When you go to your first viewing of a venue, you should bring a list of questions to ask your wedding venue and get through as many as possible. Feel free to actually bring a list and take notes, don’t worry about how you will look as wedding coordinators get it all the time (and they love their lists!) Wedding venue questions – The Ultimate List.
The following is a guide to the questions to ask your venue as you consider booking it for your wedding.
General Questions
- Do you have our date free?
- Do you have a policy of only one wedding per day?
- What is your minimum/maximum number of guests for sit down meal?
- Do you have a wedding package? What is included in each package? Are your packages flexible? How much are your packages?
- Do you have a wedding coordinator? Will he/she be there on the day of the wedding?
- Do you have a license to hold civil ceremonies at your venue?
- Is the venue available for exclusive use? If so is there a minimum amount of guests that have to book accommodation for exclusivity?
Evening
- How many extra guests can be accommodated in the evening?
- What time will our guests have to leave the venue?
- Where does the band set up? Where is the dancefloor/how big is it/does anything have to be moved for the dancefloor?
Food & Drink
- How much is the house wine and/or champagne for toasting? Can we bring our own wine? Do you charge corkage?
- Can we avail of a menu tasting? If so, what does the menu tasting cost?
- Do you cater for special dietary requirements? Coeliacs? Vegetarians?
- How are guests received? Where do guests meet before going into the main room?
- How long should we allow for pre-reception drinks?
- What time is the meal served?
- How is the main meal served?
- Is there an option for dinner the night before or a BBQ the day after?
- What is on the evening menu? What price is it per head?
- Is there a possibility of a bar extension? If so, how much will it cost?
- Can you play music during the meal? Is there a sound system for an iPod/CD? Can a member of staff take care of this?
- Can we use the wedding cake as dessert?
Style
- What type of tables do you have (shape, size, top table)?
- Is any decor/stationery provided (menus, centrepieces, red carpet, flowers, cake stand)? Are there alternatives available?
- Can we see the room(s) set up for a wedding?
- Will there be a toastmaster/somebody to announce us to the reception and guide the guests around?
- Is it possible to have cadnles burning during the ceremony/reception?
- Is it possible to have fireworks in the evening?
Accommodation
- Is there complimentary accommodation for the bride and groom?
- Is there accommodation for guests? How many rooms? What price is it per room?
- What is parking like in the area?
Money/The Details
- How much is the deposit?
- What percentage is paid before the wedding/after the wedding?
- When would we need to give final numbers?
- What costs are incurred if the numbers on the day differ to the final numbers?
- Are there any changes planned to the building before the wedding (renovations, painting etc)?
- Where is the best place to take photos in/near the venue?
- Ask to see the smoking area, should any of your guests be smokers.
Compiled by Karen Birney