Historic wedding venues have a charm all their own: timeless architecture, intricate details, and a sense of history that modern spaces often can't replicate. Today, more couples than ever are drawn to these spaces, inspired by the romance of shows like Bridgerton and the escapism of their favorite romantasy novels (hello, Velaris darling but also Spring Court). The allure is in stepping into a setting that feels cinematic, elegant, and full of story — all so very perfect for capturing those unforgettable wedding moments.

For couples who love character, photo opps, and a story behind the walls, these venues are irresistible. But before you fall in love too much yet, there are a few things to consider to make sure the day runs smoothly and that the modern reality matches your romantic vision.

Why Couples Love Historic Venues

From sweeping staircases to ornate moldings, historic venues offer a timeless aesthetic with instant drama and elegance. Every corner tells a story, giving your wedding photos a rich setting for your modern-day love story. Architecture, furniture, and original features often mean less need for extra decor or rentals, providing built-in charm.

We also appreciate the sense of occasion these spaces evoke – reminiscent of grand balls and masquerades – without suggesting the past was perfect. Period dramas amplify this feeling, letting us imagine a world of romance and beauty. A wedding can be a gentle, real-life fantasy for a day, offering a brief respite from a heavy world and a space to celebrate hope, love, and joy, even amidst difficult times.

Key Questions to Ask Before Booking

So with the love of historic venues firmly planted, what are some important things to know and ask before you book your dream historic venue? Consider these questions when scheduling your venue visits.

1. What is Included in the Venue Rental?

➤ Furniture, tables, and chairs?
➤ Getting ready rooms?
➤ All-inclusive or just the property rental?
➤ Overnight accommodations for the couple and/or guests?
➤ Audio/visual equipment?

2. Are There Any Restrictions?

➤ Noise limits, curfews, or alcohol rules?
➤ Open flame, candlelit table decor, or fireworks restrictions?
➤ On-site kitchen or catering restrictions?
➤ Portable toilet trailers required due to historic plumbing?
➤ Decor limitations to protect historic elements?

3. What is the Maximum Guest Capacity?

➤ Can the space comfortably hold your guest list?
➤ Are there separate event rooms or spaces for ceremony and reception?
➤ What are the restroom facilities available for your guest count?

4. Is There On-Site Staff or Coordination?

➤ Who is your venue coordinator? Will it be the same person on the day-of?
➤ Are there preferred vendors or caterers?

5. What is the Cancellation and Insurance Policy?

➤ Are there stricter or more specific policies due to preservation rules?
➤ How much do I need in property liability insurance if any?

6. Accessibility and Parking

➤ Are entrances and restrooms accessible to guests with mobility challenges?
➤ Is parking adequate or will shuttles be needed?

7. Photography Permissions

➤ Is your photographer allowed to use tripods, drones, or have access to certain areas?
➤ Are there any restrictions to special lighting setups? Can flash photography be used?

8. Budget Considerations

➤ Are there any hidden costs like security deposits, cleaning fees, or restoration contributions?
➤ If it is a church or religious-operated venue, are there any special donations required?

Tips for Planning a Wedding at an Historic Venue

• Embrace the architecture: Let the space guide your theme, design, and decor choices. That's why you're booking a historic venue after all!

• Visit at the right time: Check lighting, flow, and logistics in person if possible. Some historic venues can be quite dark, so make sure you're happy with what you'd experience on the big day.

• Ask about backup plans: Some older venues may have quirks that require flexibility. Some may allow tented events on the lawns, some may not. Knowing your options is key here.

Historic venues offer a wedding day experience that feels rich, intentional, and unforgettable. By asking the right questions and planning thoughtfully, you can ensure your celebration honors both the space and your vision.



Love these photos? See the full pastel garden wedding inspiration at the historic Virginia House here on Tidewater and Tulle!

VENDOR CREDITS
Photography: Jacob and Brielle Photography | Venue: The Virginia House | Planning & Design: Amber Justine Events | Florals: Aster & Bee Florals | Mobile Bar: Sipping Southern | Rentals & Linens: Big Top Entertainment | Specialty Rentals: Magnolia Street Rentals & Rusty Cottage | Signage & Place Cards: Brush & Bliss | Makeup: Jordan Simpson Makeup Artistry | Hair: Citrine Bride | Stationery: Tiger Lily Invitations | Wedding Dress: Morilee from Virginia's Daughter Bridal Boutique | Cake: Wild Flower Bakery | Macarons: Molina Macarons | Earrings: Night & Daye Studio | Models: Alexine and Jacob

Editor's Note: Specially curated by us, the above product links are partner-connected and purchasing through these links means we get a small commission from those brands that helps support this website. You can find our full affiliate disclosure policy here on Tidewater and Tulle.

If you’re dreaming about adding personal touches to your DIY wedding, you’ve probably wondered: Is a Cricut actually worth it for a wedding, or is it just another expensive craft gadget?

