Business Details
37 Years
experience
Your Trusted Wedding Venue Guide in Orinda, CA
Founded in 1989, Here Comes The Guide revolutionized wedding planning by creating the first local wedding resource when our founder, Lynn Broadwell, struggled to find unique venues for her own wedding. As a women-owned small business, we combine decades of industry expertise with a mission to provide couples with curated venue selections, practical planning tools, and authentic guidance. Our team of former venue managers, photographers, and planners understands the complexities of wedding coordination, offering hard-won insights while emphasizing that a successful marriage matters more than a perfect party. With over 35 years of experience, we maintain our trailblazing spirit through employee ownership, commission-free sales practices, and a commitment to evolving with technology while preserving our core values. Our platform features meticulously vetted venues across the United States, from intimate elopement spots to grand celebration spaces, accompanied by comprehensive checklists and educational resources.We prioritize transparency in all operations, ensuring couples receive unbiased recommendations without hidden fees or sales pressures. Our longevity in the industry reflects our dedication to quality, with staff members averaging over a decade of tenure, providing unparalleled institutional knowledge. While we celebrate beautiful weddings through our real wedding galleries and curated collections, our true focus remains helping couples build lasting relationships. As a fully distributed team since our founding, we maintain flexibility without compromising our collaborative culture, gathering biannually for both professional development and personal connection.
Services
Wedding Venue Directory
Real Wedding Galleries
Planning Checklists
Vendor Guides
Elopement Resources
Venue Comparison Tools
Wedding Budget Templates
Vendor Contract Guides
Style Inspiration Boards
Location-Based Search
Details
- Year established: 1989
Highlights and features
- We pioneered the local wedding resource industry in 1989 and remain innovators.
- Our team includes former venue managers, planners, and photographers with real-world expertise.
- Employee-owned structure ensures commitment to quality and client satisfaction.
- Commission-free sales approach guarantees unbiased venue recommendations.
- 35+ years of curated venue knowledge with exclusive collections nationwide.
What people say
Curated venue collections
Real wedding inspiration
Detailed checklists
Expert-vetted listings
Stress-free planning
Services
Wedding Venue Directory
Our comprehensive venue directory features handpicked locations across the United States, from intimate elopement spots to grand celebration spaces. Each listing includes detailed descriptions, photo galleries, and contact information to help couples find their perfect match. With advanced search filters and curated collections, we simplify venue selection while maintaining quality standards.
Real Wedding Galleries
Explore authentic real wedding galleries showcasing diverse celebrations at featured venues. These visual stories provide styling ideas, layout inspiration, and practical insights into actual event execution. Each gallery is accompanied by vendor credits and planning tips to help couples recreate similar aesthetics for their own celebrations.
Planning Checklists
Downloadable checklists guide couples through every planning stage from engagement to post-wedding tasks. These comprehensive tools break down complex processes into manageable steps with recommended timelines. Available as free printables, they help maintain organization while preventing common planning oversights.
Vendor Guides
Expert guides help couples choose reliable vendors for photography, catering, floral design, and more. Resources include contract negotiation tips, cost-saving strategies, and red flag identification. Our Certified By The Guide program ensures quality service providers who understand venue-specific requirements.
Elopement Resources
Specialized elopement guides provide location ideas, legal requirements, and intimate celebration tips. Resources cover destination elopements, courthouse ceremonies, and micro-wedding options with practical advice on creating meaningful experiences without traditional constraints.
People
Meredith Monday Schwartz
Chief Executive Officer
Meredith Monday Schwartz leads Here Comes The Guide with over 20 years of wedding industry experience. She champions the company's mission to provide authentic wedding resources while maintaining its founding values of integrity and practicality.
Questions
How do I find wedding venues near me?
Use our location-based search tool to discover curated venues in your desired area with detailed profiles and photo galleries.
What services does Here Comes The Guide offer?
We provide venue directories, real wedding inspiration, planning checklists, vendor guides, and elopement resources for couples nationwide.
How is this different from other wedding websites?
We focus on practical planning tools and real-world expertise from former industry professionals, avoiding overwhelming content and marketing hype.
Can I get help with wedding budgeting?
Download our free budget templates and expense guides to help couples plan financially responsible celebrations without sacrificing quality.
How do you select featured venues?
Our team personally vets venues based on quality, uniqueness, and ability to deliver exceptional wedding experiences for couples.
What inspired your company's founding?
Founder Lynn Broadwell created the first local wedding resource in 1989 after struggling to find unique venues for her own wedding.