Best Questions to Ask Venues

Obviously cost is a huge thing to ask about. You need to ask about the rental cost but also if there are any additional fees - does it cost extra to bring in an outside caterer? What about valet service?

Other things that could be good to ask: what does the venue come with? If they are also a caterer, do they have linens and plates and everything that you can use? Does it cost extra? What colors are available?

Obviously you will also want to know how many people the space can fit and if they have any other restrictions (for example, our venue requires all weddings to end by 10:30 PM but they have space that we can rent for an after-party).

Are there any services fees or tips added on to the total?

What is included in the venue rental fee? What is NOT included?

How long do you get the venue for? Is it a full day? If not, how early before the ceremony can you arrive (if doing the ceremony/reception in the same location)?

How soon can you bring decorations to the venue to set up?

Does the venue clean up afterwards or are you responsible for clean up?

Does the venue have any required vendors (ie vendors like a florist or baker that are exclusive to the venue)? If they do have required vendors, are you charged an additional fee for using a different vendor of your choice?

Is tax included in the charge?

Does the venue have a minimum charge that you must meet (some venues require you to pay for a "minimum" of 80 people for example, even if you are having only 75 people at the reception)?

What is the maximum number of people your venue can hold?

What is a comfortable/recommended number of guests for the venue? We looked at a venue that could fit our number of guests but some tables would've been in a separate room from the main event and I didn't like that.

Is a deposit required? How much and when? When is the remainder of the bill due?

When are final numbers due?

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. A good venue will be upfront about most if not all of this information. I was really worried about the hidden fees as well so I kept estimating high for the final amount due to my venue, and it actually ended up coming in under my estimated total.

How much time do they give you for set up and tear down? is that included in the fee?

When I was looking at venues, the first thing I did is went on their website. I asked them to send me any additional information that's not on their website (my venue sent me a sample contract, what's included, meal choices, etc.)

Other questions:

1) What's included in using your venue? (tables, chairs, tent(s), rehearsal, etc.)

2) What is the per person charge? (my venue is $10 pp for the ceremony, and $43 pp for the meal)

3) Are there any discounts offered for having the wedding on a different day than Sunday?

4) How many weddings/events will you book on a day/weekend?

5) Are we required to use your house baker, florist, etc? If so, are they included in the price or additional?

6) What additional staff do you use the day of, that's price is NOT included (bartenders, servers, etc.)?

7) How many people can this venue accommodate?

8) How much is the deposit? When is it due? How is it to be paid (my place has to be cash/check, no credit cards)?

9) How long will I have the space for? Is there an overtime charge?

10) If I can have the ceremony here, is there a weather back-up plan? Is it extra? (my venue has a tent up year round, if you're having the ceremony there, it's no charge if there is bad weather)

11) Can I move stuff around to decorate? Are there restrictions (no candles, tape on walls, etc).

12) When can we start setting up for the wedding? Can we set-up the day before?

Those are some of the important ones I can think of. Below is a link for a list of 31 questions with tips.

I would say since your 9 months out, you may want to find a venue that includes as much as possible within budget and with great recomendations (of course). My venue does the ceremony, cake, set-up and break down, tables, chairs and liens included.

GOOD LUCK!

I thought of some more:

Does the venue require you to show proof of liability insurance or are they already insured?

Does the venue give you time for a rehearsal if you're having your ceremony there?

How much time do you get for the reception? Can you purchase additional time and if so, what are the costs?

For things not included in the venue rental fee, does the venue provide those items for a separate charge or do you need to find a vendor to provide them (ie linens, tables, chairs, glassware, etc.).

I know that a wedding planner can be an extra expense. However hiring a good one can and will save you a lot of time and unnecessary stress especially when it comes to picking a venue. For your big day allow yourself to be the one presented with options , not the one searching for and negotiating them.

Thank you for the questions to ask! I am going to fall in love with this website- since you guys are so very helpful. I am trying to make the venue as budget friendly and simple as possible since I get stressed easily. I just feel so lost already and I have not truly begun.

Just make an appointment to go on a tour. I never asked any question over email/phone before actually touring the facility. They will give you a lot of the general information about their property on the tour, and then you can ask any additional questions you have after the tour. They will also give you a lot of detailed information like menus, price lists, etc. that they won't offer online and couldn't give you over the phone.

Request a rental packet via email. Many venues will have handouts that spell out details. Reading thru these prior to scheduling a tour can both eliminate ones that are not a good match, and help you ask more specific questions once you do schedule. It's also helpful to review your venue's rental packet again a couple weeks before the event date.

I got most of the information from their website but when I went in person the first question I asked is would there be any interruption in bar service? I absolutely cannot stand when the bar shuts off after cocktail hour and doesn't reopen until way after dinner.

Another question to ask is if the venue has any planned renovations/work that is going to take place before your wedding will occur.

Can you bring in your own cake? seems that's a hot topic for a lot of places. cousin of mine had to end up 'cutting' a dummy cake for her wedding pictures while the venue served a cake that looked nothing like the one that they posed with.

I'm all for dummy cakes, but there's a way to do it, and that wasn't it IMO

Here is the questionnaire we used when we met with different venues (sorry if there are duplicates to what has already been said):

Who will be there for the day-of coordination? Will they be there the whole time?

How many events do you book per day/simultaneous?

How early can you go to set up/how many hours are booked?

What kind of overtime fees do you have? Do you have options for longer events?

What kind of extra fees do you have? Chairs? Corking? Cake cutting?

What are the tax and service fees?

What are the cleanup fees?

How long have you been working here?

What kind of chairs do you have? Do you have linens for the chairs?

What are the sound/noise level restrictions? Are there entertainment restrictions?

Will there be the option for a dance floor setup? Is it an extra cost?

Do you provide different color napkins/linens?

Does the service fee count on the ceremony cost?

What is the sound level like from other people around (not guests of the wedding)?

What is the staff to guest ratio?

What kind of parking is available?

What pricing and options do you have for kids?

Are there things we could eliminate that would lower the cost?

Do we need to use specific vendors?

Is there a bridal suite?

Do you allow open flames or things like sparklers?

What goes towards meeting the minimum cost? For example if we upgrade chairs would that go toward the minimum?

Everyone is great! I have a couple of appointments set and now I know what to ask Thank you

1. Tell them to send you a brochure so that you can browse costs and what they have to offer. Pay close attention to what there price includes.

2. Check to see if the venue works alone or brings a lot of outside vendors. (Thank God mines only contracts out our cake which is included)

3. The time frame allowed for ceremony and/or reception.

4. Pay attention to see if they are a flexible venue.

Most importantly, check reviews. They can be very helpful and most of the time very true.