Start with the feeling, not the floor plan
Tour two or three venues that represent different feelings. A downtown space, a hotel ballroom, a countryside property. You'll know within ten minutes which direction your day belongs in. Floor plans are easy to reason about. Atmosphere isn't.
Match capacity to your real guest list
Most couples overshoot capacity by 30%. A venue that fits 200 will look empty with 90. Ask each venue what your specific guest count actually feels like in the space. And look at photos from weddings that size.
Ask about the weather backup
In eastern Nebraska you can have an 80-degree June day and a thunderstorm at 4pm. A venue's weather plan tells you a lot about how the team operates.
Get the written quote, not the brochure
A starting price is not a price. Ask for a written quote based on your date and guest count. Compare on what's actually included, not what looks included.
Tour with the people who'll host you
The energy on the tour is the energy on the day. If the tour feels transactional, that's your answer.