Questions to Ask the Venue!

You'll want to know exactly what is included in the price, of course. One thing I didn't think to ask until later is how early we can have access to the venue to decorate before the wedding, and also what are the rules for decorating. A lot of venues have strict rules about what can and can't be used to decorate. Some places won't allow candles, for example. Make sure you know what their guest capacity is, and what your approximate guest count will be. You probably won't have final numbers this early on, but you should have a rough draft of a guest list, because venues that you tour will ask you how many guests you are planning on inviting. There's nothing worse than falling in love with a venue, only to find out they can only hold 150 guests (when you were planning on 200+). Ask if they provide a "day of coordinator" to assist in general during the wedding. This is something that you may want, but need to know if the venue provides it or you need to hire one of your own.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Good luck, and happy planning!

How much is the deposit?

Is the deposit refundable if we cancel before a certain date?

Do we have to pay a new deposit if we reschedule?

What is included in your booking fee? (tables, chairs, linens, etc.)

Can we serve alcohol?

How many hours do we have access to the venue?

From what time to what time?

Can we decorate the night before?

Are we responsible for cleanup after our event?

Does your booking fee include a coordinator?

Can we host our rehearsal/rehearsal dinner at the venue?

Do you have a list of preferred vendors?

Are we required to use them?

Are we allowed to use candles?

Is tossing flower petals/rice/whatever allowed?

Come up with a list of must haves for you & your fiance. Ask about deposit, payment plans, fees, contract. Do they have wifi and/or cell service? How is parking? Lighting for night time? Do they spray for bugs (if you are having a wedding during warmer months)? Do they have hours you must use for your wedding? Bridal or groom's suite? Do they have preferred or required vendors for you to use? Pet friendly? Backup space for bad weather?

We asked about alcohol.
Did we need to provide our own?
Do we need to provide bartenders?Can we hire bartenders from the venue?Do we need dram shop insurance?

You'll also want to know if they have a minimum guarantee number. Some places will require you to pay for say 100 guests even if you're only having 75.


Do vendors need a certificate of insurance to work there?
What's their payment schedule? When is final payment due?
Also check out the restrooms while you there. Make sure they're clean and big enough to accommodate your number of guests.

One thing I did not think to ask until I spoke with my hair stylist would be "is there an area reserved for the bride to get ready?". Having an onsite area to get ready makes it much easier when trying to coordinate everyone.

Congratulations! Wishing you all the best. During your consultations ask a variety of questions even if they may seem silly. When FH and I began to search for our venue we stressed the necessity of a payment plan simply because we are solely paying for our wedding. It’s always important to ask about deposit fees, payment due dates, package details, preferred vendors, and whether or not a certificate of insurance is required for any vendors/services.