One of the key pieces to booking your wedding is picking out the perfect venue. The venue you choose will help to set the tone for your whole day. The venue can play a huge part in helping you decide all aspects of your wedding, from colors to decor. While you might be ready to jump the gun and book a venue to officially set the date, you want to make sure you are choosing the space that will meet all your most important needs. Below are some big key questions to ask before booking.
Availability
Whether you have a specific date in mind or are flexible, knowing what days a venue has open for booking will definitely help right off the bat. Some venues will also offer a lower rental fee for a different day of the week or during “off-season”, which is typically January-March.
Key Questions: Is my date available? What are the rates for different days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)? What are the rates for different seasons?
Pricing and Payment
Money, money, and more money! The quickest way to throw your wedding budget out the window is to not ask about pricing and what all is exactly included in their rental costs.
Key Questions: How much is required for the deposit? What is the structure of the payment plan? What all is included in the rental total? And does it cover service charges, gratuity, etc. or are those additional costs?
Logistics
What I call the “boring” questions, but they are so important! While the questions might not make you excited thinking about your day, it will really matter for the whole experience. This will include how long you get the access, restrictions, parking, and all the other seemingly “minor” details.
Key Questions: What is the capacity of the venue? When can we arrive? How late can we stay? Are there any noise restrictions? Do you have any decor restrictions? Where will guests be able to park and how much space is it? Will guests have to pay for parking? Is the venue handicap accessible and ADA compliant?
Vendor Policies
Some venues have an open vendor policy, where you can bring in outside vendors for your event. Others have a list of vendors you must use if you book with them. Vendors truly can make or break your wedding so having all the venue requirements and what they provide to/for vendors is extremely helpful moving forward in your wedding planning.
Key Questions: Do you have a list of recommended vendors? Do we have to use your recommended vendors? Do you provide all alcohol or can we outsource? Do you have any in-house sound systems or lighting for our entertainment?
Vendor Policies
Some venues have an open vendor policy, where you can bring in outside vendors for your event. Others have a list of vendors you must use if you book with them. Vendors truly can make or break your wedding so having all the venue requirements and what they provide to/for vendors is extremely helpful moving forward in your wedding planning.
Key Questions: Do you have a list of recommended vendors? Do we have to use your recommended vendors? Do you provide all alcohol or can we outsource? Do you have any in-house sound systems or lighting for our entertainment?
Contract
Contracts are the most important thing you can get with any vendor you are using for your wedding. The biggest vendor red flag…. NO CONTRACT! You want to make sure all the specifics are covered in the contract.
Key Questions: What is the cancellation policy? What staff will the venue provide? What hours do you have access? Are there any additional fees that may occur? What will the venue be providing? What are the deposit and payment due dates? While it may seem like overkill, the more detail in the contract, the better!
Have you booked your venue yet? Let us know where you’re getting married in the comments!
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