It’s important when you visit a venue keep in mind the flow of guests from ceremony to cocktails to the reception. Is there enough space inside in case of bad weather? Will all your guests fit comfortably? Will the Venue rental fee cut too much of your budget? There are so many important aspects to think about so here are a few conversations you should ask about during the tour.
- What does your venue fee include?
- Are there any rentals, linens, etc. available for our use?
- Are there extra charges for these items?
- Do you provide guest parking?
- How many hours and exactly which hours will the facility be open for vendors and the couple on the wedding day? (While guests may only need a few hours at the reception site, make sure that the venue includes at least two hours for setup and an hour for breakdown for vendors.)
- Do you carry a preferred vendor list?
- Do I have to use your preferred vendors or caterers at this venue?
First you must set up a time before the actual tour. But before setting foot on the premises, consider confirming these three major details. You don’t want to fall in love with a venue that’s outside of your budget or isn’t available on your selected date. Call or email your favorite potential venues to set up an official site visit—then ask them about these three important points.
Budget
Remember that your venue’s rental fee and catering will likely take up about half of your total wedding budget. If the entire venue cost (not just the food and beverage minimum) doesn’t fit within your budget, you may have to move on, unless you’re open to cutting something else.
Date
If you have your heart set on a certain wedding date and aren’t flexible about moving it, hopefully the venue has it open—otherwise, you’ll have to keep looking. If you don’t have a particular date in mind, ask the venue about its open dates for your desired season and year.
Style
This will likely be the most obvious yes or no decision about your venue: If you’re envisioning a rustic, romantic atmosphere but you’re taking a tour of a modern, sleek hotel venue, you’ll probably cross the space off your list.
