You have gotten engaged, you are dress shopping for the big day, and now, you have to look for a venue.
Many couples who are looking for wedding venues want the space they choose to reflect their personalities and to match the wedding theme, but when securing a venue or looking for the perfect one, what do you need to know?
Here, you will be walked through some of the key questions to ask when you are on the hunt for your perfect wedding venue.
How Long Can I Hold This Date For Before I Need To Pay a Deposit?
This should be a primary question to ask when looking into wedding venues. If you are opting for a venue that is more in demand, you can expect the venue to hold the date of your wedding without a deposit for around three days. For smaller venues, it can extend up to seven days. So, always check and make sure you have the deposit together when looking!
How Many Guests Can We Have In The Venue?
This is a simple question that many couples assume will not be an issue. They will see the size of a venue and will guess that it can fit a set number of people, which may lead to issues with the guest list.
Luckily, most wedding venues will have the number of people that can attend the wedding on the website, so there is no need to estimate based on size but, for clarity, it is worth asking to be sure to ensure that everyone you want to attend your wedding will be able to!
Is The Catering Included?
You are not likely to book a venue without additional catering options coming up in the initial stages.
However, what can be a surprise for many couples is that some venues offer certain wedding catering options, which can often work out as cheap (or cheaper) than if you were to book separate catering. For example, a wedding venue may be able to provide snacks for guests and have a set amount of free drinks, which is an important point to be aware of when you are putting money into the drinks segment of your wedding reception.
When Can We Access The Venue To Set Up For The Wedding?
When it comes to wedding venues that are being hired in the busy season (June to August), it is vital to know when you can get access to the space to set it up.
This is important for when you are setting up the décor, but it is also important that your catering team know when will be able to set up the food. In addition, if you are booking a wedding cake from a private baker, this will give you the information you need to share with them about when the cake can be dropped off.
Finding out this information will ensure that your wedding day runs smoothly and will help you to plan for the refrigeration and storage of food, if necessary.
Are There Any Décor Restrictions?
Even if you are aiming to have a minimalist wedding and reception, you should still be sure to ask about décor restrictions at the venue. If anything, this will ensure that you are able to keep the initial deposit! It will also help you to narrow down the list of venues based on your needs. If you had your heart set on a lot of decorations and this is not allowed in one particular venue, then you can cross that one off the list.
