This post was written by guest author Alex Berger as part of a promotional package.

When Ian and I got engaged, the first thing I thought about was our venue and our decor. Where would we get married? What kind of decor would we have? Would everyone like it? Now, we have been married for about four years and I can look back and tell you that a lot of my thoughts revolved about what people thought, instead of what we wanted.

We had the perfect wedding – honestly, but I probably would have changed a few things if I would have paid more attention to our likes and preferences compared to doing things for our guests. Because of this, I am now a huge advocate of incorporating your passions (as a couple) into your wedding and also finding a wedding venue that will support this idea.

I have helped quite a few of my friends search for wedding venues in the past four years since I got married and I have come across great venues that are so supporting and so great to work with and I have also come across not so great venues, as well. The reason your venue is so very important is because it will set the tone for your entire wedding day and also, they have the final say when it comes to what you can bring in for decorations, vendors, and more. You want a place that like I said, will support you and cheer you on throughout the process.

One venue that I toured with a friend of mine that stuck out to me was Jeter Mountain Farm. Located in Hendersonville, Jeter Mountain Farm has hosted hundreds of memorable weddings in North Carolina. It is not only beautiful with its rolling hills and fields, but the reason why I loved it so much is because of the fact that the owners at Jeter Mountain Farm are flexible and know that your wedding day is meant to be special.

They say that they thrive on open communication and a stress-free process, which will let you focus on enjoying yourself throughout the entire wedding planning process and on the day of the wedding. You can see in the picture that Jeter Mountain Farm allows couples to bring in wedding decorations that really suit the couple. This couple apparently loves to travel – such a neat idea!

Jeter Mountain Farm is flexible and open: this is your day and they are there to help you make it special and unique. In fact, the family-owned and operated farm was established in 2005 by the Hunsader family while they planned their own wedding on the farm.

They say, “We’ve just ended our fourth successful season of weddings at Jeter Mountain Farm, and we can both tell you we would not have our lives any other way. Zach and I are continually blessed with amazing couples and families, that choose to have one of their lives’ biggest days here on the farm. We count ourselves very fortunate each and every day in how God continues to provide a living for us at the same place we call home. So as the winter projects come out, and we prepare for another season, know that this couple is here to make your big day exactly how you dreamed it. We look forward to being your host whether it’s for your first time out, or for the weekend of your long awaited day. Our prayer is that each and every couple would go on the have long blessed marriages, and remember every moment they spent here with a smile!”

A lot of venues are not as flexible as Jeter Mountain Farm, so when you are choosing a venue, make sure they will allow you to bring in special decor options, such as books to use as wedding decorations. When it comes down to it, this is your special day and you should not be required to have a cookie cutter wedding.

I know most of you reading this love books, so I wanted to give you a few examples of how to use books as useable wedding decorations:

• For your ceremony, stack books down both sides of the aisle with candles on top of them. This will make for a romantic setting, but it will also add a touch of personality to your ceremony.
• If you love old vintage books, you could find many at thrift stores and paste your wedding program to the front of the books.
• Double the stacks of books that you used for your ceremony as cocktail hour decor, or reception decor.
• Search book DIY crafts and get creative with your wedding decor.
• Books are another great option for table numbers and/or centerpieces for your reception!

My point of this is to make sure that you are making your wedding day your own. This is not just limited to book lovers – if you love video games or plants (example below), make sure you choose a venue that will accommodate your preferences and do not worry about what others think!