They say picking a venue is the most critical decision of your wedding planning. Your venue typically also dictates your menu (or if you can bring your own outside caterer). It will dictate what supplementary door and flowers you do (or don’t need). It’ll dictate your maximum guest count. And if you want to have a drone show sendoff at your wedding (as at this point, ya’ll know I did), well, your venue will dictate whether or not you even can.
If your heart is set on having a drone show at your wedding, here are some critical factors that you need to look for in a venue.
Find the perfect wedding drone show venue
- Airspace classification
- The launch site: where will hundreds of drones actually take off?
- Viewing areas: where and when will guests actually watch?
- Buffer zones: invisible restrictions to know and follow
- Insurance and approvals = lots of paperwork
- Your drone show timeline (and red flags)
- Wedding drone show venue red flags: when to walk away
- Questions to ask during wedding venue tours
- Your ideal wedding drone show venue checklist
- Hoow property owners can build the perfect wedding drone show venue
- Choosing the perfect wedding drone show venue
Airspace classification
Not all airspace is created equal. The Federal Aviation Administration divides airspace into classes (A through G), and which class your venue sits in dramatically affects how easy (or nightmarish) it will be to get a drone show approved.
The easiest way to learn what airspace your venue is in is to simply check it on the FAA’s website. By going to that page, you’ll see a map. From there, you’ll see a series of outlines — typically blue or purple circles — which indicate Class B or C airspace. More on that later, but that’s not ideal. If there are no outlines around your venue, that’s good news.
Class G Airspace (the dream scenario)
This is uncontrolled airspace, typically found in rural or suburban areas away from airports.
This is the most ideal scenario. If you’re between two venues that are otherwise equivalent but one is in Class G, definitely choose the one in Class G airspace. Shows in this airspace are subject to minimal FAA regulatory restrictions. Your drone show company won’t need special FAA authorizations beyond their standard Part 107 certification.
If your drone light show company needs to get approval to fly in Class B or C airspace, they may pass off those administrative costs to you. They also just might not get approved, period, meaning no drone show no matter how much money you try to throw at it.
Class B and C Airspace (proceed with extreme caution)
These are controlled airspace areas near bigger airports. The biggest airports (like LAX or SFO are Class B). Smaller airports (shoutout my favorite airport, Long Beach!) are Class C.
Your drone show company will need special authorizations from the FAA and potentially from the airport itself. This can take weeks or months and might be denied entirely.
Generally speaking — if your venue is within 5-10 miles of a major airport — assume you’re in Class B or C and prepare for complications. Again though, you can just check directly with the FAA.
Class D and E Airspace (Case-by-Case)
These fall somewhere in between — near smaller airports or in transitional zones.
What to do: Ask your drone show company to assess the venue before you book. They’ll know immediately if it’s workable.
The launch site: where will hundreds of drones actually take off?
Drones need a LOT of space to launch safely.
You need:
- Flat, open area (ideally few to no trees, buildings, or power lines)
- Approximately 100-200 square feet minimum (varies by drone count)
- Hard surface preferred (grass works but isn’t ideal)
- Access for the drone company’s truck/equipment
- Reasonable proximity to the viewing area (within a few hundred feet)
Our pickleball court saga
Our venue didn’t have suitable launch space. There was no flat spot to take off, aside from a concrete area that was formerly a pool, since filled in. That seemed like a good option, but my drone show company didn’t like that because they were concerned the pipes would cause interference. Additionally, it would have been too close to the people anyway.
But two lots over? Pickleball courts. Flat, open, not-in-use at 10 p.m. during showtime. It was perfect.
Even still, this wasn’t the easiest. We had to:
- Track down the property owner
- Negotiate a rental (which meant more money on top of our venue fee)
- Evict the Saturday afternoon pickleball crowd, as the drone show company wanted to start setting up at 3 p.m. for a 10 p.m. show
From there, we still had some trees slightly blocking the show from where our guests were standing. The drones flew high enough that this wasn’t a huge deal, but it maybe wasn’t ideal.
We also couldn’t have drones flying over people and cars. There was one road which we had to temporarily shut down for the ~15 minutes during the show. Since our show was in a private community, it wasn’t a huge problem, but it could be more challenging if you’re dealing with public roads.
Questions to ask venues
- “Do you have open space suitable for drone launches?”
