There’s more to the perfect wedding venue than just the aesthetics (though good looks are a huge bonus). There are all sorts of important details you’ll need to cover before you sign on the dotted line. We’ve asked the pros for the key questions to ask your wedding venue. You’ll want to ask these before you book.
Consider bringing this list of 23 important questions to ask potential venues with you on your site visits.
Pricing and Availability
Is my date of choice available? If not, are there any surrounding dates available?
What are the rates for different days of the week and times (Friday, Saturday, Sunday; morning, afternoon, evening)? What about different seasons?
How many hours are included in the rental of the space? How early can we arrive, and how late can we stay?
Payment
How much is the deposit?
How do you structure the payment schedule?
What is included in the total? Does it cover service charges, gratuity, and cleaning fees, or are those additional line items?
What is the cancellation policy?
When is the last possible date to make changes to our reservation?
Vendor Team
Do you have a list of approved or recommended vendors we can use?
Do we have to use your approved vendors? If not, are there limitations or guidelines we need to meet when bringing others in?
Logistics
Are there noise restrictions?
How many bathrooms are there? Will we need to rent additional portable restrooms?
Is parking available on-site? How much space is there? Will guests be charged for parking?
Event Specifics
What is the venue’s capacity?
What is the backup plan for rain or inclement weather?
Are there any décor restrictions?
When can vendors arrive for setup?
Will your staff be involved in setting up and breaking down the décor? In what capacity?
Food and Drinks
Do you have an in-house caterer? If so, are food and beverages included in the venue rental fee?
If there is not an in-house caterer, do we have to choose from a list of approved options, or can we hire our own caterer?
Do we have to purchase liquor through you, or can we source liquor elsewhere?
If we can bring our own liquor onto the property, is there a corkage or service fee?
Production Staff
Who will be our point person as we plan our wedding? Who will be our point person on our wedding day?
