Choosing the right wedding venue ensures your big day goes off without a hitch. However, with so many options available, it can be challenging to know where to start.
We’ve put together this list of top questions to ask your wedding venue. By asking these questions upfront, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and find the perfect venue for your big day.
Questions to Ask When Calling
Before going to venues, it’s a good idea to give them a call. This will help you get a feel for their customer service and see how they treat potential clients.
When starting the wedding planning process, two wedding venue questions are essential. These are:
What Is Your Availability for My Wedding Day?
This is the first and most important question to ask a wedding venue!
Your wedding date is significant as it is often impossible to move it. Therefore, you’ll need to check that the venue you have your heart set on is available on the day you want to get married. If a venue is not available for the date you have chosen for your wedding day; there’s no point in considering them further!
What Services Do You Offer?
Wedding venues typically offer a variety of services for a wedding reception, from catering to decor. Be sure to ask about what’s included in their packages to get an accurate cost estimate.
Questions About Pricing
While speaking to the venue representative, you should also ask about pricing. This will give you a better idea of what to expect from the venue regarding cost.
What is the Cost of Renting the Venue?
This is the most fundamental question you can ask about pricing. Most wedding venues will have packages that include different services, so be sure to ask about the total cost of the package you’re interested in.
Are There Any Discounts Available?
Some venues offer discounts for booking early, using certain vendors, having a certain number of guests, having more than one wedding (a double event), or other special discounts for military personnel or seniors.
Be sure to ask about any discounts available to you before signing on the dotted line!
What Is Included in the Rental Fee?
Be sure to find out what’s included in the rental fee so you can budget accordingly. For example, you’ll want to know how many hours your wedding package includes, whether or not there’s a cleaning fee, and what type of furniture is included in the rental.
Some venues may include tables, chairs, and linens for your indoor space in the rental fee, while others will charge extra for these items.
What Are the Additional Fees?
In addition to the rental fee, other fees are often associated with renting a wedding venue. These can include a damage deposit, sound system rental, set-up and take-down fees, wedding cake cutting fees, a food and beverage minimum, a corkage fee, and more. Be sure to ask about all additional fees so that you can add them to your wedding venue checklist and factor them into your budget.
What Are Your Payment Terms?
It’s important to know when and how you’ll need to pay for the venue to plan your budget accordingly. Some venues require a deposit to reserve your date, while others may not require payment until closer to the event. Some wedding venues may want total payment upfront, while others will plan a payment schedule.
What Is the Cancellation Policy?
In the event that you need to cancel your event, it’s important to ask a wedding venue what their cancellation policy consists of. For example, some venues may require you to give a certain amount of notice, while others may charge a fee.
What is Your Fee for Cancelling?
If there is a fee for canceling, ask the venue coordinator how much it is. This will help you budget in the event that you need to cancel your event.
Questions About the Venue Space
The perfect wedding venue for your big day can accommodate your guest list comfortably. Be sure to ask all your questions about the venue and ceremony space to get an idea of what it can offer.
What Is Your Maximum Capacity?
One of the most crucial wedding venue questions is “how many guests can the venue accommodate?” You must ensure that all your wedding guests will fit comfortably in the space the venue offers. If you plan on a high guest count, you may need to reserve more than one room for your guest list.
Do You Have a Ceremony Site?
Suppose you plan to have your ceremony at the same venue as your reception. In that case, you’ll need to ensure the venue has a suitable site. If not, you’ll need to find an alternate location for your ceremony.
Do You Have On-Site Catering Services Available?
Some wedding venues have an in-house caterer for weddings and other events happening in their space, while others do not. If the venue does not have an in-house caterer, you’ll need to find outside vendors.
Make sure to ask for a list of approved vendors!
What is the Cost of Catering?
If you’re planning on having your reception at the venue, you’ll need to find out the cost of catering. Many venues require that you use their in-house catering service while others do not.
In-house catering services typically have a menu of items to choose from and a set price per person.
Is There a Catering Minimum?
While on your site tour, if you’re planning on having your reception at the venue, find out if there’s a catering minimum. This will help you budget for food and drinks.
Do You Allow Outside Catering?
If the venue doesn’t have on-site catering, you may be able to bring in your own caterer. However, some venues have restrictions on outside catering, so be sure to ask about this before making any plans.
Is There a Cake Cutting Fee?
If you’re planning on having your cake cut at the venue, be sure to ask if there’s a fee for this service. Some venues charge a cake cutting fee while others do not.
What Is Your Alcohol Policy?
Some venues only allow beer and wine, while others will allow hard liquor as well. In addition, many venues have a beverage minimum that you’ll need to meet.
If you’re planning on having alcohol at your reception, be sure to ask about the venue’s alcohol policy to plan accordingly.
Do You Have a Liquor License?
Suppose you’re planning on incorporating a cocktail hour at your reception. In that case, you’ll need to choose a venue licensed for liquor sales. If the venue doesn’t have a license, you may be able to bring your own alcohol, but be sure to check with the venue first. This may only be allowed if you use a catering service that has a liquor license.
Do You Have a Bar Staff?
If you’re planning to serve alcohol during a cocktail hour on your wedding day, you’ll need to find out if the venue has a bar staff. If not, you’ll need to hire your own vendor team of bartenders or provide a self-serve bar.