- “Have you hosted drone shows before?” (If yes, ask where drones launched from)
- “Can we rent adjacent property if needed?”
- “Are there power lines, trees or structures that might interfere?”
If the venue coordinator looks confused, that’s your sign they haven’t done this before. That isn’t necessarily bad (hey, MOST wedding venues won’t have done a drone show before), but it means you need to do the homework.
Viewing areas: where and when will guests actually watch?
This sounds obvious but is easy to overlook: guests need a good view of the sky.
What makes a good drone show viewing area
Unobstructed sky access: No buildings, trees, or structures blocking sight lines. Guests should be able to see the entire drone grid without craning their necks. Our venue had some trees which wasn’t a huge deal, but ideally this would have not been the case.
Comfortable standing space: Most drone shows require guests to be outside. You need room for 50-200 people to stand comfortably while looking up. Parking lots can work, but this isn’t the most, well, romantic nor relaxing. Luckily, our venue had a big open field.
Reasonable distance from launch site: You can’t stand right next to the drones. Ideally, your viewing area is close enough that drones fill the sky, but it needs to be far enough away. After all, you must meet FAA buffer zone requirements, which is typically 100+ feet between drones and spectators(more on that later).
Lighting considerations: The area should be dark enough that drones are visible but lit enough that guests can safely navigate. Path lighting is fine; floodlights are not. Remember our pickleball courts? Those big spotlights needed to go in order to remove light pollution.
What time can you launch a wedding drone show?
Drone shows need darkness. Depending on your wedding date and location, this might mean:
- Summer weddings: Shows start 9 p.,. or later (sunset is around 8-8:30 p.m. in many locations)
- Fall/winter weddings: Shows can start earlier (sunset around 5-6 p.m.)
Ceremony timing: Unless you’re doing an evening ceremony (which is rare), the show will be part of your reception/sendoff, not the ceremony itself. Ours was part of the sendoff, which was the perfect way to get guests out the door so staff could clean up.
Buffer zones: invisible restrictions to know and follow
FAA regulations require buffer zones between drones and people, buildings, roads and other structures.
Typical requirements:
- 100+ feet between drones and spectators (varies by show design)
- 50+ feet from buildings
- No flying over moving vehicles or active roads
This means your venue needs extra space you won’t actually use — just empty area to meet safety requirements.
A venue might look perfect on paper: great airspace, launch site available, good viewing area. But if the property boundaries don’t allow for adequate buffer zones, it won’t work.
Questions to ask your drone show company:
- “How much total space do we need, including buffers?”
- “Can you assess this venue’s layout remotely?”
- “What are the dealbreakers?”
Ali from Electric Sky assessed our venue using Google Maps satellite view plus photos we sent. He identified the pickleball court solution before we ever signed a contract.
Insurance and approvals = lots of paperwork
Most venues will require insurance from your drone show company. But that’s just the beginning. You should expect:
Venue insurance requirements: The drone company generally will add the venue as “additional insured” on their policy. This is standard practice, usually no extra cost.
HOA approvals: If the venue is in a private community (ours was), you’ll need HOA permission. This can take weeks and might require submitting detailed show plans.
Neighbor notifications: Some venues or municipalities require notifying neighbors within a certain radius. Our Nextdoor post after the show was positive, but there’s always the risk of neighbors complaining. Be pro-active in your communication to frame the drone show as a positive thing (maybe even invite neighbors to watch!) so neighbors don’t complain and shut it down before it even starts.
Here was the resident notice we sent out (note how it’s positive and highlights aspects like no noise and environmental friendliness:
On Saturday, September 20, please join us in enjoying a drone light show presented by Electric Sky Drone Shows. The performance will begin at approximately 10:00 p.m. and last for about 10 minutes over the skies above the Coto Valley Country Club (23331 Vía Venado).
This show is a special sendoff for a wedding taking place at the Country Club that evening, and we’re excited to share the experience with the entire community.
The drones produce only a gentle hum near the takeoff area and will not be audible from surrounding homes. They are also fire-safe and an environmentally friendly alternative to fireworks, offering a beautiful celebration with minimal impact.
Road closure permits: If drones will fly over or near public roads, you might need permits to temporarily close them. We avoided this by choosing our launch site strategically.