Right now, Cricut machines are everywhere in wedding DIY circles. We see it especially on the hundreds of social media reels from excited brides and soonlyweds sharing their makes!

From intricate paper invitations to massive welcome signs, it's a gorgeously effective machine for wedding crafting. But it's real talk time, dear readers. Not every project you see online is realistic, necessary, or even enjoyable to make yourself. Context is everything here!

After more than a decade publishing wedding DIY tutorials, making Cricut projects firsthand, and literally writing the book on Cricut wedding ideas, here's an honest breakdown of what a Cricut is genuinely good for, what most couples underestimate, and how to decide if it makes sense for your wedding. At the end of the day, crafting for your celebration should bring you joy, not stress. We passionately stand by that sentiment!

So, Is a Cricut Worth It for a Wedding?

It depends. A Cricut can be amazing for some couples and not as useful for others. This is really a personal question to ask yourself, because everyone's wedding style, timeline, and crafting comfort level is different.

Purchasing a Cricut machine can be absolutely worth it if:
➤ You enjoy hands-on crafting
➤ You're planning several DIY projects
➤ You have a little time to learn before your wedding crunch
➤ You value customization over convenience

It’s probably not worth it if:
➤ You’re already overwhelmed
➤ You plan to DIY only one or two items
➤ You’re expecting it to save you money automatically
➤ You dislike repetitive, detail-oriented work (like making favors or intricate projects like an all-vinyl seating chart!)

So if you've decided that a Cricut is potentially worth it for you, welcome to the club and read on! You'll now need to understand what a Cricut does well and what it doesn’t for weddings.

What a Cricut Is Really Good at for Weddings

A doable, beginner-friendly Cricut wedding DIY project best shines when it can be duplicated easily for bulk makes or simple to personalize. Most things you'll make for your big day are practical in nature rather than crafting for craft's sake. So here are some examples where a Cricut truly earns its keep.

Paper Goods

Cricut machines are excellent for cutting and writing on paper materials, especially when you want font and cut consistency. There's a reason that cardstock is the confirmed #1 material cut on a Cricut machine every year! It's an accessible and very affordable material that can be found no matter where you are in the world.

Realistic and popular wedding papercraft DIYs include:
• Place or escort cards
• Table numbers
• Invitations and insert cards
• Envelope addressing
• Ceremony programs
• Favor boxes
• Menu cards

These projects can be time-consuming because you're making these in bulk, but they're very achievable for all skill levels. Papercraft is one of our personal favorites!

Vinyl Signage

Hands down, wedding signage is one of the most popular Cricut-made wedding projects, and for good reason. Adhesive vinyl lettering offers an effortlessly polished look and sign consistency across the entire day or weekend of events. It instantly looks professional without a lot of fuss.

Signs to consider you might need and/or can make with a Cricut:
• Welcome signs
• Bar menus
• Unplugged ceremony signs
• Card & gift signs
• Seating charts or table plans
• Sweetheart chair signs
• In Loving Memory signs
• Reserved signs

For these types of signs, removable and permanent adhesive vinyl are basically the same in action. Find the specific color you need for your project or the one you’ve found on sale – any will do for wedding signage!

Iron-On Designs

Iron-on (or heat transfer vinyl or HTV) is another Cricut favorite as it's perfect for adding a personal touch to fabric items for your wedding day. From wedding party tees to tote bags, napkins, and even custom handkerchiefs, HTV lets you bring a cohesive look to everything your guests might see (or wear!) without sourcing factory-made things.

Ideas for HTV projects:
• Bachelorette party t-shirts
• Personalized tote bags for favors or welcome gifts
• Napkins or handkerchiefs with monograms or meaningful phrases
• Fabric wedding signs
• Wedding pet bandanas

HTV designs are a brilliant, beginner-friendly way to create custom, polished touches that feel thoughtful and intentional. And who doesn't love a personalized t-shirt?!

What a Cricut Doesn’t Do Well for Weddings

A Cricut is an incredibly powerful DIY tool, but it isn’t a magic wand. You are the ultimate magic behind it! Here are a few areas where a digital cutting machine isn’t always the best choice.

It doesn’t replace professional printing
A Cricut machine is often misunderstood as a printer. It isn't. It cuts, draws, and scores, but it does not print full-color designs, photographs, or textured stationery finishes like letterpress or foil stamping. It does, however, work in conjunction with your home printer for some Print Then Cut projects like personalized wedding tattoos.

If you're dreaming of soft handpainted watercolor invitations, gold foil monograms, or intricate multi-color artwork, those are best left to professional stationers who have the equipment to bring these ideas to life. Beginner-friendly projects with any model of Cricut machine shines best when used to add to products or printed pieces, not replace them. Think envelope addressing, custom cut shapes for pre-printed invites, or invitation jackets.



It’s not ideal for extremely intricate or tiny designs
Very fine fonts, tiny flourishes, and delicate lace-like patterns can be tricky, especially when cutting materials like adhesive vinyl, cardstock, or heat transfer vinyl. While a Cricut is precise, there’s still a physical blade and material involved and sometimes ultra-detailed designs simply don’t translate well at small sizes. We love the romantic fonts for weddings (including these Cricut-friendly wedding fonts), but they can be limiting depending on your project.

