Wedding planning can be stressful with so many vendors to plan for, not to mention the dreaded cost of weddings in general. Your venue will most likely be your biggest expense and will set the tone for your wedding. After your venue is set, you’ll be able to plan everything else from there. There are so many things to consider when choosing a wedding venue. This post will give you the best questions to ask wedding venues to help you decide if it’s the right match for you.
Photo Credit: Madisun Paige Photography
What dates do you have open?
If you have a specific date in mind that you want to get married then it’s worth asking if they have that date available before you set up a tour.
Are there discounted days during the week?
Saturday is a popular day to get married for obvious reason. It’s worth asking the venue if they have different price points for different days. We got married on a Friday and it was slightly cheaper. We enjoyed spending the weekend with our wedding guests after our Friday wedding.
Do you offer any discounts?
Weddings are expensive and your venue will be your most expensive wedding cost. It’s definitely worth asking them, and all your vendors for that matter, if they offer any discounts. Some popular ones include military, first responder or teacher discounts. Every little bit helps.
What is included in the venue?
Some venues are all inclusive, others are not. Some have different tier packages with different prices for food and drink costs. Here are some things to find out if they include: bread service, salad, appetizer, entree, cake, open bar, etc.
Will there be other weddings/events on our wedding day?
Some venues have multiple space options to accommodate different weddings such as in their garden, front lawn, ballrooms, etc. It’s a good thing to find out how many weddings they might be accommodating during yours. Our wedding venue was holding a small reception on their rooftop bar during our front lawn ceremony and unfortunately some of my guests had a difficult time hearing our ceremony over the reception music. It doesn’t hurt to ask, you’re paying an awful lot after all.
What is the capacity?
If you know you’re having a large wedding and can’t imagine your special day without all of those people you’ll need to know if the venue can accommodate your guest count. It’s super helpful to write your guest list first before looking at venues for this reason. Check out this guest list template to help you get a guest count before you start venue hunting.
What is the payment schedule?
Wedding costs are always dreaded, but knowing what the payment schedule is will help you plan to see if the cost is doable or not.
What is your weather back up plan?
Outdoor venues with nature as your backdrop are stunning and the majority of what venues have to offer. Whether it be the beach, water front, in a garden, or in the woods, weather is an important factor to consider. As much as we all don’t want to think about weather ruining our big day, it’s a possibility. Ask the venue what their backup plan is and be sure you like the backup equally as much (or close to it). We live in Florida, where hurricanes need to be considered. Find out if you’ll be reimbursed for something like a natural disaster happening on your scheduled wedding day.
Are we required to use preferred vendors?
Some venues require you to use preferred vendors only. This is important to consider if you have a specific photographer in mind that you absolutely want to use. Some of their preferred vendors might not be within your budget either. This is an important question to ask.
Do you have a décor inventory?
Wedding rentals are expensive. Tablecloths, an easel, a cake stand, candles, and vases all start to rack up a hefty bill if you’re needing to rent them. Find out if there’s anything that your venue has in their inventory. It’s a potential cost savings.
Will there be an onsite wedding coordinator included?
Most brides will tell you that having a wedding coordinator is an absolutely must. Some venues have an onsite coordinator built into their price or at a discounted rate if you use them. The coordinator that works at the venue will know everything there is to know about that venue after all. If there’s not one, you will probably want one.
Does the venue spray for bugs?
There’s nothing worse than being at an outdoor wedding and getting attacked by mosquitos. If you’re looking at any outdoor venues, this is a valid question to ask.
In Conclusion…
Trust me when I tell you that once your venue is booked the rest of the planning will fall into place. Some vendors are contingent on your venue. So hopefully these questions to ask wedding venues are helpful to you in your venue search.