Tips for touring a venue?

Always think about if you can picture yourself there and later on down the road if your going to like what you see in the pictures.

SO many things-

- Is your date available? (One venue strung us out for an hour long tour before saying it was no longer available, so don't assume!!)

- What is included for the quoted price? Food? Linens? Cake? Decor items? Ask to see whatever tables, chairs, decor they have.

- Any time they show you something ask if there's an added charge for it, try not to be blinded by the beauty.

- Will you be the only wedding in the venue that day?

- Is there a day of coordinator included?

- Is there a bridal suite?

- Will the guests be sharing a bathroom with guests at a different reception? Scope out the bathrooms.

- Is a tasting included in the price? What does their tasting event look like?

- When do they require a final headcount?

- What is their minimum headcount?

- What amenities can you add to your day to meet the minimum, in the event that your headcount is under the minimum?

- How long do you have to think about it before they release the date to someone else?

- What is the payment schedule?

- Are they flame free (just so you know for decor planning)?

- After your tour, or tonight even, go on Facebook and private message 3 of their most recent reviewers. Ask them how their day honestly went... I did this for all our vendors and got such useful feedback!!

Good luck!

Thanks so much Future Mrs! Super helpful tips!!

Ask to see the contract! Even if you don't sign it that day, i would get it and read over it. It has rules and policies that you wouldn't think about asking. I skimmed over mine, it sounded good and then like 2 weeks before the wedding, I really read over it and it said "no open flame". I literally bought so many candles and I couldn't use them and had to buy flameless. There's always a question that'll get forgotten and the contracts can mention it.

Ask if you can come see the venue set up for a similar sized wedding. Ask about extra charges for things like set up and tear down. Find out what the tax rate is and if gratuity is automatically added or not. If the party is rocking the night of, ask if you can extend the time and at what cost. Is the per person cost guaranteed to today's prices when you book? Do they have a cake cutting fee?

If any portion of your wedding or reception is outdoors, what is the rain backup and how late can you make that call?

Which vendors do you have freedom to pick, and which are in house or must be off preferred list?

Google 'questions to ask a wedding venue'.. also ask if they have great liability insurance, or if you need extra.

- if we cut out the cocktail hour, does that lower the cost per person

- do i have access to the venue for all pictures, including engagement portraits as well (is there an extra fee)

- how long do i have the venue for and when can i start setting up

-can we bring outside catering?

-do you have a rain contingency plan

-ASK if they offer kegs for beer (reduces price)

- do tou have restrictions on the flowers i use (fake, real, silk, etc)

Definitely keep in mind specific things you may want to do that may or may not be allowed. I am doing smores and that was a serious concern, as a lot of venues do not allow open flames. Be aware of any restrictions or must-haves that you may have and ask about them.

Will they be touring people through YOUR wedding?

Are their preferred vendors paying to play or are they honestly referred.

How is the service charge billed and distributed?

I would add, ask about handicapped accessibility.

Agree with get copy of contracts, and also ask what is included? Tips (be specific), taxes, dance floor, cake cutting keys. Can you bring your own wine/beer, etc? Corkage fee? Lower pp for vendors (yes, you have to feed them) and children (if you are inviting?).

Parking, security?

How early do you get room, if you are going to decorate, when do you have to have stuff out by?

If you are intending to have alcohol you should ask about their alcohol policies (I only mention it because we had one venue that told us we could do beer and wine, but had to have a cash bar (run by the venue) for liquor (in other words we had to have liquor on offer and people would have had to pay for it) and we had another venue that said the husband of the husband and wife team that runs the venue would be monitoring our guests intake - but no indication of what would be their parameters for stopping people).

Make sure that they're willing to do things your way and that they're listening to what you want. The same husband and wife venue, the wife was doing the tour and she kept interrupting me, talking over me, and telling me "this is the way we do it here" (ushers, receiving line, cake cutting, bouquet/garter toss were all requisite).

Thanks all! Great stuff to keep in mind; although this is just for ceremony for me, it'll be great for others to read these many awesome tips. Thanks again!

Write down every question you have, because you will forget to ask and then kick yourself later! Take LOTS of photos and if you think you took too many take some more!

~ Dont forget to ask about candles or anything with a flame (some venues have rules)

~ Ask about any special exits (ie: sparklers, confetti, seed)

~ Alcohol Policies

~ The earliest you can come in/ and or if you can decorate the day before

~ When music has to be off

~ Payment schedules

~ is there space for cocktail hour

~Where is parking and how many spaces

~if outdoors (back up plan for rain)

~ where does DJ / Band set up (any noise restrictions)

~ Do they have a list of vendors they recommend?

~ Do they offer tastings?

~ if you bring in a caterer do they have a kitchen/work space

~ Can you bring in a cake from somewhere else(plating/cutting fee?)

~ How early can you have deliveries mad (flowers ect)

~ Does it include a rehearsal?

~Cancellation policy

~ Do you need event insurance

~ When is the balance due?

Also bring a notebook with you to write all your answers down so you dont confuse venues (especially if youre looking at multiple venues)

Take photos of venue when visiting so you can remember the details later.

Thanks again, all! We booked the venue today! It was beautiful!