In wedding terms, that means delicate script on place cards or hair-thin monograms on signage may be better printed rather than cut.

It won’t save time on everything
DIY doesn’t always mean faster. Some Cricut projects require design setup, test cuts, weeding, assembly, and troubleshooting. For things like multi-colored place cards, lengthy programs, or detailed menus, printing can often be quicker and cheaper.

The real value of Cricut is in the pieces that would otherwise be expensive to order such as custom small and large signs, personalized decor, and unique touches that aren’t available off-the-shelf.

It won’t replace design skills
A Cricut doesn’t automatically make something look “wedding-worthy.” Typography, spacing, color choices, and layout still matter for most couples. The machine executes your design — it doesn’t create it for you. If design is important to you and you don't want to DIY that part of the process, a stationer or graphic designer can take your ideas and turn them into something polished and professional.

What Most Couples Underestimate About Cricut DIY

The time it takes to create each wedding project is a fact that often gets glossed over on social media. We’re here to share the real frustrations new crafters often experience, so you can have an eyes-wide-open and happy crafting moments! If it's not bringing you joy, reconsider.

Every Cricut project involves:
- Designing
- Test cutting
- Material adjustments
- Weeding (with certain materials)
- Assembly

Multiply that by 50-150 guests, and suddenly a “simple” project becomes a multi-evening commitment that you may or may not have available to you.

A Cricut is not ideal for high-stress, last-minute projects and anything required in huge quantities without some sort of help from your friends or family. If the thought of potentially redoing projects make you anxious, outsource it. There are oodles of talented small business crafters on Etsy and social media to help you if you decide DIYing isn't realistic for you. You get the best of both worlds: professional help and customized details!

There is a Learning Curve

Cricut machines are beginner-friendly, but Cricut Design Space has a learning curve for most users. We're not here to scare you away! We're here to give you space to see what's best for you while you're busy wedding planning. And as Cricut users for the last 10 years, we love how a Cricut can literally transform wedding days, but we want you to have fun, not get overwhelmed with anxiety.

For successful makes, you’ll need time to:
➤ Learn the basics of Design Space
➤ Understand how materials are used
➤ Fix mistakes

These are all normal experiences with any digital crafting and learning a new craft, so it's just something to keep in mind.

So... Should You Get a Cricut for Your Wedding?

Ask yourself:
➤ Do I enjoy crafting even when things go slightly wrong?
➤ Will I use this machine for multiple projects (and after the wedding)?
➤ Can I realistically schedule DIY time before wedding stress peaks?

If the answers lean yes, a Cricut can be a genuinely rewarding tool to have in your home — not just for your wedding, but beyond it!

Okay, Now Which Machine Should I Get?!

Couples who fall in love with the idea of creating things for their weddings tend to not want limitations on what they can make, so the Cricut Maker family is considered a favorite as it can cut more materials. Think leather, fabric, and basswood thanks to its rotary blade and knife blade.

However, Cricut Explore family machines tend to be the most popular because it's the mid-range model that has the standard wide size (great for bulk making) and does everything typical for a wedding day (except those specialty materials listed above).

For those who know exactly what they want to create, love thinking outside the box, or are making one-off details, they may find that the smaller Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra machines can meet their needs.

A Note on Cricut Wedding Projects from the Editor

Breaking the third wall for this article, after years of publishing DIY weddings (and making Cricut projects myself), I literally wrote the book on it! Cricut Weddings is a Cricut education guide through a wedding lens with 22 step-by-step project ideas that was designed specifically for couples who want beautiful results without the overwhelm. It's available worldwide wherever books are sold in-store and online.

The book features:
• Realistic timelines
• Overview of all Cricut machines
• Beginner-friendly techniques
• Wedding details made with joy and intention

If you're considering a Cricut for your wedding, Cricut Weddings is meant to help you decide what's worth making — and what's better left off your plate. Purchase your copy today to help you get set up for Cricut wedding success! Head over to www.cricutweddings.com to get the full scoop.

Disclaimer: Cricut Weddings is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Cricut™. The book is written by a Cricut expert, occasional partner, and lover of weddings!

WRITTEN BY

Chelsea Barton

Founder & Wedding DIY Expert

A former wedding photographer, the founder of Tidewater and Tulle, and author of Cricut Weddings, Chelsea Barton has been helping couples bring their dream weddings to life through creative, approachable ideas since 2009. Her insight and work have been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, Southern Living, and other top publications around the world. She combines editorial expertise and real-world insight to inspire meaningful celebrations.

All photography above by Chelsea Barton from the Cricut Weddings book.

Editor's Note: Specially curated by us, the above product links may be partner-connected and purchasing through these links means we get a small commission from those brands that helps support this website. You can find our full affiliate disclosure policy here on Tidewater and Tulle.