Municipal permits: Some cities require special event permits for drone shows. Check local regulations early.
Your drone show timeline (and red flags)
We had about a month to pull everything together. It was tight but doable because:
- Our venue was cooperative
- Our airspace was unrestricted
- Our drone company, Electric Sky Drone Shows was experienced with rapid timelines
Realistic timeline for venue approvals: 2-3 months minimum. Start conversations early.
Wedding drone show venue red flags: when to walk away
Some venues just won’t work for drone shows, no matter how beautiful they are.
Automatic disqualifiers for wedding drone show venues
Located in Class B airspace near major airports (unless your drone company confirms they can get authorization)
No suitable launch sites within reasonable distance (and no ability to rent adjacent property)
Surrounded by tall buildings or dense trees that block sky access
On or directly adjacent to busy roads with no buffer space
Venues with strict noise ordinances that won’t allow evening events (some drone shows have audio, plus you need guest chatter)
Properties with restrictive HOAs that explicitly prohibit drones
Yellow Flags (Workable but challenging)
Class C airspace – Get confirmation from your drone company first
Limited launch space – You might need fewer drones (100 instead of 200), which reduces complexity and cost, but also reduces the quality of your animations
Challenging viewing angles – Might require creative guest positioning
Never hosted a drone show before – Not a dealbreaker, but means you’ll need to educate venue staff
Questions to ask during wedding venue tours
Venue coordinators might not know anything about drone shows. That’s okay. Ask these questions anyway:
- “What’s the address and exact coordinates of this venue?” (So you can check airspace)
- “Have you hosted drone shows before? If so, where did drones launch from?”
- “Is there flat, open space on or near the property that could accommodate drone equipment?”
- “Are there any restrictions on evening events or outdoor activities?”
- “What insurance requirements do you have for vendors and special equipment?”
- “If we need to rent adjacent property for equipment, can you facilitate introductions to neighbors?”
- “What’s your weather contingency policy if we need to reschedule an outdoor component?”
- “Are there noise ordinances or time restrictions we should know about?”
- “Have previous couples done anything unconventional here? How did you accommodate them?” (Tests their flexibility)
Your ideal wedding drone show venue checklist
If you’re venue shopping with a drone show in mind, here’s what to look for:
Class G airspace (or confirmed Class D/E approval from drone company)
Flat, open launch area on property or nearby (100-200 sq ft minimum)
Spacious outdoor viewing area with unobstructed sky access
Adequate buffer zones to meet FAA requirements
Flexible venue staff willing to work with unconventional vendors
Previous experience with drone shows (bonus, not required)
Reasonable insurance requirements (standard additional insured language)
Minimal HOA or municipal restrictions
Guest capacity matches your needs (both indoor and outdoor)
Indoor backup space in case of weather delays
Hoow property owners can build the perfect wedding drone show venue
As wedding drone shows become more popular, some venues are starting to optimize for them. If you’re a property owner, here are some things you can do to attract couples wanting a seamless wedding drone show:
- List “drone show compatible” in your marketing materials
- Establish relationships with local drone companies
- Create designated launch areas on property
- Streamline insurance and permitting processes
- Train staff on drone show logistics
In 5 years, I predict “drone show ready” will be a standard venue selling point, like “accommodates 200 guests” or “has bridal suite.”
Choosing the perfect wedding drone show venue
If you have to choose between your dream venue and a drone show, which wins? My answer: It depends on what matters more to you.
For us, the drone show was non-negotiable. I’m The Drone Girl. It was always going to happen. We made the venue work around it.
For you, maybe the venue is the priority and the drone show is a nice-to-have. In that case, book the venue you love and figure out the drone logistics later (or skip it entirely).
But if a drone show is genuinely important to you—if you’ve been dreaming about personalized animations in the sky, if you want that “wow” factor, if you’re willing to navigate the logistics—then factor it into your venue decision from day one.
Trust me. It’s so much easier than what we did.
Planning a wedding drone show and need help assessing your venue? Schedule a call with me on Intro! Come prepared with your venue details (address, photos, any restrictions you know about) and I’m happy to give you my thoughts.
Venue coordinators reading this? If you want to make your property more drone-show-friendly, I can consult on what infrastructure and policies would help. Let’s make this easier for future couples. Again, let’s schedule some time to talk on Intro.
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