How To Select The Right Airbnb Or Vrbo For Your Dream Wedding Venue

What should you look for in an Airbnb/Vrbo if you’re planning to host your wedding?

No one wants a generic cookie-cutter wedding, so brides are increasingly opting for unique venues where their Pinterest mood boards can come to life. Airbnb and Vrbo offer countless exotic and stunning properties around the world that can be rented so that you and your beloved can tie the knot in style. But before you go on a real estate shopping spree, be sure to set your date, budget, and destination. Once you’ve determined these, you can decide on a theme and begin hunting for properties that match the vibe.

Additionally, your choice of wedding venue can also help in providing natural backdrops of mountains, lakes, and beaches that no indoor venue can offer. Instead of spending thousands on decor, couples can pay for a memorable experience when booking a vacation rental. Many of the large properties also offer wedding guests various activities, such as kayaking, animal petting, and even sunset boat rides.

Finding a wedding is hard work that includes making plenty of decisions about themes, budgets, packages, and more. But let us make it easier by helping you pick the perfect Airbnb/Vrbo wedding venue based on the factors below.

1. Pick your vibe

Before you pick out a venue, you need to decide on a theme. The theme will help lay the framework for the entire wedding, from the venue to the song that you pick for your first dance. You can even create a mood board on Pinterest to get an overall feel of how you want your wedding to turn out. Once you have the vibe decided, you can begin your search for the perfect rental.

Are you looking for a city or a country wedding? Do you want it to be indoors or outdoors? Airbnb and Vrbo have a wide range of unique and exceptional rental options, such as barns, lakeside lodges, and even castles. Once you decide upon a theme, it will be easier to narrow down your search according to the type of property you need. Be sure to check the property descriptions and photos to get a good idea of what you can expect from each location.

For example, a cowboy-themed wedding will be best hosted on a farm that has a party barn, while a Midsummer-themed wedding can take place surrounded by a towering grove of trees on a 100-ac (40.47-ha) estate.

2. Check the guest capacity

Make sure you have at least a rough idea of the number of people you want at your wedding before booking an Airbnb or Vrbo rental. Not all rentals allow events, and they all have a maximum number of guests allowed on the property at any given time. Some venues even limit the number of event attendees to the same number of overnight guests, which works out perfectly for couples planning a micro-wedding.

But when your guest list includes more than 20 people, you’ll need to consider their accommodations as well. If the venue is close to where you live, most of the attendees will be able to travel by private vehicles. However, if you’re thinking of a destination-style weekend getaway, then you will also need to book several nearby properties or hotel rooms in the closest town.

For Airbnb rentals, the number of bedrooms and overnight guest capacity are mentioned right under the photos. Meanwhile, the number of guests allowed for events can be mentioned in the property description or under the “House Rules” section at the bottom of the page. Vrbo lists the number of overnight guests under the “About this rental” heading, while additional details regarding the event can be found under “House Rules” toward the end of the listing. These are critical details when it comes to booking a wedding venue, so be sure to check them out!

3. Set yourself a budget

It’s natural to want to splurge for your special day. That’s why it’s pertinent to set a budget and stick to it. Once you have a budget in mind, you’ll need to look at how much you want to allocate for the venue, which will take up a big chunk. After that, you’ll need to put money aside for catering, decor, photography, flowers, cake, invites, and, of course, your dress. Because of this, a DIY wedding can be a smart choice for brides looking to save money.

Having a smaller wedding with select guests is another way to save costs and help you filter out venues. Couples should also look for venues that come with additional features, such as a gazebo, a barn, or even a permanent tent to bring down the cost of individual vendors. You can find these in the property descriptions on the Airbnb and Vrbo platforms.

Furthermore, be sure to play around with the check-in and checkout date features, as the booking prices can vary depending on when your affair is and how many guests you invite. You may also find some discounts if you plan to extend your wedding weekend to an entire week.

4. Look out for services and packages

So, now that you’ve narrowed down your venue list to your final favorites, compare the wedding packages and services that each property offers. Some of the rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo are experienced wedding venues that offer a one-stop solution. These places offer wedding packages that can take care of everything from the decor to the catering in-house and include accommodations for a certain number of guests. You can usually find this type of information in the property descriptions or “House Rules” sections on Airbnb or Vrbo.

Then, there are rentals that charge a venue fee in addition to the booking amount charged on the rental platform. The venue fees can include tables and chairs, linens, and the use of additional spaces on the property, such as restrooms, a dance floor, or a renovated party barn. Finally, there are properties that simply charge a small venue fee along with the booking charges but do not provide any complimentary services. The host may even be able to recommend vendors that have catered to weddings on-site before. However, you should also clarify if the owner will allow third-party vendors on the premises.

If a package or any wedding-related service is mentioned, make sure to email the host and get the details in writing. This will make it easier when you’re booking vendors or planning events.

5. Make a note of the features and amenities

Make sure that the property you pick not only matches your theme but can also adequately host the number of guests you have in mind. If you have members in your wedding party who require wheelchair assistance, you will also have to double-check the venue’s accessibility. In this case, it will be important to either have bedrooms on the lower level for elderly guests or elevators to make it easy for them to reach the upper levels.

If a majority of your invitees will be driving to the venue, make sure that there is ample parking on the property or plenty of off-street parking. Depending on the parking situation, you might need to hire a shuttle to transport guests to and from the venue. This will also need to be budgeted for.

Additionally, while outdoor weddings can be dreamy and whimsical, they are also dependent on nature’s temperament. Just in case the weather gods decide to get moody on your big day, make sure you have a backup option in your venue. This could be a covered deck overlooking the property grounds or even a double-height living room with a statement stone fireplace.

A surefire way to determine this information is by reading through the property descriptions. If you’re booking an Airbnb, be sure to check out the “Things to know” section too. Meanwhile, Vrbo often lists this type of information in the “Amenities” or “House Rules” sections.

6. Be mindful of the limitations and restrictions

Weddings can be a stressful affair, and no bride wants to be haggling over noise levels or chaotic parking in the lead-up to one of the most important days of her life. To ensure that there are no hiccups on your wedding day, make sure to have your wedding plan approved prior to booking a property. This includes going over something as simple as additional charges for last-minute overnight guests to any noise restrictions that the property might observe.

You can usually find such rules in the “House Rules” sections of Airbnb and Vrbo, but you can also contact the owner. Get everything in writing from the host, and if there is an event contract, ensure that it includes all the permissions you need.

Plan a personalized wedding when you book through Airbnb or Vrbo

Plan a customized wedding celebrating your love when you book unique venues on Airbnb or Vrbo. It might take some time, but you’re sure to find a property to suit every budget and requirement. Make sure to follow these steps and you will learn how to choose an Airbnb or Vrbo wedding venue perfect for you.