooftops each send a different message to guests

Barns: A barn sets a friendly, homey tone. Wooden beams, warm light and open space tell guests this will be a casual, intimate night. Lashuay says barns often invite relaxed attire and conversations that linger late into the evening. They work well when couples want a personal, craft-oriented vibe—think long tables, string lights and a focus on comfort.

Ballrooms: A ballroom signals elegance and structure. High ceilings, chandeliers and a polished floor create a sense of ceremony. Guests arrive with the idea that this is an occasion worth dressing up for. Lashuay notes that ballrooms make it easy to plan formal moments—their sightlines and acoustics often support speeches, first dances and staged entrances.

Gardens and outdoor lawns: Gardens suggest romance and openness. Natural light and greenery soften everything. Outside spaces can feel whimsical or refined depending on decor, but they always read as more relaxed than a ballroom and more intentional than a generic hotel event room. Lashuay points out that gardens reward small, thoughtful details like paths of candles or low floral clusters that blend with the landscape.

Industrial lofts and warehouses: When a couple wants a modern, edgy feel, an industrial loft does the job. Exposed brick, concrete floors and raw fixtures give a backdrop that asks for contemporary music, bold food choices and less formal seating. Lashuay says lofts work well for couples who want their personalities to stand out against a minimalist stage.

Hotels and ballrooms hybrid: Hotels offer convenience—onsite rooms, built-in staff and predictable weather plans. That predictability communicates reliability. Lashuay observes that hotels can be adapted to many moods, but their default message leans practical and polished, which many couples appreciate for older or out-of-town guests.

Common venue considerations couples mention when shaping the mood

Couples repeatedly raise a few practical points that also affect tone: how many people the space fits, whether sound carries for speeches and dancing, how lighting looks at different hours, and basic logistics like parking and restrooms. Lashuay describes these as the checkboxes that either support the mood a couple wants or quietly undermine it if overlooked.

Where this guidance appeared and what Lashuay wants couples to remember

The observations come from a HelloNation feature shared through a PR Newswire announcement. In that coverage, Lashuay summed up her view plainly: the venue is the single fastest way to set the day’s emotional script. Choose a place that already feels like the story you want to tell, and much of the rest falls into place.

If you want to read the full HelloNation piece or learn more about planning from BGR Event, the coverage appears through HelloNation’s story and the PR announcement that accompanied it. Lashuay’s comments are aimed at helping couples think about what feels true to them, rather than offering one right answer for everyone.

Sources

• prnewswire.com