32 Questions to ask before you book your wedding venue
When to book: 12 – 18 months ahead
You should start searching for wedding venues the moment you’ve celebrated your engagement, even if you haven’t decided on the date yet, once you’ve established your wedding vision it’s a good idea to do some walkthroughs until you’ve found the ideal location for your wedding day!
When choosing the ideal wedding venue, there are a few important things to consider, download this list of questions you should ask before you make that booking.
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Do you have my wedding date available?
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What is the rental fee and what is included in that price? Is there a discount for booking an off-season date or Sunday through Friday?
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How many guest can you accommodate comfortably? (NOTE: Remember to factor in seating, bar and entertainment arrangements)
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Do you have a facility/venue manager?
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Will they be present on my wedding day?
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Do you offer a shuttle service from the ceremony to reception?
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What time do we need to leave the wedding venue?
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What is the overtime charge per hour?
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Do you provide service staff? If so what is the gratuity or service fee for staff?
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Must I use professionals of your choosing or may I use my own team?
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How many hours before the ceremony may my wedding dream team arrive?
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Is there a penalty for not fulfilling the food and beverage minimum?
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Are you licensed? Can we host our own bar?
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Are candles allowed?
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Will you rope off an area for parking? Do you have a backup plan? (NOTE: Is there a
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contingency plan in place for bad weather/unforeseeable circumstances?)
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Is there a corkage fee?
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Are there any photography restrictions?
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Are there any additional costs not stipulated in your standard agreement? (NOTE: Cleaning fees, waivers etc.)
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Are there any other weddings booked on my wedding day?
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Is the site handicap accessible? (NOTE: To be asked if you have guests with mobility issues.)
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What is your cancellation policy? (NOTE: Make sure you know if your deposit is refundable should the need for cancellation arise.)
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When can suppliers start making deliveries on the day and where do they do this?
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Is there an outdoor space where my guests can mingle, and is it heated and/or protected from the elements if necessary? Is there a separate indoor “socializing” area?
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Can I bring in a cake from an outside cake maker or must I use a cake made on the premises? Is there a cake-cutting fee? If I use a cake made on site is the fee waived? Do you provide special cake-cutting utensils?
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What is the food and beverage cost on a per/person basis? What is the service charge?
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Do you provide overnight accommodation? If so do you offer a discount for booking multiple rooms?
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Do you have signage or other aids to direct guests to the wedding?
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Do you have a recycling policy?
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Are there restrictions on what kind of music I can play, or a time by which the music must end?
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Can the venue accommodate a DJ or live band? (NOTE: Check where the outlets are, so you know where the band and entertainment will be and seating will be arranged correctly.)
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How many restrooms are there? (NOTE: You should have at least 4 restrooms per 100 people)
32 Questions to ask before you book your wedding venue
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