QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING YOUR PERFECT WEDDING VENUE!

Photo TAKEN AT IRON MANOR IN HOUSTON, TX

by: Dominique Flournoy

There’s more to the perfect wedding venue than just the aesthetics (though good looks are extremely important on your wedding day). There are all sorts of important details you’ll need to cover before you sign on the dotted line. We’ve asked some past and future brides for the key questions they asked when they were searching for their wedding venue. You’ll want to ask these before you book.

Pricing and Availability

• Is my date of choice available? If not, are there any surrounding dates available? Or do you have a wait list for dates?
• How far in advance can I reserve my date?
• What are the rates for different days of the week and times (Friday, Saturday, Sunday; morning, afternoon, evening)? What about different seasons?

A tip for you!
Ideally, you would want your wedding to be the only wedding happening at that venue on your wedding day to avoid any confusion for your guest or the feeling of rushing your special day. If you’re not guaranteed to be the only event that day, find out how much it would cost to do a complete buyout, as well as ask about how the staff handles having multiple events at once.
FRIENDORS! (VENDORS)

• Do you have a list of approved or recommended vendors we can use?
• Do we have to use your approved vendors? If not, are there limitations or guidelines we need to meet when bringing others in?

A TIP FOR YOU!
If your venue doesn’t require you to use their vendors, ask if there are any they recommend most highly. A vendor who is familiar with your venue will already know the quirks and challenges of the space, which will make your planning process that much easier.

FOOD AND CATERING

• Do you have an in-house caterer? If so, are food and beverages included in the venue rental fee?
• If there is not an in-house caterer, do we have to choose from a list of approved options, or can we hire our own caterer.

General (yet very important) questions

• Is the site handicap accessible?
• Are there noise restrictions?
• Is parking available on-site? How much space is there? Will guests be charged for parking?
• What is the venue’s capacity?
• What is the backup plan for rain or inclement weather?
• Will your staff be involved in setting up and breaking down the décor? In what capacity?