Can We Schedule a Tour of the Venue?
If you’re interested in a particular venue, ask if you can schedule a tour. This will allow you to see the venue in person and make sure it’s a good fit for your event. In addition, you’ll be able to find out more specifics about the venue during a tour, such as whether or not they have a dance floor, if there is room for a DJ or live band, and whether or not the venue has a bridal suite, etc.
Questions to Ask During Your Tour of the Venue
Once you’ve called a venue you are interested in and asked all the necessary questions, the next step is to schedule a venue tour.
During your tour, you’ll want to ask as many questions as possible to get a feel for the venue and see if it’s a good fit for your event.
Here are some questions to ask during your walkthrough.
Questions About the Venue Space
Be sure to ask a wedding venue direct questions about their policies and procedures concerning your use of the space.
Do You Have Liability Insurance?
One wedding venue question that the bride and groom often forget to ask is if the venue has liability insurance. Some venues may require you to purchase event insurance in case of accidents or damages during your wedding party.
Do You Have a Preferred Vendor List?
While you’re not required to use the vendors on a venue’s preferred vendor list, asking your wedding venue for recommendations for your wedding ceremony can be helpful. If you find vendors that you are interested in on the list, ask the venue how many weddings they have hosted with that vendor. This will give you a good idea of how well the vendor works with the venue.
Do You Have an In-House Planner?
Some venues have an in-house planner that can help you with the details of your event and wedding inspiration! If this interests you, be sure to ask a wedding venue about event planning during your tour.
Have You Worked With My Wedding Planner Before?
If you’re already working with a wedding planner, you’ll want to find out if they have experience working with the venue. This can help to make the planning process go more smoothly.
Do You Have Preset Seating or Table Arrangements?
If you’re looking for a particular type of seating arrangement, ask the venue if they have any preset layouts. Aside from seating for guests, you will need a table to store wedding gifts, room for things like a sound system, a dance floor, and a head table for the wedding party, all in the same room.
When Will the Venue Be Available for Set-up and Tear-Down?
Venues will typically give you a scheduled time to set up and tear down your own decorations for the event. Be sure to find out when the venue will be available for set-up and tear-down. This will help you plan your timeline accordingly.
Is There a Dressing Room or Space for the Bridal Party to Prepare?
If you’re planning on getting ready at the venue, be sure to ask if a dressing room or space is available for you and your bridal party. This will help you ensure everyone has a place to get ready before the big day.
What Is the Rain Backup Plan?
If you have an outdoor ceremony or reception, it’s always a good idea to have an inclement weather backup plan. Be sure to ask the venue about their strategy in case of rain on your wedding day so you can be prepared for anything.
Questions About Restrictions or Policies
When touring a venue, ask about any restrictions or policies that may affect your event.
Are There Any Décor Restrictions?
Some venues may have restrictions on what type of decor you can have. For example, some venues won’t allow candles or confetti. If you have your heart set on certain types of decor, be sure to ask about any restrictions before booking the venue.
What Are Your Noise Restrictions?
Some venues have noise restrictions that need to be followed. Be sure to ask about the noise policy to ensure your event will comply.
Is There a Curfew?
Another policy to be aware of is whether or not the venue has a curfew. This can affect guests arriving later than intended, your plans for the end of the night, and even your choice of entertainment.
What Are Your Policies on Smoking and Pets?
Be sure to find out the venue’s policies on smoking and pets. Some wedding venues are perfectly happy allowing pets, while others may not allow them at all. In addition, smoking policies vary from venue to venue, so it’s crucial to determine the policy before making any decisions.
Questions About Transportation and Parking
If you’re having a destination wedding or your guests must travel to the venue, you’ll want to ask about transportation and parking options.
Is There Public Transportation Available?
If your wedding venue is located in a city, you’ll want to ensure public transportation is available. This will make it easier for your guests to get to and from the venue.
Is There On-Site Parking Available?
You’ll want to make sure there’s adequate parking available for your guests. Find out where the parking is for the wedding venue, the route your guests will take to get there, and if there’s a service fee for parking.
Is the Venue Handicap Accessible?
If you have any disabled guests, you’ll want to make sure there are accessible parking spots available as well. You’ll also want to find out if the venue is handicap accessible if you have elderly guests.
Questions About Guest Services
Your wedding guests will appreciate any extra services you can provide. Here are a few questions to ask about guest services at your wedding venue.
Is There a Coat Check Available?
If it’s going to be cold outside, you may want to provide your guests with a place to check their coats. Be sure to ask the venue if they have a coat check available or if you’ll need
How Many Restrooms are On-Site?
Be sure to ask how many restrooms are available at the venue. This will help you determine if there will be enough for your guests. Depending on how many guests you expect, you may also want to confirm how many toilets are in each restroom.
Asking these questions and any other questions you may have about the venue will help you get a better sense of what each venue has to offer and whether or not it is the right fit for your wedding. With a bit of research, you can find the perfect venue for your big day! By asking these critical questions, you can be sure that your wedding day will be everything you’ve ever dreamed of.
Contact Premier Events Center for a Perfect Michigan Wedding
Premier Events Center has everything you need to make your wedding day perfect, from in-house catering to an in-house event coordinator. We offer a variety of packages to fit any budget, and our experienced team will work with you to customize your perfect day.
Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule a tour of our facility!