We recently got asked this very tricky question by a bride-to-be—is it okay to have your ceremony, reception or even just your rehearsal dinner in the same location where a friend had her celebration?
Is reusing a friend’s venue bad form? Or are there any circumstances in which a bride can safely have her wedding at the same location? What are the limits of friendship and location scouting?
Does the idea of reusing a friend’s wedding location make you want to rant or rave?
Tags: location, Rant or Rave, venue
I wouldn’t mind using the same type of venue but I wouldn’t want to use exactly the same one that someone had already used.
Re-using a venue is fine. But if you copy the theme and colors…then that is a problem to rant about.
It’s been kind of a traditonal among my faimly members to have our receptions at the same place. My mom’s wedding and reception were held there, so were my sister’s. I had my ceremony somewhere else, but the reception was there, and my step-sister is having her reception there too. The great part about it is everyone invited already knows where it is!
The key is to make sure it’s decorated differently every time (different colors, style, theme, even time of year), so it never feels like a “rerun” of the same reception. When you live in a small town and are on a small budget, your options are limited as far as venue choices go, so it’s really not a big deal to use the same hall.
I would definitely draw the line at using the same colors as someone else did if you are using the same venue.
I think it’s fine if your reasoning is because there are no other venues suitable for you on that date other than the one your friend used. And, if she’s a really great friend, hopefully, you’ll have run your idea by her and she’ll understand.