Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

When it comes to picking your wedding venue some of you brides may have one ideal venue picked out – the place you have always dreamed of. For others, you may still be searching and have a few to choose from. Regardless, there are many questions that you should ask your potential wedding venue to ensure that its exactly what you want on the day, can cater for your needs and that there are no hidden surprises leading to disappointment.

To help you pick the right venue for your wedding, we’ve put together a set of wedding venue questions that cover everything from the venue itself to the services and of course the costs. Print it off or note down just the ones you think are important and use it to help guide you through the wedding planning experience!

Venue/Ceremony Questions

Is the venue available on the required date?
How long can we provisionally book for?
Is the venue licensed to carry out wedding ceremonies?
Are religious ceremonies allowed?
How many weddings do you cater for on the same day?
Where are ceremonies conducted?
How many guests can be accommodated during the ceremony?
Do you have a minimum/maximum number policy?
Is there an in-house wedding co-ordinator?
What are the details of the local registrar for this venue?
Can we have our wedding ceremony outside weather permitting?
Does your venue permit confetti?
What car parking facilities do you offer?
Where are you located?
What is the nearest train/bus/airport to your venue?
Is there an outdoor/indoor location we can use for our official photographs?
Does you venue permit children?

Room Questions

Do you offer a marquee option?
What rooms are available for use within the venue for the ceremony, drinks reception, wedding breakfast, evening reception?
What are the wedding breakfast/ceremony/evening reception room layout options?
Do you have an alternative room available if we cannot have our ceremony/drinks reception outside?
Does the hotel setup the rooms for the ceremony/reception?
Can we get access to the rooms before hand to setup?
Are there any rooms available for the brides/bridesmaids to get ready before the ceremony?
Are there rooms available for overnight accommodation for our guests. If so, how many?
What time is check in/checkout for guests accommodation?
Are there facilities that can be used for guests with children?
Does your venue provide an area for older guests in the evening?
Do you have any rooms we can use for storing our wedding gifts/guests coats/bags etc?

Cost Questions

What is venue booking fee?
What are the timings when deposits and final payment are required?
Do you have any pre-defined wedding packages?
What is included in your wedding packages? e.g. table centres, place cards, master of ceremonies etc
Are there any additional fees for room hire. Outside set up?
Is there a reduction in price on mid week weddings?
Do you charge full price for Sunday weddings on bank holidays
Do your packages include over night accommodation for the bride and groom?
Do you offer a discount on guest accommodation?
What is the cost for guest overnight accommodation and does this include breakfast?
Can you provide a price list for your bar drinks?

Reception/Entertainment Questions

How many guests can be accommodated in the reception venue
Do you allow professional fireworks displays?
Do you allow live music?
What time is your venue licensed until?
When should our band/DJ setup their equipment?
Do you allow candles on the tables?
Does the hotel supply any floral decoration?
Does the hotel have preferred florists for use in decorating the venue?
Can you recommend any local florists in the area?
Does the venue have a preferred supplier of evening entertainment?
Does the reception venue have a PA system?

Catering Questions

Does the venue provide all catering?
Can we use our own suppliers for catering?
Can you provide detail sample menus?
Are your menu’s fixed or can we create our own menu?
Do you offer a menu tasting experience?
Does your venue supply alcohol?
Do you offer a choice on which wines are provided during the wedding drinks reception/wedding breakfast?
Are we able to supply our own alcohol?
Are there any corkage fees?
Do you require that we use your preferred supplier?
Can you recommend a local caterer for our wedding cake?
Do you offer an evening buffet option?
What times do you recommend having the evening buffet?
Is there a minimum number of guests we must supply the buffet for?
If we wish to allocate a sum to guest drinks during the evening reception, are you able to track this to our budget set?
I want to have a candy bar at the reception am I allowed/where can this be setup up?

Other Questions

Is there alternative accommodation in the area that can be used by our guests?
Do you have any special arranges with local taxi firms that our guests can make use of?
Do you have outline order of the days we can look at to help plan the timings of our wedding day
What time is the latest that the wedding breakfast can be provided?
Will anyone from the staff help ensure that wedding timings do not over run too much on the day?
Can you recommend any photographers/videographers in the area?
Do you have a list of recommended local suppliers that we can use?