Just started the early stages of your DIY wedding planning and wondering what questions you should ask on your wedding venue tour? You want to make sure the venue suits your practical and aesthetic requirements. Not to worry, as a professional wedding planner I’ve been through it all dozens of times! I’ve included some important questions to ask wedding venues to make sure you’re not blindsided after you’ve already made the rental deposit.
How many events do you have on property at one time?
This wedding venue tour question is important to determine for a multitude of reasons. Consider that noise levels, photos, bathrooms, and more may be affected if they do have multiple events at once. Think about how this will change your event and decide if you’d like to move forward. You should also know if they book morning and evening slots, as this could affect setup times.
What/where are the rain plan backups?
No one wants to think about this wedding venue tour question, but it’s super important to have a backup plan. Ask if they have event tents available in case of rain. Or, what indoor areas could also accommodate the event. You’ll be more at ease knowing that you have options.
Wedding Venue Tour Question: Do you provide valet? If so, is there a fee?
Wedding guests dressed in their finest fits and shoes will probably want to avoid trucking too far to get to the event. Ask about the parking lot capacity, if the venue offers valet, and the associated fees. If your budget allows, consider paying for all the guest valet ahead of time to avoid any future confusion. Some venues will include valet for free as part of your rental.
Do you allow open flame or fireworks?
Before you get too attached to the candle-laden centerpieces on Pinterest, ask the wedding venue about their open flame policies. It will vary between each venue. While some may ban all fire, others may just have a size or number limit on candles. Additionally, if you’re looking for that cinematic flair and have fireworks on your vision board, ask about their policies and local regulations.
Do you have a preferred or required vendor list?
Many wedding venues require you to use their catering and bar services. They also may have other lists of required vendors, such as security, audio, or event managers. It’s also a good idea to check out their preferred list of vendors, since these are people they trust to execute a great event. Don’t forget to ask this question on your wedding venue tour!
What tables, linens, chairs, glassware, china are included with the venue rental?
This aspect of your wedding venue tour can really affect your overall budget. Furniture and wedding tableware rentals are expensive! And really start adding up as the guest count rises. If they don’t normally include something that you see during the tour, ask if they are open to adding it on for a small additional cost.
What to ask on a wedding venue tour: What is the typical flow of the event?
Since the venue has seen countless events before yours, they have a better idea of how the space can be realistically used. Ask the event manager on your wedding venue tour where previous parties may have set up the bar, dance floor, and other areas. This will give you a clearer visual of how your own wedding may play out.
How many people can comfortably fit in the space with a dance floor?
Most event venues include a maximum capacity on their websites, but don’t specify whether this is for standard dining tables, cocktails, standing, or a combination. Since you’ll probably have a few different things going on, you need the specifics. During the wedding venue tour make sure to ask for the actual seating capacity limits with a dance floor.
Where are the bathrooms? Will there be attendants?
Ask about the restrooms and take a peek inside. If you see any issues, they will probably be able to fix them. Also, if they don’t have someone who will regularly check in on the bathrooms, you’ll want to pack a bathroom replenishing kit for the celebration.
Important wedding venue tour question: Are there any noise restrictions or curfews?
This is less of an issue for daytime celebrations. But if you’ll be partying into the night, you need to know if the wedding venue has any curfews or sound restrictions. Some have a specific decibel limit and you’ll need to work with the DJ on that. You also want to factor in breakdown time after the curfew so as not to incur additional rental fees.
Visit The Wedding post for all the questions on my wedding venue tour guide
For the full wedding venue tour guide, visit my website and you can download the list for free! I hope it will help make your wedding planning journey a little less stressful and more organized. The key to feeling prepared when the big celebration day comes is to ask the right questions ahead of time. That way, you will have a game plan for whatever might come your way!
