Venues: Important questions to ask

1. How early do you have access to the venue on the day of the wedding

2. Is room set up included in the price and done by venue staff. Also are linens provided by the venue

3. Is there a place for you to get ready

4. Do they have preferred vendors that you must use, or is it a suggestion list

5. What is the bad weather backup

6. What's the payment schedule like

That's all off the top of my head. I might think of more.

1) What are their taxes, fees, and how do gratuities work (pool, individual, etc)

2) are there enough outlets for everyone to plug into (DJ equipment, etc)

3) are the bathrooms accessible for people with disabilities?

4) what exactly is included and what is an upcharge?

5) for me the size of the dance floor was very important so we made sure to ask dimensions,

You'll get a lot of suggestions; my best one is to let the banquet staff lead you through the presentation. By the end, they will have covered most of what you wanted to ask... and some of it is either legally required (accessible bathrooms) or common sense.

BUT, two things that are key to me.

1. Will they be touring prospective couples through YOUR wedding? This happens more often than you think, and I hate it.

2. If they have a preferred list, do those vendors pay to be on it? Or are they truly preferred? You'll really catch them off guard with that one, lol...many places hire third party companies to put those lovely books together, and of course, we pay to be in them, but every venue is going to have their personal favorites.

and a bonus.

Ask about the gratuity/service charge policy. Ask if bartenders put tip cups on the bar (which is tacky and unnecessary; in my experience, everyone will throw a couple of bucks across the bar. Ask if there is a specific recommended amount of a tip for the maitre d' and bridal attendant.

What do they do in the event of cancellation/postponement?

Is there a gratuity charge? If so, what does it include?

Is the site handicap accessible?

How many waiters/table?

How many bartenders/guest?

Is there a venue max/min?

Is there are a separate charge to hold the ceremony on site?

How long do you have the venue for?

Who handles clean up?

What is the parking situation?

How many restrooms are there?

I think the things that you'll compromise on are personal decisions! For us - it was important to have a venue that does weddings all the time and can provide basics like tables, chairs, silverware, flatware, etc (in other words, no "blank space" venues). We didn't mind going with a venue that requires you to use them for catering and booze, but I was adamant about having the freedom to choose the rest of my vendors (photography, florist, etc) and did not want to book a venue where you could only choose from their preferred vendors list.

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Everything PPs have said! The only things I would add:

Talk to your FH before you start touring and find out if there is anything y'all simply must have. Once you've decided what those things might be, ask about them.

My biggest example- my venue doesn't allow sparklers because it's a heavily wooded area. If sparklers were a must-have for us, we would have been disappointed or needed to make a different decision

So many great questions! Thanks!

When can your vendors come to set up

do they have a place for you/groom to get ready (cost?)

can you bring your own booze (some people want signature cocktails), food (my SIL did caramel apples for their favors), etc. my venue did not allow these, but not a deal breaker for me