Even before you met the groom of your dreams, you probably envisioned what your wedding day would look like - or at least where you'd be saying your vows. Whether you consider yourself to be a traditional, modern, classy, hometown, sophisticated, country or 'anything-goes' bride, there's a venue out there that's perfect for your wedding.

Let's take a look at the many options that are available for ceremonies and/or receptions and decide which venue best matches the one in your dreams.

Outdoor wedding venue options - Outdoor weddings provide a great deal of natural beauty along with a more open and airy feel.

• Consider one of the many Carolina beaches
• Gardens at places such as the Biltmore, Chinqua Penn, or Tryon Palace
• Plantations throughout South Carolina
• Parks both state and local
• Wineries are plentiful from the Yadkin Valley to Hilton Head
• Many scenic barns are a short drive from the city to a more rural setting
• Golf Courses - North Carolina is often referred to as the Golf Capital of the World and South Carolina has over 380 golf courses alone.
• The family backyard or a friend'sestate
• Ponds, lakes and rivers are plentiful in the Carolinas
• A bridge or pier may offer a unique setting
• A Mountaintop wedding could make a memorable occasion
• Theme parks (Water/Amusement/Zoo) - Within the Carolinas, there are 18 to choose from.
• Carolina Lighthouses - Visit www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse to view information on both North and South Carolina lighthouses

Indoor wedding venue options - Indoor weddings protect you and your guests from nature's elements. Also, the venue that you select may provide the desired unique or traditional architectural appeal.

• Church (or other place of worship)
• City building
• Community center
• Conference center
• Retreat center
• Restaurant
• Hotel
• Aquarium
• College
• Museum - Visit http://www.ncmuseums.org/ or http://www.southcarolinamuseums.org/ for a list of Carolina museums
• Courthouse
• Event Centers
• Auditorium

Begin researching the parks, hotels, community centers, lighthouses, etc. in the location that you plan to wed. Though many of the listed venues can be found in most towns and cities - big or small - some may not be an option for you. On the other hand, your area may provide a very unique venue that hasn't been listed. Don't be afraid to be original!

During the venue selection process, there are quite a few questions to ask - both yourself and the venue coordinator.

1. Availability - Is the venue available for the date(s) that you are considering for your wedding? Keep in mind that venues are often reserved up to a year in advance, especially for those during the wedding season - May through October.  Also, remember that other annual celebrations (such as graduation ceremonies and Christmas/New Years parties) will make it more difficult to reserve venues. Therefore, make venue reservations a top priority, because without a venue, you don't have a wedding.

 2. Accommodations - How many people does the venue hold? How many hours is the venue available to you? Is there ample parking? Are there bathrooms readily available? Are there quarters available for the bride/bridesmaids to get ready in? Is there ample lighting, should your festivities continue into the night? Are chairs, tables, tents and dining wear included or do you need to contact a rental company?

 3. Cost - How much have you allotted for your venue rental? What is the cost of the venue rental? What does the initial cost cover or include? What other fees are involved? How much is the deposit and when does it need to be paid? Is there a cost for parking?

 4. Weather - During what season will you be marrying? Will your guests likely be sweating or freezing should you choose to have your wedding outdoors? Will bugs be an issue? Will heaters, air conditioning or fans be available?

 5. Reception Details - Will you be having your reception at the same venue as your ceremony? If not, consider the distance and difficulty of the directions that you and your guests will have to travel. Does the venue require you to use their food services or a particular caterer, or can you bring your choice of food onto the premise? Is there a cake cutting charge? Does the venue provide an event coordinator and do they allow for you to bring your own? Will they take care of the cleanup? If you are planning to have alcohol, do they have any restrictions?

 When contacting the venues, don't hesitate to ask any and all questions that come to mind.  Since renting your venue will probably be one of the most expensive aspects of your wedding you deserve to be well informed. Then, once you've considered the pros and cons and have asked all of the right questions, you should be able to narrow down your venue choice to find the perfect wedding site!