So many couples ask me what are the most important questions to ask a Wedding Venue that you like and whilst there are so many questions you need to ask to ensure you are both on the same page, here are a few questions to ask a venue during your showround…
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Authors Bio: Vivienne May Weddings was founded and created by Kerrie May. With over 8 years of experience in the luxury wedding & event industry, Kerrie has worked at some of the UK’s most iconic venues alongside a selection of renowned industry professionals and worked with a selection of high-net worth couples.
Kerrie is a UK Wedding Planner and has a distinctive reputation amongst her fellow luxury wedding professionals. Her wealth of experience, industry knowledge and unrivalled passion for bringing her clients vision to life is what drives her to plan impeccably designed, style-led and perfectly co-ordinated weddings, with romance at it’s heart.
Pricing
Do all prices include VAT and are there any hidden costs which I need to be aware of? Always a key question to help with your budgeting.
It is also good to ask what else is included in the price as standard (i.e. aisle runner, staging, dancefloor).
Make sure to check with your wedding venue when they need final numbers by and what the payment dates are so you know how much to allocate in advance.
If your wedding venue has onsite accommodation it is worth asking for the costs for you and your guests to stay – this is a really helpful piece of information to add into your invitations too. Also check if breakfast is included in the room price and what is the checkout time the following day so you and your guests know what time they need to depart and collect any remaining wedding items.
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Wedding Catering
If food is a really important element to your day, ask if you can have a menu tasting before hand. Even if you’ve eaten there before, most venues with internal caterers will have a different menu for weddings. (A further tip: if your looking to have external caterers, check that your venue allows these and if they charge for you doing so).
It is also worth asking if they offer a choice menu for your guests to choose their favourites on your invitations, or if they only offer a set menu, meaning everyone has the same dishes.
Also ask whether or not there is a charge to have your menu tasting and whether you can try their wines at the same time as your wedding tasting.
If you have guests that you know have dietary or allergy requirements, it is best to check that the caterers can cater for these too before you book.
Wedding Suppliers
Can I use any Wedding Suppliers? Most venues are flexible when it comes to you choosing your own suppliers but its always worth asking the question in case you have to use their caterers/florists etc.
It is also good to check what time the venue hire starts and ends in order to let your suppliers know so that they can check they have enough time to set up before guests arrive etc. It is also good to check when suppliers have to collect their belongings by, if the venue has another wedding the next day they are likely to want everything collected on the same day or first thing the next morning.
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General Questions
Are there any restrictions in place? I.e. noise level restrictions, are fireworks allowed, can I bring my dog? Better to find out now than after you’ve booked a 20 piece band!
How long can I provisionally hold a date for? This is key if you have fallen in love with a wedding venue but just want to get pricing and the finer details confirmed before paying your deposit and signing a contract. Most wedding venues will allow you to provisionally hold a date for 1-2 weeks FOC but always check if there is a fee to hold your wedding date first.
Is there space for me and my partner (plus bridesmaids, groomsmen etc.) to get ready in the morning? And would this incur an additional cost?
Hopefully these questions will give you a heads-up when it comes to viewing your favourite venues and don’t be afraid to ask many more questions to the teams working at Wedding Venues – it’s better to know what is/isn’t possible than finding out once it’s too late!
Asking all of these questions can seem a daunting task however with my Full Planning service, you can rest assured that I ask each and every one of your favourite venues the questions necessary to help you make the decision when your perfect venue is found. To find out more about how I can help you plan your perfect day and allow you to sit back, relax and enjoy every second on your engagement, click here to see my Full Planning service.